Oral Storytelling Skills

The oral storytelling skills of African American preschoolers make a difference in how quickly their reading skills develop, according to a new study from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Researchers say the effect is much different for girls and boys. "Knowing how to tell a clear and coherent story is an important skill for helping young children develop strong reading skills, which, in turn, can help them to be successful at a number of different subjects in school," said FPG advanced research scientist Nicole Gardner-Neblett. "Prior research suggests that historical and cultural factors foster strong storytelling skills among African American children, which has implications for their development as readers." Two years ago, Gardner-Neblett's own research was the first to demonstrate a connection between African American preschoolers' storytelling abilities and their early reading skills in kindergarten. The study found a link between storytelling and reading only for African American children, from households across income levels, but not for any other demographic group. Stark differences in reading achievement exist between Black and White elementary school children, as does a gender gap in reading outcomes, with girls outperforming boys. Because of both disparities in achievement, Gardner-Neblett and FPG advanced research scientist John Sideris wanted to better understand if and how gender plays a role in the link between African American children's storytelling skills and reading development.