How Notre Dame is helping young children learn to read

The original article, written by Presley Frank, was shared on the Institute for Educational Initiatives News.

Before entering kindergarten, young children build foundational language skills—learning how words sound, how printed letters work, and how stories carry meaning. These early experiences shape a child’s ability to read and succeed throughout their school years. Yet in many rural and low-income communities where access to books remains limited, nearly one in three children falls behind basic early literacy milestones before their first day of school.

To help bridge this gap, Notre Dame’s Early Learning Foundations Lab is partnering with the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation on a five-year initiative aimed at improving early reading skills across Nebraska.

Making every story count for families and classrooms

While distributing books to homes gives children essential access to reading materials, research shows that interactive adult engagement is what truly builds literacy skills. The joint initiative combines classroom techniques for preschool teachers with simple, visual guides for parents at home. By using the same books and learning routines in both settings, schools and families can reinforce identical core skills: vocabulary, sound awareness, and language comprehension.

As part of the project, Notre Dame researchers are developing instructional tools, refining classroom materials, and building a mobile app that delivers video demonstrations and lesson guides directly to caregivers and teachers. As Pentimonti noted, building strong early literacy skills provides children with a foundation for lifelong success, and this partnership offers an opportunity to expand research-backed practices to reach even more families.

By pairing classroom instruction with matched support at home, Notre Dame is helping turn everyday reading time into lasting educational progress for young learners.

Read the full article from the Institute for Educational Initiatives ›

Donors and Giving Society members help make programs like this possible. Your support empowers Notre Dame researchers to design practical educational tools, partner with local communities, and ensure young children receive the strong foundation they need to thrive. Thank you for helping Notre Dame serve as a force for good.