Headsprout Early Reading
- This strategy can address educational disparities. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve this outcome are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
- Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program overview
Providing supplemental, internet-based early literacy curriculum: Headsprout Early Reading is a supplemental, internet-based early literacy curriculum that aims to bridge the early literacy word gap. The literacy word gap refers to the disparity in reading and language skills that exists between children of different socioeconomic backgrounds. Headsprout provides adaptive, individualized instruction through interactive activities that teach phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Designed for early childhood classrooms: Headsprout is typically delivered by educators in center-based pre-kindergarten programs who use it as a supplementary tool for early literacy instruction. The program recommends students complete three lessons a week and to work in 30 minute intervals. If the students’ families have computer and internet access, educators can also assign lessons to be completed outside of school.
Adapting instruction for each reader: Headsprout offers 100 online lessons and 110 printable stories to strengthen young students’ literacy skills. Through its adaptive instruction, students engage in interactive activities, such as phonics lessons, vocabulary exercises, comprehension tasks, and fluency practice, tailored to their individual needs. The program offers targeted interventions like error pattern analysis to track progress, identify strengths and weaknesses, and provide a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. Headsprout is designed for pre-kindergarten students but can also be used by students in other grade levels.
- Strategies
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Early childhood curricula and interventions
- Cost per Participant
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Not available
A single study with a rigorous design suggests that Headsprout Early Reading is a promising strategy for literacy development.
- A 2009 research synthesis highlights that Headsprout had a statistically significant positive effect on students’ print knowledge and oral language.
Note: This content is under review.
Integrate Headsprout Early Reading with existing curriculum to personalize instruction: Teachers should integrate Headsprout as a supplement to existing early literacy instruction, aligning its content and activities with the goals and objectives of their curriculum to create a cohesive learning experience. Additionally, Headsprout serves as a valuable resource to personalize instruction and optimize student learning. Students can start Headsprout at an appropriate level for their literacy needs and progress through the program at their own pace.
Create a plan for scheduling and implementation: Teachers should integrate Headsprout into their schedule to ensure that students complete three lessons per week. Each session should be 30 minutes in length. The program is designed to provide scaffolding for students’ lessons, so teacher intervention should be limited to when it is necessary.
Set students up for technological success: To interact with Headsprout, students must use headphones or speakers to listen to the lesson and microphones to interact with the program. Students do not utilize the keyboard while using the program, so teachers should place the keyboard away from the computer to prevent distractions.
Evaluate teachers and provide professional development: Teachers should be provided the proper training and professional development to ensure that they are equipped to effectively introduce and incorporate Headsprout into their classrooms. This support helps teachers maximize the benefits of the program and address the individual needs of their students.
Monitor progress regularly: Regularly monitoring student progress is essential for the effective implementation of Headsprout. Headsprout tracks and catalogs the data for each student’s reading activity, including time spent, performance metrics, user progress, error analysis, response data, and learning path analytics. Teachers should use these data to identify areas where students may need additional support.