Podcasts

Every Book is an Early Childhood Book

In this Every Book Counts webinar, host Erin Bailey speaks with Dr. Jill Pentimonti of the University of Notre Dame about how shared book reading serves as a powerful, research-backed approach to building young children’s language, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. Dr. Pentimonti explains the foundational components of early reading success—word recognition and language comprehension—and highlights how interactive shared reading supports critical pre-reading skills such as print knowledge, phonological awareness, and oral language development by intentionally strengthening neural pathways. She offers practical, evidence-based strategies for making read-alouds more engaging, including asking open-ended questions, explicitly building vocabulary, drawing attention to sounds and letters, and fostering discussion before, during, and after reading. The session underscores the importance of using a balanced mix of narrative and information books and illustrates these strategies through a live read-aloud, concluding with resources from Reading is Fundamental to support educators and families in applying these practices.

About Dr. Jill Pentimonti: 

Dr. Jill Pentimonti is an Associate Research Professor in the Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Executive Director of Research Advancement in the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Notre Dame, where she also leads the Early Learning Foundations (ELF) Lab. Her work focuses on language, literacy, and learning in the preschool and early elementary years. 

Dr. Pentimonti’s research centers on supporting young children’s language and literacy development, particularly for those at risk for reading difficulties. She has led multiple large-scale, federally funded studies examining classroom practices, instructional supports, and interventions that foster children’s early learning. Her work has also advanced the use of innovative tools and methods—including AI-powered assessments—to better understand and improve early learning experiences for children, families, and teachers.

 

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