The Missouri Reader Vol. 36, Issue 2 | Page 28

Independent Samples Test Levene's Test for Equality of Variances t-test for Equality of Means 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference Sig. (2- F score Equal variances 4.332 Sig. t df .041 -2.647 tailed) Mean Std. Error Difference Difference Lower Upper 68 .010 -2.42857 .91738 -4.25917 -.59797 -2.647 58.157 .010 -2.42857 .91738 -4.26480 -.59234 assumed Equal variances not assumed To the extent the subjects were representative of typical preschoolers and based on the findings of this study, the following conclusion appears to be warranted: The results of the study showed a statistically significant difference in the scores on the language portion of the DIAL-3 between students who attended preschool prior to kindergarten and students who did not. The students who attended preschool prior to kindergarten had significantly higher scores. This difference could be attributed to the number of years the student was in preschool and the quality of the preschool program. quality school readiness programs yield positive outcomes for children. Children who attend such programs are more likely to have better cognitive and language development than peers who did not attend preschool (p. 264). Research has shown and continues to show the importance preschool plays in children’s early literacy development. Conclusion According to Marjanovic Umek, Kranjc, Fekonja, and Brajc (2008), “early experience, knowledge, and skills that children acquire before the onset of formal education have an important effect on children’s later development and success in school” (p. 571). Winter and Kelley (2008) stressed the important role that preschool can play in a child’s development when they stated: Forty years of research has provided convincing scientific evidence that high Gonzalez, J. E., & Nelson, R. (2003). Focus on inclusion stepping stones to literacy: A prevention-oriented phonological awareness training program. Reading & Writing Quarterly, 19(4), 393. References Bowman, B. (2009). Early learning more accepted. Phi Delta Kappan, 91(1), 19. Hooper, S.R., Roberts, J.E., Nelson, L., Zeisel, S., & Fannin, D. (2010). Preschool predictors of narrative wri ѥ