This theme – led by Janet Werker (Project Director), UBC, and Suzanne Curtin, Brock University – is rooted in the fact that spoken language capabilities are foundational for reading achievement. It is critically important to examine the application of spoken language knowledge to reading. A framework developed by Werker and Curtin, sets the foundation for understanding early word learning – particularly how learning the sounds of words and the meanings of words are mutually informative. Thus, understanding early oral language acquisition is foundational and a focus of study.
