Shared Book Reading to Promote Math Talk in Parent–Child Dyads in Low-Income Families

Abstract

Shared book reading can facilitate meaningful mathematical interactions. This study extends prior research by exploring the effect of book content and parent training in shared book reading. A comparison phase embedded within a multiple baseline design across participants was used with three Head Start parent–child dyads to examine the effect of book type (i.e., math or nonmath) on the frequency of parent and child mathematical utterances (i.e., math talk) and to evaluate whether there was a functional relation between training as well as provision of reader’s guides and increased frequency and diversity of parent and child math talk. Overall and on average, dyads engaged in more math talk when provided with math books as compared with nonmath books. Results regarding training and provision of supplementary materials were less clear. Results are discussed with attention to multiple indicators of effectiveness and considerations for designing home mathematical interventions.