The purpose of this study was to empirically examine the dimensionality of language ability for young children (4-8 years) from prekindergarten to third grade (n = 915), theorizing that measures of vocabulary and grammar ability will represent a unitary trait across these ages, and to determine whether discourse skills represent an additional…

Reading comprehension--the ability to understand the meaning of text--is a foundational ability that enables children to learn in school and throughout life. Children who struggle with reading comprehension in the third or fourth grade are at high risk for dropping out of school, with detrimental effects on their future employment, income, and…

Brief annotations of currently available language development measures appropriate for use with preschool children as well as with lower elementary grade children (grades 1 through 3) are presented. The annotation provides information concerning the purpose of the test; the groups for which it is intended; test subdivisions or tested skills,…