Welcome to our Lab!

Research conducted in the Arizona State University College of Health Solutions’ Child Language and Literacy Lab (CHILLL) focuses on how children learn to talk, read, and write. Our projects include investigations of working memory, oral language, early literacy, and reading development and disorders.

We are involved in collaborative research in assessment development, early literacy curriculum development and implementation, longitudinal investigations of factors impacting reading comprehension, longitudinal investigations of working memory development, discovery of deficits underlying poor word learning, and professional development for educators.

Our research is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NICHD & NIDCD), the U.S. Department of Education Institutes for Education Sciences, and the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University. We collaborate with labs at the University of Arizona, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Kansas, and Lancaster University in the United Kingdom.

The CHILLL lab serves a leadership role in the College of Health Solutions Child Language and Literacy Translational Team. The long-term goal of our translational team is to develop and implement, at scale, methods for preventing and treating reading problems by understanding the complex nature of reading across development and the mechanisms that contribute to better reading outcomes in families and schools. This goal contributes directly to the College of Health Solutions’ Grand Challenge of removing barriers to health and health care by reducing literacy disparities in the community. This goal not only improves access, but also increases individuals’ ability to use health care systems effectively. The umbrella figure below describes projects going on within our translational team that includes many community partners.

Students are very import in the CHILLL lab. Many college students participate as volunteers, research assistants or learn to design and conduct their own research. Many preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school students participate in research. We are very proud of the work our students do to move science forward.

Our research projects would not be possible without the participation and support of students, parents, teachers, teaching assistants, school districts, charter schools, and Head Starts in Arizona and other states.

Thank you for your continued support!