In two separate studies, specialized tokens were employed as instructional materials to teach 12 colors to preschool children and 14 letter-sounds to kindergarten children. These children were given initially 24 to 30 tokens and given an opportunity to “purchase” various items by recognizing the designated information on each token. Independent probe sessions showed attainment of high levels of recognition for both colors and sounds. Labeling of the instructional stimuli, although not explicitly trained, developed spontaneously, probably as a result of the children's hearing the labels during recognition training and using them in extra-classroom settings.
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