The impact of storybooks on kindergarten children＇s mathematical achievement and approaches to learning

This paper presents a mixed methods study that explored how storybooks influence kindergarten children＇s mathematical achievement and approaches to mathematics learning. Teachers＇ observations and research stating primary grade children＇s lack of mathematical knowledge and negative attitudes towards mathematics served as the impetus for the study. Three kindergarten teachers taught a mathematics unit using various children＇s storybooks and the characters in the stories as the context for mathematical problems. The results of the study show an impact on students＇ mathematical achievement as well as the identification of four themes that emerged on how students＇ approaches to learning were influenced when storybooks were integrated into the mathematics unit.     

The Role of Parents in the Achievement of Turkish-Speaking Students in British Schools： Why They Fail in Supporting Their Children？

In this paper, the role of parents in supporting their children＇s progress, as a factor affecting Turkish-speaking children＇s achievement, has been explored. It is a fact that Turkish-speaking pupils, when compared with other ethnic groups, such as Bangladeshi and Somali, struggle, underachieve, and still continue performing low in the British education system. The Turkish community has been resident in the United Kingdom （UK） for over 70 years with the current estimated population of 450,000. However, the community is invisible in the society; their diverse needs are not known; and there are limited research and government reports. The relevant data and research findings indicate that there are various factors for the underachievement of the Turkish-speaking pupils. This study shows the degree of importance of parental participation for Turkish-speaking parents in supporting their children＇s achievement. As a result, lack of parental involvement is one of the important factors in achievement; and a majority of parents stated that they could not involve in their children＇s learning because a number of reasons evaluated in the paper.     

Introduction to dance of the imagination for children education

Nowadays, children do not have enough time in physical activity at schools. Educators and parents should be aware of this need that creative dance is the key provide children an appropriate way to exercise. On the other hand, children can express themselves freely and naturally through creative dance, which also improves children＇s health and increase their creative thinking. A person＇s body is the most important property to a person. They also learn to appreciate the beauty of dance and life. Allowing children to have the opportunity to learn creative dance may improve their creativity. Most children love to leap and jump. Through dance, children may have better self-expression and have better understanding.     

New Kids on the Block

Have you heard of the term ＇tweenager ＇？ It＇s the new slang word being used in the UK to describe children at either eight-12 or ten-13 years old. They are between being a junior and a teenager, you see. Why are the press and media suddenly referring to kids in this way？     

Usability design strategies for children： Developing children＇s learning and knowledge in decreasing their dental anxiety

This paper presents an example of how usability design strategies for children can be designed into educational material using CD-ROM based multimedia application for assisting parents and teachers to develop children＇s learning and knowledge in decreasing as well as motivate children aged 7-9 years old to reduce their anxious feelings towards dental treatment. In this paper, the authors provide usability design strategies for children in designing the information interfaces and presentation of a PMLE （persuasive multimedia learning environment）. PMLE is designed based on the six design categories of guidelines for children which have been applied to this study： general interaction, text, multimedia, navigation and search, graphical user interface and content. The results authors were able to on presenting this PMLE to 240 primary school children selected at random show how the decrease children＇s dental anxiety and motivate the children to get ready for dental visit.     

How to Active Students＇ Motivation in Middle School English Class

In recent years,more and more attention have been taken to the secondary schools＇ English class,especially the English class.What can we know from this essay is why active children＇s motivation does significant to all of us.In addition,it tells readers how to active learners＇ motivation in a effective way.In order to get to know what the method can active students＇ motivation,writer have made a survey that how children learn in the middle schools＇ English class.Besides,according to the writer＇s own experiences,many suggestion were made.     

Parent and teacher perceptions of students＇ general scholastic abilities： Effects on involvement and communication

Parents＇ and teachers＇ perceptions of students＇ general scholastic abilities, such as being able to complete their school work, retain what they learn, and achieve sufficiently compared to other students at their ages, were analyzed for how well they predict parents＇ forms of involvement in their children＇s education and teachers＇ forms of communication to parents. Data were collected from parents and teachers in two Title I, public middle schools in a large, urban city in the southwest. Parent involvement and teacher communication practices were measured using the ＂school and family partnerships survey＂. Parents＇ and teachers＇ perceptions of students＇ general scholastic abilities were measured using a teacher-rating version of the ＂perceived competence scale for children＂. Linear regression analyses revealed that parents＇ perceptions did not predict their involvement, nor did teachers＇ perceptions predict their amount of communication as reported by parents. Although parents＇ and teachers＇ perceptions did not predict involvement in this study, perceptions of children＇s general academic abilities should be further explored in relation to family-school partnerships. The results suggest that involvement in middle school occurs in ways distinctive from elementary school. Therefore, improved instruments are needed to more accurately measure parent involvement and teacher communication at grade levels beyond elementary school.     

Science Centres： A Resource for School and Community

We present a science centre established in Genoa on an agreement between Municipality of Genoa and Department of Physics of University of Genoa. The aim is to offer children, young people and community an opportunity to approach science in a playful way. The centre staffs guide the visitors through the exhibits, attracting their interests towards the most amusing aspects of the phenomena. According to the principles of constructivism, kids and children are encouraged to handle objects, play with geometrical shapes, observe materials collected from natural and human environment and make ＂discoveries＂, and students can take advantage of the visit and from the exhibits to study in depth a specific topic afterwards in their class, thus preventing the aridity of a purely formal presentation of the discipline, while a general public can realize how much science affects people＇s lives, enjoy its fun aspects and meet scientists during special events.     

Chinese feminist epistemology： Studies of Chinese mothers＇ experiences in immigration and education

This paper examines theoretical frameworks with which to study newly-immigrated mothers from China and calls for the need to make Chinese mothers become knowers and agents of knowledge. Although there are black and Chicana feminist epistemologies, currently there is no comparable discourse in the study of Chinese feminist epistemology, particularly on newly-immigrated Chinese mothers in the USA. By examining Chinese mothers＇ experiences immigrating to the United States and educating their children in the transnational context, the paper agrees that both endarkened feminist epistemology and transnational feminism cannot fully interpret and address newly-immigrated Chinese mothers＇ experiences. Drawing the research data directly from Chinese mothers, the paper describes different challenges Chinese mothers faced in immigrating and their children＇s education due to various factors, such as language, historical and cultural roots, to highlight Chinese mothers＇ various experiences in immigration and their children＇s education in the transnational context.     

Teaching and learning in kindergarten

Teaching and learning in kindergarten is related, on the one hand, to the principles, methods and forms of teachers＇ work that should optimally contribute to pre-school child development and learning, and on the other hand, to the issues of the developing their reasoning and other aspects of their personality. It is for this reason that the responsibility of kindergarten teachers, in view Kindergartens must strive to ensure quality teaching and of instruction and learning of young children, is huge. learning environment for very young children, which in addition fosters an atmosphere of pleasure and comfort. This paper aims to present the significance of instruction and learning of pre-school children today, in particular that within the institutionalised education （in kindergarten）. The author＇s points of interest were how instruction and learning of young children in kindergarten was perceived in the past and the contemporary view on modern instruction and learning ofpre-school children in kindergartens.     

Facing Challenges of Early Biliteracy： Struggle or Success Within the Taiwanese Mixed Families

This study examines the micro-contextual factors related to early bilingualism in Taiwan that might enhance or hinder children＇s language acquisition. The major research method was ethnography. Data were gathered from two groups of mixed children--non-language-delayed and language-delayed--from families with Southeast Asian immigrant mothers. The theoretical framework used was new literacy studies. Similarities and differences were both found in the home literacy contexts of the delayed and non-delayed groups. Father-child literacy events and the mother＇s language orientation upon arrival seemed to be nearly identical. The differences between the two groups consisted of certain aspects of the home language environments. The home literacy contexts of the language-delayed group appeared to be more restricted in terms of language diversity, mother-child literacy events, and the mother＇s Chinese proficiency, social circles, and attitude toward school. Bilingualism did not seem to cause delays in language development in Taiwanese children.     

An Analysis of the Effects of Communication Skills Training Provided to the Mothers of Six-Year-Old Children on the Social Skills of Children

This study aims to analyze the effects of communication skills training program provided to the mothers on the social skills of their children. The study uses pre- and post-tests control group design. Experiment and control groups consisted of a total of 30 six-year-old children who were enrolled in nursery school. Experiment group consisted of 15 children; control group consisted of 15 children. The mothers of the children in experiment group were provided communication skills training for 13 weeks. SSES （social skills evaluation scale） was administered to the children before and after the training. The results of pre- and post- tests were compared and the effects of mothers＇ training program on the social skills of the children were investigated.     

Learning About Herbs and Spices in the Preschool Period

This study examined how much 4-year-old children know about herbs and spices. We researched how much knowledge children could obtain through experiential learning by growing plants in an herb garden and by using herbs and spices in their food. An experiment with one control and one experimental group was carried out, each comprising 18 children. With semi-structured interviews, the authors established the state of the children＇s previous knowledge on herbs and spices and recognition of plants, exemplified by growing plants and plants used in food dishes. Children from the experimental group then continued to grow herbs and spices and use them in food dishes. Following these activities, the acquired knowledge was established with repeated semi-structured interviews in both groups. At the beginning of the experiment, the children＇s prior knowledge and recognition of plants were very rudimentary. Only 33% of the children in the experimental group recognized parsley, 22% of them knew chamomile, and 17% of them knew sage and chamomile in tea. Following the activities, children of the experimental group showed statistically significant improvement in plant recognition （mint 100%, oregano on pizza 100%, chamomile 94%, parsley 94%, and oregano 94%）. We conclude that through activities of growing plants in herb gardens and their use as food ingredients already in early childhood when eating patterns develop, children obtain much knowledge of herbs and spices.     

《为奴十二载》

Solomon Northup was a married man with two children living in New York when he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Twelve years later, he managed to escape. On returning home, he wrote a story about his experience called Twelve Years a Slave. This has just been made into a film that＇s directed by Steve McQueen and which stars Chiwetel Ejiofor （as Solomon）, Michael Fassbender and Benedict Cumberbatch. Here＇s the incredible and true story of Solomon Northup.     

短文一则

Have you heard of HFMD？What＇ s HFMD？ It＇ s a kind of horrible disease. It＇ s short for Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease. Thousands of Chinese children are suffering from it. What is the disease like？ Can we do something to prevent it ？     

An empirical study on teaching urban young children music and English by contrastive elements of music and songs

The purpose of the study is to teach urban young children music concepts and English by composing creative music and songs with contrast elements. The subjects were seven urban young children aged from three to four in a Taiwan kindergarten. The duration was twenty-four weeks, with two sessions per week. The teaching contents included Hello Song, Musical Movement, Music Appreciation and Goodbye Song. The study applied the thematic music elements to the teaching content. The main methodology was a qualitative study and quantitative data used to receive objective support. Assessment included a pre-test at the beginning, a post-test and participation observation at the end of the study. The head of the kindergarten, the classroom teacher and a parent completed activity feedback forms to obtain social validity. The results show that through the use of creative music pieces of contrast and song activities, urban young children＇s understanding of music concepts was progressive and English ability was improved. The study findings are： （1） Using contrastive music pieces is a good method for teaching very young urban children to understand music concepts; （2） Creating simple target objective songs with contrast elements is a good way for urban young children to learn simple English; （3） Music with contrastive elements could motivate urban young children to do movement spontaneously and learn the spoken language simultaneously; and （4） Contrastive music could be used for pre-classical music learning.     

英文摘要

Jiangmen＇ s Maritime Silk Road and Commercial Trade Abstract： Jiangmen＇ s marine culture has a long history. Taishan was one of the important posts in the maritime silk route and the Jiangmen port was an important distribution center for maritime trade. Also, Jiangmen Wuyi people has a long history of venturing out to seas to conduct foreign trade. Mining Jiangmen＇ s ocean culture resources is helpful to the Jiangmen＇ s contemporary development of marine economy and to the richness and completeness of Guangdong＇ s marine culture research.     

Autumn

Autumn comes. It＇s harvest（收获） time. Look, the children got lots of corns （玉米） and pumpkins （南瓜） on the farm. They are very happy. There are some things hiding in the picture. Can you find them？ Have a try!