Mediated Effects of Preschool Intervention

Consistent evidence that the effect of preschool intervention on cognitive achievement fades with the passage of time has resulted in a search for mediators of preschool. This study investigated factors that play a role in mediating the effects of a government funded Child–Parent Center preschool program. The school adjustment of 266 low-income, mostly Black preschool children and of 125 comparison group children were matched on neighborhood characteristics and were traced from kindergarten through the third year of school (1986–1989). Data were collected from children, parents, and teachers on entering kindergarten cognitive readiness, teacher ratings of socioemotional maturity, parental involvement at home and in school, grade retention, assignment to special education, school mobility and cognitive achievement in reading and mathematics. Results of a latent-factor structural model indicated that preschool influenced later achievement and retention indirectly rather than directly. Four major pathways through which preschool exerted its effect included (1) cognitive readiness, (2) cognitive readiness and teacher ratings of socioemotional maturity, (3) teacher ratings of socioemotional maturity, and (4) parent involvement and school mobility. Cognitive readiness, teacher ratings, and parent involvement also transmitted effects to grade retention. That preschool's influence on later outcomes is largely indirect indicates its dependency on intervening factors in exerting effects. These intervening factors appear to be critical in promoting school success of children at risk.     

The Effectiveness and Precision of Intervention Fidelity Measures in Preschool Intervention Research

A quantifiable measure of teachers’ intervention fidelity when delivering curriculum-based interventions allows researchers to interpret the effectiveness of the curricula under scrutiny. Fidelity measures, however, must accurately represent the critical components of an intervention to confirm that the intervention was delivered as intended and to provide evidence that the delivered intervention is the source of change in targeted outcomes. Research Findings: Sixteen fidelity measures used in the Preschool Curriculum Evaluation Research initiative were evaluated on how well they represented teachers’ adherence, the quality of their delivery, the extent to which they exposed children to the curriculum, and participant responsiveness. Most fidelity measures insufficiently represented adherence, quality, exposure, and responsiveness. Practice or Policy: Implications focus on the importance of measure development and the need for developers and researchers to define critical components of a curriculum when constructing corresponding measures of fidelity.     

幼儿教师复原力干预研究述评

挖掘幼儿教师的积极资源,提升幼儿教师的复原力,对于缓解幼儿教师的职业压力、防范职业倦怠,从而维护和促进其身心健康具有重要意义.文章对有关幼儿教师复原力的干预研究进行了梳理,基于此,建议未来在提升幼儿教师复原力的干预项目开发上,应注重优势导向、关注职业群体和环境特点并且有利于渗透到幼儿教师的工作实践和生活中.     

Effects of a Cross-Linguistic Storybook Intervention on the Second Language Development of Two Preschool English Language Learners

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a shared reading experience between parent and child in the child’s home language on the emergent literacy and language acquisition in English of preschool-age English Language Learners. Parents of Spanish-speaking four-year-old Head Start students read storybooks in Spanish with their children concurrently with the use of the English language version of the books in the classroom. A single subject design with multiple baselines across subjects and settings was applied. Observed variables included changes in the frequency of utterances, the Mean Length of Utterance-word, and the frequency of spontaneous or child-initiated utterances in various settings within the Head Start classroom. The results indicated that there might be a relation between the shared reading experience in the home language and the child’s second language acquisition. Additionally, there appeared to be a relation between the behaviors and the settings. Finally, implications of this study were discussed.     

Preschool Literacy Intervention for Low-Income,Ethnically Diverse Children: Effects of the Early Authors Program Through Kindergarten

Contemporary perspectives on emergent literacy in preschool emphasize the importance of providing developmentally appropriate, authentic, early writing experiences and supporting students’ home language and culture. The current study analyzed kindergarten outcomes for 82 linguistically diverse, low-income children (60% Black, 40% Latino) who participated in the Early Authors Program (EAP) during preschool , and those for a demographically similar comparison group of 33 children who did not receive the intervention. The intervention emphasized family involvement and cultural sensitivity and involved children self-authoring books about themselves and their family. Children in the EAP program scored higher than comparison children on school readiness screeners a year or two later in kindergarten, and were more likely to be classified as “ready’ for school. EAP children also outperformed comparison children on emergent (English) literacy skills in kindergarten as measured by the DIBELS. Boys in the EAP group received higher grades in kindergarten than boys in the comparison group. The positive effects of the Early Authors Program appear to be sustained through kindergarten.     

被忽视幼儿同伴关系干预的个案研究

本研究以1名被忽视幼儿为个案,设计了促使幼儿积极参与并能发挥其智能强项的活动,对其进行了14周的教育干预.干预过程中,用多个变量对幼儿在自由活动中同伴交往的情况进行了记录.结果显示,被干预幼儿同伴交往的多个变量水平高于基线;干预后幼儿建立了相对稳定的交往结构.研究表明,充分利用幼儿的智能强项,让其在智能强项领域活动中与同伴交往的干预方案,对发展幼儿良好的同伴关系是有效的.     

Family-School Communication in Preschool and Kindergarten in the Context of a Relationship-Enhancing Intervention

The present study is a longitudinal examination of family-school communication in preschool and kindergarten. Preschool and kindergarten teachers and family workers of 75 children from families with low SES logged the frequency and characteristics of family-school communication, resulting in over 22,000 contacts. Data were collected during a period of implementation of an intervention designed to enhance relationships upon the transition to school. Family demographic information and information about family support for academics at home were assessed through parent interviews and children's behavior problems were measured through teacher questionnaires in preschool and kindergarten. Familyteacher communication decreased between preschool and kindergarten and there was a shift from shorter to longer types of communication between the two years. Communication differed as a function of program. Counter to expectation, few family factors and experiences predicted frequency of family-school communication, and more frequent communication in preschool was unrelated to more frequent communication in kindergarten. Findings have several implications for practice. Families experience a great decrease in communication between preschool and kindergarten and interventions designed to ease the transition to kindergarten need to either ameliorate the decrease or acknowledge its existence to prepare families. Otherwise, this contrast may be interpreted negatively. Given that our findings show no relation between a family's communication in preschool and kindergarten, it appears that it is not enough to support communication in preschool to ensure frequent communication in kindergarten.     

Family-School Communication in Preschool and Kindergarten in the Context of a Relationship-Enhancing Intervention

The present study is a longitudinal examination of family-school communication in preschool and kindergarten. Preschool and kindergarten teachers and family workers of 75 children from families with low SES logged the frequency and characteristics of family-school communication, resulting in over 22,000 contacts. Data were collected during a period of implementation of an intervention designed to enhance relationships upon the transition to school. Family demographic information and information about family support for academics at home were assessed through parent interviews and children's behavior problems were measured through teacher questionnaires in preschool and kindergarten. Familyteacher communication decreased between preschool and kindergarten and there was a shift from shorter to longer types of communication between the two years. Communication differed as a function of program. Counter to expectation, few family factors and experiences predicted frequency of family-school communication, and more frequent communication in preschool was unrelated to more frequent communication in kindergarten. Findings have several implications for practice. Families experience a great decrease in communication between preschool and kindergarten and interventions designed to ease the transition to kindergarten need to either ameliorate the decrease or acknowledge its existence to prepare families. Otherwise, this contrast may be interpreted negatively. Given that our findings show no relation between a family's communication in preschool and kindergarten, it appears that it is not enough to support communication in preschool to ensure frequent communication in kindergarten.     

提高自闭症幼儿装扮游戏能力的教育干预研究

为探索提高自闭症幼儿装扮游戏能力的教育干预方法和途径 ,采用了变异 -个案研究法 ,对两名实际年龄为 5 9、6 1个月 ,心理年龄为 30、31个月的自闭症幼儿 ,进行了为时 11个月的教育干预研究。通过量和质的分析检验 ,证明了教育干预的有效性。结果表明 ,教师和家长以及同伴与自闭症幼儿能每天在一起进行 30 - 40分钟的装扮游戏 ,并在这个过程中给予积极的情感支持和鼓励行为 ,能有效地促进自闭症幼儿装扮游戏水平的提高。     

学前残疾儿童家长育儿自我效能感干预研究——基于北京市学前残疾儿童家长数据

以揭示学前残疾儿童家长育儿效能、亲职需求现状与特点为起点,依据分析结果开发个性化小组干预方案,对学前残疾儿童家长实施30个小时小组干预活动,检验小组团体辅导对提升学前残疾儿童家长育儿效能感的影响。结果表明:(1)实验组和对照组团体辅导后育儿效能水平存在显著差异,实验组总分显著高于对照组,且小组干预效果稳定;(2)学前残疾儿童家长在专业支持、服务信息方面的高需求水平呈现稳定、持久状态;(3)小组团体干预有效提升学前残疾儿童家长育儿效能感。     

Early Responsiveness to Intensive Behavioural Intervention Predicts Outcomes Among Preschool Children with Autism

Archival data from a private day‐school offering early intensive behavioural intervention based on the principles of applied behaviour analysis to preschoolers with autism (N = 29) were analysed longitudinally. Teacher reports on the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS) were available up to 4 times and on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales—Classroom Edition (VABS‐CE), at 2 time points. Parent reports on the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) were available at 2 time points. All assessments occurred approximately at 6‐month intervals. Children showed statistically significant progress across all skill domains on the ABLLS and on selected subscales and the composite scales of the VABS‐CE and ATEC. Gains were substantial for some children and minor for others. When divided into performance‐based groups, both higher‐performing and lower‐performing groups showed improvement over time, with greater improvement for the higher‐performing group. Nine of 16 children who had been discharged from the programme entered inclusive kindergarten or first‐grade classrooms with an aide. Seven discharged children entered special education classrooms. No child progressed to the point that special education services were not needed. Findings are discussed relevant to the extant literature on early intensive behavioural intervention outcomes among young children with autism.     

Peer Mediated Intervention in Reading Instruction Using Pause,Prompt and Praise

A multiple baseline research design across subjects (pairs) was used to examine the effectiveness of peer tutoring in reading using the Pause, Prompt and Praise tutoring procedure. Twelve 11 year‐old, Year 6 students of varying reading ability were trained in the systematic use of delayed attention, prompting and praise to tutor 12 Year 6 students of a similar age and similar reading ability. Individual trends in tutor behaviours were examined using a statistical programme specifically designed for analysing data from interrupted time series research designs. A one‐tailed t‐test was also computed to test for significant differences in pre‐ and post‐test means in reading achievement. Continuous data collection throughout the programme indicated that all peers were effective in increasing their use of the tutoring behaviours; not all tutors experienced statistically significant increases, however. Both peer tutors and tutees made statistically significant gains in reading accuracy and comprehension over the course of the intervention.     

浅议幼儿教育中的放大效应

放大效应本是一个工程、生产的技术术语,具有高灵敏性和夸大性的特点。放大效应同样适用于幼儿教育中。目前,成人在教育幼儿时,常表现出过分夸大幼儿的正确行为表现或行为结果而造成不适当的完全放大效应,或对幼儿的局部问题或小毛病过于敏感而造成不适当的部分放大效应,或全盘否定幼儿的行为表现或行为结果而造成不适当的否定放大效应等。针对不同类型的放大效应采取合理的教育方法,对提高幼儿教育质量有很好的促进作用。     

学前残疾儿童家长亲职压力干预研究

通过为期两个月共八次的小组辅导活动对12名学前残疾儿童母亲进行干预,以考察小组干预对降低学前残疾儿童母亲亲职压力水平的有效性和适用性。结果表明:(1)实验组和对照组小组干预后亲职压力反应水平存在显著差异,实验组亲职压力反应总分及情绪症状、行为症状和精神症状得分显著低于对照组;小组干预效果稳定;(2)小组干预对学前残疾儿童母亲的身体症状和心智症状影响不显著。     

Preschool Self-Regulation and Preacademic Skills as Mediators of the Long-Term Impacts of an Early Intervention

This study explores children's early academic and self-regulatory skills as potential pathways through which a preschool enrichment program—the Chicago School Readiness Project (CSRP)—may contribute to low-income children's long-term outcomes (N = 466; M_age at baseline = 4.10 years). We find that CSRP's impact on high school grades may be partially explained by early gains in vocabulary and math skills. Although impacts on high school executive function (EF) were more equivocal, our results suggest that early improvements in math skills attributable to the intervention may, in turn, predict long-term gains in EF skills. These results complement the existing literature on preschool fade out, while also shedding light on the cross-domain relations between academic and self-regulatory skills.     

我国幼儿攻击性行为干预效果及调节因素的元分析

为综合评价我国幼儿攻击性行为研究干预效果,进一步探究幼儿攻击性行为干预的调节因素,以"幼儿攻击性行为干预""幼儿冲突行为干预""幼儿欺负行为干预"为检索策略,运用Reva Man 5.3软件对我国幼儿攻击性行为干预实验结果进行元分析,并分析干预方式、干预对象、干预时间、测量工具等调节因素对干预效果的影响(纳入26个独立效应量,N=875)。结果表明:我国幼儿攻击行为干预整体上达到中等强度效果量〔SMD=-0.77,95%CI(-0.91,-0.62),P<0.000 1〕;行为干预比游戏干预更有效;干预时长与干预效果存在动态的关系;以家庭为对象的干预方式效果优于直接作用于幼儿的干预方式;测量工具的差异会对研究结果产生一定影响。     

Enhancing Television Literacy Skills Among Preschool Children Through an Intervention Program in the Kindergarten

A study amongst 150 preschool children assigned to experimental and control groups indicates that an intervention program supported by systematic teachers' mediation can enhance preschoolers interpretive skills of television material, such as the ability to identify elements of fantasy in a television presentation in relation to special effects, the ability to bridge temporal and logical gaps, the ability to identify elements of camera work and their visual implications and the ability to make intelligent predictions based on inference from visual cues.     

Long-Term Effects of First-Grade Multitier Intervention

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term effects of 2 first-grade Response to Intervention (RTI) models (Dynamic and Typical RTI) on the reading performance of students in second and third grade. Participants included 419 first-grade students (352 in second grade and 278 in third grade after attrition). Students were classified based on first-grade screeners as at risk or not at risk and then based on their RTI (no risk [NR], relative easy to remediate [ER], and requiring sustained remediation [SR]). Students in the dynamic RTI condition had higher reading comprehension scores at the end of third grade. At the end of second grade, ER and SR students had lower reading scores than NR students. At the end of third grade, there were no differences in reading skills between ER and NR students, but SR students had lower scores than NR students. ER students in the dynamic RTI condition had higher reading scores at the end of second grade than those in the typical RTI condition. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.