General auditory processing,speech perception and phonological awareness skills in Chinese–English biliteracy

This study focused on the associations of general auditory processing, speech perception, phonological awareness and word reading in Cantonese‐speaking children from Hong Kong learning to read both Chinese (first language [L1]) and English (second language [L2]). Children in Grades 2–4 (N=133) participated and were administered measures of IQ, word reading, phonological awareness, speech perception and auditory processing in both L1 and L2. Auditory processing uniquely explained both L1 and L2 word reading. While L1 speech perception accounted for unique variance in L1 word reading, L2 phonological awareness explained unique variance in L2 word reading. In cross‐language comparisons, L1 phonological awareness and speech perception were uniquely associated with L2 word reading, suggesting cross‐language transfer from L1 to L2 only. Results underscore the importance of auditory processing for reading across variable learning contexts.     

The lawyer and the community

This analysis of audience images of contemporary women politicians is organized under three classifications: temperament (the psychological dimension), role (the sociological dimension), and status (the political dimension). The findings provide an answer to the question raised in the title of the essay.     

Teaching criminal investigation/criminalistics with Fatal Vision/Fatal Justice

This article discusses how two publications can be utilized as a practical pedagogical tool when teaching courses covering criminal investigations and criminalistics. The first book, Fatal Vision, has proven to be a useful tool in complementing a criminal investigations textbook with a real-life scenario that students can analyze and draw upon to understand the importance of evidence collection at a crime scene. The second book, Fatal Justice, has proven to be the natural extension of the first book, which serves as a useful tool in explaining the connection between evidence collection and forensic science, providing a real-world, in-depth, and controversial exploration of criminalistics.     

Can Irrational Become Unconstitutional? NCLB's 100% Presuppositions

This article identifies two presuppositions underlying No Child Left Behind's (NCLB) system of adequate yearly progress. The first is that each state must bring 100% of its students up to proficiency on state tests by the 2013–14 school year. The second is that each student's test score must effectively be treated by the state as if his or her school were 100% responsible for that score. The article demonstrates that these two 100% presuppositions are unsupportable and then explores the NCLB rules in the context of the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause, which prohibits the government from arbitrary exercises of power.     

AFRICAN AMERICAN ADMINISTRATORS' EXPERIENCES IN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

The purpose of this study was to better understand the experiences of African American administrators in predominantly white colleges and universities. In depth interviews were conducted with eight executive level administrators: six presidents and two associate vice chancellors. The interview process used a phenomenological approach focusing on the participants' interpretations and evaluations of their respective administrative careers. The participants were asked questions relative to their experiences which led them to predominantly white colleges and universities, their current administrative positions and responsibilities, and provided advice to African Americans seeking similar administrative positions.     

The Soft Bigotry of Low Expenditures

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was put forward by President Bush to end what he called “the soft bigotry of low expectations.” The Act passed Congress with broad bipartisan support, with many legislators agreeing to NCLB's testing regimen in exchange for White House promises of specific budget increases, embodied in the form of spending authorizations for 2002 and beyond. However, actual White House budget requests and actual congressional appropriations have fallen short of these promised levels and have now generated litigation. This article identifies and examines different approaches for calculating necessary funding for NCLB. It then considers the implications of past and current appropriate levels.     

COMMUNITY COLLEGE ENROLLMENT AS A FUNCTION OF ECONOMIC INDICATORS

This study investigated the ability of national economic trends to predict enrollment in community colleges. Data from government documents and source books were used in a correlational analysis to explore the relationship between the national economy and enrollment in community colleges. The results indicated that Unemployment Rate, Gross Domestic Product, Dollars Disposable Income, and Personal Consumption Expenditures are good indicators of trends in community college enrollment. The Consumer Price Index and the Average Hourly Earnings of Production Workers were not significantly correlated to Total Enrollment or to Per Capita Community College Enrollment.     

Literacy Growth in the Academic Year Versus Summer From Preschool Through Second Grade: Differential Effects of Schooling Across Four Skills

Differences in literacy growth over the summer versus the school year were examined to isolate how schooling affects children's literacy development from preschool through second grade across four literacy skills. Children (n = 383) were tested individually twice each year for up to 4 years on measures of phonological awareness, decoding, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. Growth curve analyses indicated that schooling effects were greatest for decoding skills and reading comprehension, were medium in size for phonological awareness, and were less evident for vocabulary. Except for vocabulary, relatively small amounts of growth were observed for preschoolers, followed by a period of rapid growth for kindergarteners and first graders, which slowed again for second graders. Findings demonstrate the differential effect of schooling on four separate literacy skills during the crucial school transition period.     

Developing Cultural Competency in Early Childhood Preservice Educators Through a Cultural Self-Analysis Project

Today more than ever, preparation for diversity is essential for all teachers. Hence, teacher preparation programs are charged with preparing culturally competent teachers who have the knowledge, skills, and disposition to work with children and families from cultures different from their own. This article investigates an innovative approach, the Cultural Self-Analysis (CSA) Project, to accomplish this task with 26 prospective early childhood teachers. CSA Project steps are presented. Data collected on multiple levels were analyzed using constant comparative methodologies. Findings from this initial investigation suggest the CSA Project holds promise as an approach to prepare culturally responsive teachers in three major ways. Participants reported increased confidence and comfort, preparedness to facilitate home connections with culturally diverse persons, and enlightenment of teacher roles/responsibilities beyond academic instruction.