Editor's choice 2008: Selected online learning resources

This article is an annual compilation of useful resources that pertain to the field of online learning and uses of the Internet for instructional delivery. Updates were made to this list since last year's publishing. Resources are organized into several categories, including texts, journals, and Web sites.     

Literacy 8–12 months: what are babies learning?

Shared book reading in families is strongly linked with successful school literacy and thus with identity, belonging and participation in literate societies. From an ‘emergent’ perspective, literacy is recognised as beginning from birth. However, despite exceptions such as research into the UK program, ‘Bookstart’, most research into shared book reading does not focus on babies. In this paper, I report on interactions during shared book reading between 10 babies aged 8–12 months, and their mothers. A detailed examination of linguistic and paralinguistic features of the interactions in the ten mother–baby dyads showed varying individual patterns of language use, discourse structure and paralinguistic interaction. There were also differences in children's dispositions to engage in the activity. The findings from this study have important implications for parent support, prevention/intervention programs, and early childhood settings that include infants and toddlers.     

Gender matters in transition to adulthood: A survey study of adolescents with disabilities and their families

This survey study explored gender differences in transition imperatives and opportunities for youth with disabilities (N = 521). Results indicated that males and females differ in terms of the adult outcomes they hope to achieve, transition training opportunities they have received, and their access to teachers and other nonfamilial adults to assist them. Youth and parents who responded to the survey indicated that gender stereotypes continue to exist and that these stereotypes result in lowered expectations for girls. Gender stereotypes were found to vary by ethnicity. Access to health insurance and a good doctor were rated as top priorities for all youth transitioning to adulthood. Implications for educators, psychologists, and counselors are discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Reinscribing urban: teaching high school mathematics in low income, urban communities of color

This article reports findings from a research and professional development project at two high schools located in low-income, urban communities of color. The project collaborates with teachers on improving their instructional practices, using a framework of culturally relevant mathematics pedagogy, which is described in detail here. We present results from a qualitative and quantitative analysis of mathematics instruction in 68 classroom observations of seven teachers. In particular, we use culturally relevant mathematics pedagogy as a lens through which to analyze instruction and the associated opportunities to learn mathematics provided to students.