What Brain Research Suggests for Teaching Reading Strategies

How the brain learns to read has been the subject of much neuroscience educational research. Evidence is mounting for identifiable networks of connected neurons that are particularly active during reading processes such as response to visual and auditory stimuli, relating new information to prior knowledge, long-term memory storage, comprehension, and memory retrieval. This article offers strategies that build on current research showing the correlation of brain structure and literacy development, providing interventions for educators.     

The ABC of peer mentoring – what secondary students have to say about cross-age peer mentoring in a regional Australian school

Cross-age peer mentoring is an educational model that builds on peer support and mentoring to assist young people to enhance social relationships, develop cognitive skills, and promote positive identity development. In this article, we outline the evaluation process of a cross-age peer-mentoring program implemented in an Australian secondary school. This program had a distinctive focus on blending cross-age peer mentoring, academic tutoring, and social support roles. We focus on the program's consumers – the voices of Year 7 students (mentees) and Year 10 students (mentors). Student perspectives were gathered using qualitative methods through repeated focus groups. Data were thematically analysed, and the findings show observed changes in social relationships, problem-solving skills, and engagement with literacy. We discuss the importance of this relationship for effective learning and examine the reported changes to engagement with relationship building. Implications for developing whole-of-school support and increasing wider participation are discussed.     

Restrictive physical interventions and teacher professionalism: a discussion

This article examines how the use of restrictive physical interventions (RPIs) for pupils within a social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) special needs primary school relate to teacher professionalism. The dialogue is written from the perspective of the headteacher of such a school. It is a personal response to the suggestion that teachers are sometimes reluctant to identify themselves as professionals, and examines the extent to which RPIs cast them as carers rather than educators. The discussion addresses the question: To what extent does the use of RPIs in a SEMH special needs school constitute an aspect of teacher professionalism, and what shape does this take? The work concludes with the suggestion that the use of RPIs transcends any debate about professionalism, and that those working in the SEMH field need to focus their attention on ensuring these acts are conducted in a manner that meets the needs of the pupils.     

Academic developers and international collaborations: the importance of personal abilities and aptitudes

Academic developers are increasingly involved in international collaborations in learning and teaching. Many factors contribute to successful collaborations; we argue that the personal abilities and aptitudes of academic developers are one key element. Building trust and relationships are central to creating the networks at individual, group, and institutional levels that are essential for effective collaboration. There is limited literature on academic development in international collaborations and on its personal dimensions. We illustrate these ideas using a UK-Pakistan collaboration. Attention to the personal dimension is likely to be a key consideration for other academic developers working in international collaborations.     

Protecting academic freedom in changing times: the role of Heads of Departments

In changing times for higher education that are dominated by a neoliberal ideology, we set out to uncover how Heads of Departments (HoDs) perceive their role with respect to supporting their staff and their academic freedom. Freedom to pursue academic research is seen as key to the generation of new knowledge yet it is potentially constrained by funding regimes and university accountability systems. As HoDs operate at the interface between university systems and individual academic projects, how they perceive their role can have a profound influence on the working environment of their departmental staff. The research study is located in two successful departments in a research intensive university in England. The study shows that the HoDs were not captured by the neoliberal discourse and aimed to protect their staff so they could ‘get on with their work’. In so doing they interpreted university demands to the best advantage of their departments but were not active in challenging university driven changes, thus raising questions about the effects of accommodating to change, so risking incremental change, and of how less successful departments might be able to protect their staff and their academic freedom.     

Film Reference Works

John M. Smith and Tim Cawkwell (eds.) The World Encyclopedia of the Film (New York: World, 1972 -- $25.00)

The Working Teacher's Personal Guide to Film Sources (Stanford, Ca.: ERIC Clearinghouse on Media and Technology, 1972 -- single copies free on request, paper)

D. Richard Bach (ed.) The Film Buff's Bible of Motion Pictures (1915-1972) (Hollywood, Calif.: Hollywood Film Archive, 8344 Melrose Ave., 1972 -- $24.00)

John Willis' Screen World: 1972 (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972 -- $8.95)

George Sadoul, Dictionary of Films, and Dictionary of Film Makers (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1972 -- $16.50/5.95 and $14.50/4.95 respectively)

Clifford McCarty's Published Screenplays: A Checklist (Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1971 -- $6.50)

James M. Salem, A Guide to Critical Reviews, Part IV: The Screenplay from the Jazz Singer to Dr. Strangelove (Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1971 -- S30.00 for the set)

Cinema Catalog (Larry Edmunds Bookshop Inc., 6658 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California 90028 -- $2.95, paper)

Catalog of Film Literature (Cinemabilia, 10 Cornelia St., New York 10014 -- $2.50, paper)     

Business of Broadcasting

Joseph S. Johnson and Kenneth K. Jones' Modern Radio Station Practices (Belmont, Calif.: Wadsworth, 1972—$7.95)

Edd Routt (double letters in each name correct) The Business of Radio Broadcasting (Blue Ridge Summit, Pa.: Tab Books, 1972— $12.95)

Giraud Chester, Garnet Garrison, and Edgar Willis' Television and Radio (New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1971—$11.95)

Evelyn Sarson (ed.). Action for Children's Television (New York: Avon Discus Books, 1971— $1.25, paper)

The Fourth Network (New York: The Network Project, 102 Earl Hall, Columbia University, 1971—$3.00, paper)

William Kuhns' Exploring Television (Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1971—$3.20, paper; with a Teacher's Guide available for $1.00, paper)

Wayne Green's (ed.), The Fascinating World of Radio Communications (Blue Ridge Summit, Pa.: Tab Books, 1971—$6.95/3.95)

The Wit and Wisdom of Archie Bunker (New York: Popular Library, 1971—.95, paper)     

Film History

Richard Meran Barsam's Nonfiction Film: A Critical History (New York: Dutton, 1973 -- $9.95/4.95)

Stanley Kauffmann and Bruce Henstell (eds.) American Film Criticism from the Beginnings to Citizen Kane: Reviews of Significant Films at the Time They First Appeared (New York: Liveright 1973 -- $12.00/3.95)

Donald C. Willis' Horror and Science Fiction Films: A Checklist (Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1972 -- $15.00)

Chris Steinbrunner and Burt Goldblatt's Cinema of the Fantasic (New York: Saturday Review Press, 1972 -- $9.95)

Lawrence B. Thomas' The MGM Years: The Golden Age of Movie Musicals (New Rochelle, N.Y.: Columbia House (distribution by Arlington House), 1972 -- $14.95)     

Teachers Don’t Always Do What They Think They Should: A Preliminary Validation of the Early Childhood Educators’ Knowledge of Self-Regulation Skills Questionnaire

The extent to which teachers understand the concept of self-regulation skills and how best to implement practices that enhance self-regulation in children in the early childhood education classroom remains unexamined. The purpose of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of the self-reporting Early Childhood Educators Knowledge of Self-Regulation Questionnaire (ECESRQ) instrument designed to identify teachers’ knowledge and instruction of self-regulation skills in the classroom. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to determine three latent factors: teacher attitudes and beliefs, classroom management techniques, and child behavior. The findings identified parallel the literature in the preservice teacher-training arena, suggesting a theoretical basis for the underlying constructs. EFA contributed to establishing good estimates of construct validity in the ECESRQ; in addition Cronbach’s alpha results demonstrated moderate levels of internal reliability. Pearson correlation was used to additionally determine the extent to which teachers understand self-regulatory skills and their ability to implement effective tools in the classroom to enhance these skills. Results and implications for practice in the early childhood classroom are discussed.