Family favoritism: Defining a communication-oriented construct

This study draws from 98 participant interviews to develop an empirical definition of family favoritism. Results indicate that study participants understand favoritism as a consistent, sometimes situational parental demonstration of preferential treatment toward a particular child, especially in consideration of attention, resources, and affection. Considering a communication as constitutive of reality perspective in conjunction with the definition helps to illuminate the communicative nature of favoritism, especially as participants recognize how attention and affection are communicated and resources are offered. The results of this study suggest that communication is constitutive of favoritism, and further studies should consider communication’s centrality in familial favoritism.     

Are young dual language learners homogeneous? Identifying subgroups using latent class analysis

Although dual language learners (DLLs) are linguistically, culturally, and socially diverse, researchers usually study them in aggregate and compare them to non-DLLs. The authors' purpose was to identify subgroups of preschool DLLs using latent class analysis. There were 7,361 DLLs and 69,457 non-DLLs. Results revealed three distinct classes. Children in class 1 (emergent bilingual children) tended to speak mostly their native language but some English at home and in the classroom. Children in class 2 (bilingual children) tended to speak English only in the classroom, but spoke both languages at home. Children in class 3 (heritage language speakers) tended to speak only their native language at home and in the classroom. Different demographic profiles and levels of development and learning were observed across classes. The DLL subgroups and their profiles provide important information about how educational programs may be tailored to meet the diverse needs of young DLLs.     

Examining the Validity of GOLD® With 4-Year-Old Dual Language Learners

Research Findings: This study builds on prior work related to the assessment of young dual language learners (DLLs). The purposes of the study were to (a) determine whether latent subgroups of preschool DLLs would replicate those found previously and (b) examine the validity of GOLD^® by Teaching Strategies with empirically derived subgroups. Latent class analysis confirmed previous findings of 3 distinct latent subgroups of DLLs (bilingual children, emergent bilingual children, and heritage language speakers). Results of differential item functioning analysis showed that with few exceptions, GOLD items functioned similarly, which indicates that groups matched on ability were similar in their item scores. The item pertaining to using conventional grammar consistently favored non-DLLs over heritage language speakers. The item pertaining to name writing consistently favored DLLs as a single group, emergent bilingual children, and heritage language speakers. Practice or Policy: Study results provide further support for the heterogeneity of DLLs and the use of GOLD with DLL subgroups. This provides the field with an opportunity to better understand this special population of children and enables teachers to plan with greater precision experiences that contribute to their development and learning.     

Simple Reaction Time as a Function of Response Complexity: Christina et al. (1982) Revisited

Abstract

Two alternative interpretations to the one proposed by Christina, Fischman, Vercruyssen, and Anson (1982) were investigated. They interpreted the simple reaction time (SRT) increase they found, which was thought to reflect an increase in programming time, to be due to the increase in number of movement parts from one response to another. Experiment 1(N = 15 males) tested the alternative interpretation that the SRT increase was caused by the difference in how the first movement part of the three responses was executed. However, no evidence was found to support this interpretation. Experiment 2 (N = 15 males) tested the alternative interpretation that the SRT increase was due to the increase in the demand for movement accuracy from one response to another. The results revealed that only a very small portion of the SRT increase could be attributed to the increased accuracy demand while the major portion of the increase was due to the increase in number of movement parts.     

Assessing Elementary Science Methods Students' Understanding About Global Climate Change

Global climate change, referred to as climate change in this paper, has become an important planetary issue, and given that K-12 students have numerous alternative conceptions or lack of prior knowledge, it is critical that teachers have an understanding of the fundamental science underlying climate change. Teachers need to understand the natural and human-induced factors affecting climate, and the potential consequences, and ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change. This study focusses on assessing preservice and inservice teachers' knowledge about climate change at the beginning and end of an instructional intervention embedded in an elementary science methods course. This paper describes the development of an instrument derived from the constructive modeling approach framework. The four components of this approach (the construct map, items design, outcome space, and measurement model) are discussed. In addition, the instructional intervention is described along with findings from the study and an analysis of the instrument.     

21st Century Paradigms for Pre-Service Teacher Technology Preparation

This study investigated major course changes in 11 sections of a stand-alone educational technology course redesigned around 21st century skill sets as opposed to technical skill development. Conducted in the fall of 2007 and spring 2008 with a random sample of 100 pre-service teachers, independent and paired sample t tests and correlational analyses were used to examine differences in students’ computer attitude, self-efficacy, and computer skills before and after instruction. Results of the study suggest that, even in a more rigorous course, pre-service teachers became less anxious about computers, their belief in the value of using technology to enhance teaching and learning as well as their self-efficacy toward integrating technology in the classroom significantly improved, and they became more advanced in their technical skills and knowledge of how to apply these skills in the classroom.     

The Jumpstart Model: The Contours of a New Force in Early Literacy

Jumpstart is a growing literacy program that is now active in 17 states in addition to the District of Columbia. The Jumpstart Model pairs children of low-income families with college mentors in the child's typical learning environment. Despite the prevalence and importance of Jumpstart, little has been written about either the general model of Jumpstart or the positive impacts the program has on both the children and the AmeriCorps members.     

La adquisición de una segunda lengua mediante inmersión: el enfoque canadiense

Resumen

En este artículo se presenta una revisión del primer Programa de Inmersión aplicado en la provincia de Quebec (Canadá) hacia la mitad de la década de los sesenta: el programa experimental de St. Lambert. Este programa fué diseñado para cubrir las necesidades y características de un grupo determinado de niños anglófonos canadienses. Se describen las características de éste programa, la evaluación que se llevó a cabo y los resultados obtenidos. Asimismo, se incluyen las modificaciones del programa original que han dado lugar a la aplicación de otros programas de características distintas que se describen a lo largo del artículo. En las conclusiones se pone de manifiesto la especifidad del diseño de estos programas con respecto al grupo para el que fueron diseñados y el desarrollo de nuevas formas de educación a partir de los programas de inmersión.