Exploring the nature of associations between educators’ knowledge and their emergent literacy classroom practices

Reading and Writing - Educators’ content knowledge is considered a key determinant of classroom practices and thus children’s learning. In this study, we examine the nature of...     

PURPOSES AND APPROACHES OF SELECTED MENTORS IN SCHOOL‐BASED MENTORING: A COLLECTIVE CASE STUDY

Over the last decade, community leaders have connected with students through school‐based mentoring (SBM) programs (e.g., adults who mentor at‐risk students). However, research in the area of SBM is only on the cusp of understanding relationship elements for impacting youth. In this collective case study, we examined the perceptions and experiences of 11 selected mentors in dyadic relationships (i.e., mentee and mentor) to understand better ways to retain and to engage mentors for longer‐lasting mentoring relationships, providing a sense of connectedness for students. Specifically, we investigated purposes and approaches of mentoring through the voices and experiences of mentors working with elementary‐aged students in SBM. Results revealed self‐sustaining synergy within the dyads (with little or no program support) and themes of consistency, commitment, spirituality, playfulness, the use of self‐disclosure, creativity, and emphasis on the present. In addition, implications for cross‐cultural and, in particular, cross‐age mentoring are discussed. One exemplar case illustrates specific profile characteristics used to bridge age, gender, and cultural differences.     

Prediction of distance in hammer throwing

The aim of this study was to determine how much the predicted distance of a hammer throw is affected by (1) ignoring air resistance and (2) assuming that the centre of mass of the hammer coincides with the centre of the ball. Three-dimensional data from actual throws (men: 72.82 +/- 7.43 m; women: 67.78 +/- 4.02 m) were used to calculate the kinematic conditions of the hammer at release. A mathematical model of the hammer was then used to simulate the three-dimensional airborne motion of the hammer and to predict the distance of the throw. The distance predicted for vacuum conditions and using the ball centre to represent the hammer centre of mass was 4.30 +/- 2.64 m longer than the official distance of the throw for the men and 8.82 +/- 3.20 m longer for the women. Predictions using the true centre of mass of the hammer reduced the discrepancy to 2.39 +/- 2.58 m for the men and 5.28 +/- 2.88 m for the women. Predictions using air resistance and the true centre of mass of the hammer further reduced the discrepancy to -0.46 +/- 2.63 m for the men and 1.16 +/- 2.31 m for the women. Approximately half the loss of distance produced by air resistance was due to forces made on the ball and the remainder to forces made on the cable and handle. Equations were derived for calculation of the effects of air resistance and of the assumption that the centre of mass of the hammer coincides with the centre of the ball, on the distance of the throw.