Measuring Bilingual Children''s Receptive Vocabularies

Receptive vocabulary of Hispanic children in Miami was tested in both English and Spanish with complementary standardized tests, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-R) and the Test de Vocabulario en Imágenes Peabody (TVIP-H). 105 bilingual first graders, of middle to high socioeconomic status relative to national norms, were divided according to the language(s) spoken in their homes. Both groups, whether they spoke only Spanish in the home (OSH) or both English and Spanish in the home (ESH), performed near the mean of 100 in Spanish receptive vocabulary (TVIP-H means 97.0 and 96.5); in contrast, ESH group children scored more than 1 SD higher in English than OSH group children (PPVT-R means 88.0 and 69.7, respectively). It appears, therefore, that learning 2 languages at once does not harm receptive language development in the language of origin, while it does lay the groundwork for superior performance in the majority language. Furthermore, an analysis of translation equivalents, items shared by both tests, shows that a statistically significant portion of bilingual children's lexical knowledge does not overlap in their 2 languages and is therefore not reflected in single-language scores.     

Post-traumatic stress disorder among school age Palestinian children

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the prevalence of PTSD among Palestinian school-age children. Variables that distinguish PTSD and non-PTSD children were examined, including child characteristics, socioeconomic status, family environment, and parental style of influence. METHOD: Participants were 1,000 children aged 12 to 16 years. They were selected from governmental, private, and United Nations Relief Work Agency (UNRWA) schools in East Jerusalem and various governorates in the West Bank. Questionnaires were administered in an interview format with children at school, and with the available parent at home. RESULTS: A substantial number of children experienced at least one lifetime trauma (54.7%). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was diagnosed in 34.1% of the children, most of whom were refugees, males, and working. Although the expected association between family environment, parental style of influence and PTSD symptomatoplogy was found in this study, family ambiance (child's experience of anxiety in home environment) was the only predictor in the final model. CONCLUSIONS: The results stress the importance of assessing PTSD in schools settings.     

Pulsatile fully developed flow in rectangular channels

Solutions for pulsatile fully developed flow of Newtonian viscous fluid in a straight rectangular channel can be synthesized from analytic solutions of steady flow and oscillatory flow. A new steady solution is presented that is valid for all duct aspect ratios. Also new oscillatory solutions are given, showing dependence on a “viscous diffusion length”, the square root of the kinematic viscosity divided by frequency.     

Podcasting as Transformative Work

Although technology is most often heralded an intrinsic efficiency, the process of using technology to create a text is full of opportunities to learn new information, create and distribute knowledge, and engage in identity work. This article explores how the production of 1 such technological text, a podcast, offered students opportunities to engage in sophisticated research practices and draw upon their cultural and semiotic resources in ways that are not possible through traditionally print-centric texts. Using the production of a podcast series in a diverse, urban second-grade classroom, this article seeks to provide insights into not only podcast creation with young learners, but also into the intense and meaningful literacy work possible during their production.     

Studies on the antiperoxide and antihaemolytic action of polyamines using human erythrocytes

Blood RBC's were used to study the role of polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine individually as antioxidants against the peroxidative action of H₂O₂ which leads to haemolysis of erythrocytes. Results indicated that putrescine did not act as antioxidant at all concentrations used in our studies. However, spermidine and spermine suppressed peroxidative changes in RBC's due to the action of H₂O₂ and this suppression was greater with higher concentration of these individual polyamines used, separately. Further, all the three polyamines decreased haemolysis of erythrocytes at all concentrations studied. The action of putrescine to suppress haemolysis of RBC's without showing antioxidant property hypothetically suggests that these properties of respective polyamines may have independent mechanism of action.     

Electronic mail in a children's distance course: trial and Evaluation

Children's correspondence schooling has long been practised in Australia. Its very history could make it prone to traditional practice. However, its continuing growth constantly opens avenues for experimentation. This paper describes and evaluates a project involving children from nine isolated families connected with the School. Staff and students used videotex, facsimile, 1200/75 baud modems, IBM personal computers with colour monitors, and the telephone. Though accompanied with the usual unpredictable problems, it was rated a great success.     

Popular Music

Donald M. Marquis' In Search of Buddy Bolden, First Man of Jazz (Baton Rouge, La.: Louisiana State University Press, 1978—$9.95)

David A. Jasen and Trebar Jay Tichenor's Rags and Ragtime: A Musical History (New York: Seabury Press, 1978—$14.95)

Arnold Shaw's Honkers and Shouters: The Golden Years of Rhythm and Blues (New York: Macmillan, 1978—$19.95/9.95)

Robert Stephen Spitz's The Making of Superstars: Artists and Executives of the Rock Music World (Garden City, N.Y.: Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1978—$8.95)

Vivian Claire's Judy Collins, and Linda Ronstadt (New York: Quick Fox (33 West 60th St.), 1978—$3.95, each, paper)

Edward Greenfield, Robert Layton, and Ivan March's The Penguin Stereo Record Guide (New York: Penguin Books, 1977—$8.95, paper)     

Editorial introduction

Editorial introduction     

The Rochford review,pre-key stage standards and the engagement model – what does it all mean to schools for children with SLD and PMLD?

The Rochford Review heralded new arrangements for statutory assessment for children with SLD and PMLD working below the national curriculum standard. New assessment arrangements, the pre-key stage standards and the engagement model, relate to two groups of pupils: pupils ‘not yet engaged’ and pupils ‘engaged’ in subject-specific study. This article looks at what these terms mean and examines what is involved in the new assessment arrangements.