Effectiveness of Selected Supplemental Reading Comprehension Interventions
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Results after two years of using three reading comprehension curricula show gains from one program and no effects for the other two on reading comprehension for fifth-graders, according to a study released by the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance in the Institute of Education Sciences. The study focused on whether 5th grade students in disadvantaged schools could be helped in making the transition from "learning to read" to "reading to learn" by bolstering the vocabulary and comprehension skills that allow them to organize and acquire knowledge from text.
Three commercially available supplemental reading comprehension curricula were used for a second year by school and teachers to teach explicit reading comprehension strategies--ReadAbout, Read for Real, and Project CRISS. The study included 182 teachers and 61 schools in 10 districts, with study schools within each district assigned by lottery to use one of the curricula or serve as a control group.
No positive impacts of the curricula on student reading comprehension were found in the study’s first year. Key findings after two years of using the curricula include:
* There was a positive, statistically significant impact of ReadAbout on social studies reading comprehension
Results after two years of using three reading comprehension curricula show gains from one program and no effects for the other two on reading comprehension for fifth-graders, according to a study released by the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance in the Institute of Education Sciences. The study focused on whether 5th grade students in disadvantaged schools could be helped in making the transition from "learning to read" to "reading to learn" by bolstering the vocabulary and comprehension skills that allow them to organize and acquire knowledge from text.
Three commercially available supplemental reading comprehension curricula were used for a second year by school and teachers to teach explicit reading comprehension strategies--ReadAbout, Read for Real, and Project CRISS. The study included 182 teachers and 61 schools in 10 districts, with study schools within each district assigned by lottery to use one of the curricula or serve as a control group.
No positive impacts of the curricula on student reading comprehension were found in the study’s first year. Key findings after two years of using the curricula include:
* There was a positive, statistically significant impact of ReadAbout on social studies reading comprehension
Recession Hits State Preschool Programs; More Cuts Expected
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Annual Survey Shows Drop in Spending Per Child
Preschool-age children across the country are feeling the impact of the recession as states cut back on early education programs, according to the annual survey of state-funded preschool programs.
"We are seeing a pause in the rapid increase in state preschool programs that we have seen in the last several years," said W. Steven Barnett, co-director of the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University and author of the report, The State of Preschool 2009. "In some states enrollment has been cut back to the lowest levels in many years. Other states have cut funding and quality.
"The immediate future of pre-K seems much more perilous than past trends might suggest," Barnett said. "State budgets will more fully bear the brunt of the recession in 2010 and 2011." Looking ahead, one state, New Mexico, already has cut pre-K spending for 2011 and cuts are being considered in 11 states including Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York and Arizona. In Arizona, the program may be eliminated. More cuts may be coming as state legislatures cope with budget shortfalls.
Barnett called on the Obama administration to provide incentives to encourage states to improve and expand preschool programs. "Mr. President, as a candidate you promised to guarantee access to quality, affordable, early childhood education for every child in America. Now is the time to keep that promise. A $1 billion challenge
Annual Survey Shows Drop in Spending Per Child
Preschool-age children across the country are feeling the impact of the recession as states cut back on early education programs, according to the annual survey of state-funded preschool programs.
"We are seeing a pause in the rapid increase in state preschool programs that we have seen in the last several years," said W. Steven Barnett, co-director of the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University and author of the report, The State of Preschool 2009. "In some states enrollment has been cut back to the lowest levels in many years. Other states have cut funding and quality.
"The immediate future of pre-K seems much more perilous than past trends might suggest," Barnett said. "State budgets will more fully bear the brunt of the recession in 2010 and 2011." Looking ahead, one state, New Mexico, already has cut pre-K spending for 2011 and cuts are being considered in 11 states including Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York and Arizona. In Arizona, the program may be eliminated. More cuts may be coming as state legislatures cope with budget shortfalls.
Barnett called on the Obama administration to provide incentives to encourage states to improve and expand preschool programs. "Mr. President, as a candidate you promised to guarantee access to quality, affordable, early childhood education for every child in America. Now is the time to keep that promise. A $1 billion challenge
Young Latino children show strong classroom skills, despite many growing up in poverty
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But for teens, peer pressure, mediocre schools undercut initial gains
Immigrant Latinos display strong parenting practices and raise socially agile children, but these early gains are likely to be eroded by mediocre schools and peer pressure in poor neighborhoods, according to findings published by the American Psychological Association.
In a special section of the journal Developmental Psychology, a team of researchers examines how no-nonsense parenting practices – especially Latino traditions of strict discipline, respect for adults and strong family bonds – shape children's social and cognitive growth and their assimilation into mainstream culture.
But for teens, peer pressure, mediocre schools undercut initial gains
Immigrant Latinos display strong parenting practices and raise socially agile children, but these early gains are likely to be eroded by mediocre schools and peer pressure in poor neighborhoods, according to findings published by the American Psychological Association.
In a special section of the journal Developmental Psychology, a team of researchers examines how no-nonsense parenting practices – especially Latino traditions of strict discipline, respect for adults and strong family bonds – shape children's social and cognitive growth and their assimilation into mainstream culture.
HEAT STRESS AND EXHAUSTION COMPOUNDED BY FOOTBALL UNIFORMS
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When football players train and compete in hot conditions, heat stroke is always a risk, and treatment delays can be fatal. Although 20 heat stroke deaths occurred during high school and collegiate practices between 2000 and 20071, until recently human responses to wearing a football uniform while exercising had only been sparsely investigated.
When football players train and compete in hot conditions, heat stroke is always a risk, and treatment delays can be fatal. Although 20 heat stroke deaths occurred during high school and collegiate practices between 2000 and 20071, until recently human responses to wearing a football uniform while exercising had only been sparsely investigated.