This longitudinal study examined the role maternal responsiveness had on shaping Spanish and English language development in bilingual two year-old children. Because children who are bilingual language learners are oftentimes coming from low socioeconomic families it is essential that we investigate the ways in which they develop language in order to better serve this population. Maternal responsiveness is one source in which we can examine early language development of young bilingual children. Eight Latino mother-child dyads were observed and assessed at three time points. Each observation was coded for maternal responsive behaviors. Regression and multilevel modeling was used in order to assess which maternal responsive behaviors impacted Spanish and English language outcomes. Results indicated joint topic focus as being overwhelmingly impactful across Times 2 and Times 3 in both languages. Additionally, prohibition was found to be negatively influencing English language outcomes at Times 2 and Times 3. Interestingly, focus shift was found to have a positive impact on English language outcomes at Time 2. Given the findings, this work sheds light on the similarities and differences between cultures and the need for further research surrounding this population.

Educational software applications (apps) on multi-touch, mobile devices provide a promising space to help learners work toward long-term educational goals, like learning with understanding (Bransford, Brown, & Cocking, 2000). Such goals are particularly relevant in supporting a learner’s efforts to become more mathematically literate. Yet, a number of current apps do not appear to be living up to this potential. As such, this study drew upon the theoretical framework of Learning Science and the conceptual framework of TPACK theory (Mishra & Koehler, 2006) to define curricular characteristics that ideally support primary children’s potential to learn early algebra concepts with understanding, through multi-touch, mobile, iOS mathematics education apps. Using qualitative content analysis these characteristics, then, were compared to the curricular characteristics of three authentic (i.e., real-world) apps in order to describe the general extent to which the two sets of characteristics aligned. This study found the authentic apps did not align with the majority of curricular characteristics that ideally support learning with understanding. Additionally, a number of qualitative findings emerged from the study that may be used to inform future app design. These ideas include themes related to the kinds of characteristics the authentic apps tended to align with or not, and suggested adaptations to a number of contemporary theories and models related to pedagogical content knowledge and its application toward the goal of learning with understanding. These findings have direct implications for the theory and practice of app design, and suggest revisions to the way in which the field of instructional design, historically, has been approached.

The present study examined the effectiveness of a shared storybook reading intervention in increasing children’s early numeracy and early literacy skills through a multiple baseline single case design. Four parent-child dyads were included in the study, and children’s early numeracy and early literacy skills were measured using the eNumeracy Early Math Assessments and the Preschool Early Literacy Indicators, respectively. The study also measured mathematical dialogue to determine if an increase in children’s early numeracy skills is due to the intervention and not other confounding variables. Finally, the study measured intervention integrity, and parent ratings of social validity. Results of the study indicated that parent-child mathematical dialogue increased for three participants and could not be calculated for the fourth participant due to attrition. Visual analysis and hierarchical linear modeling results indicated no statistically significant early numeracy or literacy outcomes across participants. A masked visual analysis indicated that there was an observable difference in children’s scores on the eNumeracy Ordinal Position measures, but none of the other outcome measures. Additionally, the majority of parents were able to implement the intervention with integrity and all parents reported high levels of social validity. The findings of this study show that the parent directed shared mathematical storybook reading intervention was effective in increasing mathematical dialogue between parents and children. Future studies should examine the impact of shared mathematical storybook reading interventions on discrete early numeracy and literacy skills specifically targeted during the book reading interventions.

The purpose of this study was to describe the effects of evacuation from Hurricane Andrew in August of 1993 and subsequent relocation following the storm on the young children of six families from Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. Interviews were conducted over a three-month period; these were supplemented with samples of the children's drawings and observations of the children at play. The resulting case studies illustrate various coping strategies utilized by the six families to deal with the loss of home, goods, and community in the wake of the storm and the ways in which these impacted the young children in each family. Parental coping styles were an influence on the children's ability to make the adjustments necessary during this especially stressful transition.

Preschool STEM is important for later learning for all children, including dual language learners (DLLs). However the preschool workforce is generally not well prepared to teach STEM or to work with DLLs. The objectives of the SciMath-DLL professional development (PD) model are to increase preschool teacher knowledge and improve classroom instruction around science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), improve educators’ attitudes toward teaching STEM, enhance classroom supports for dual language learners (DLLs), and improve coaching. This paper reports on the effects of participation in SciMath-DLL workshops, individualized reflective coaching cycles (RCCs), and professional learning communities (PLCs) on educators and children in a qualitative design and development study. Future work will test effects experimentally.

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Research overwhelming identifies science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) domains as vital to young children’s later school achievement (Duncan et al., 2007; Grissmer et al., 2010; Morgan, Farkas, Hillemeier, & Maczuga 2016; Watts et al. 2014). However, preschool teachers rarely receive in-depth training in math and science, and culturally and linguistically diverse students from low-income backgrounds are particularly at risk for lower academic outcomes in these domains (Brenneman, Boyd & Frede, 2009; Barnett, 2008; Cognitive Development & Beyond Project, 2009). The ScMath-Dll Instrument for Teacher Learning (SMILE) assessment tool was developed to measure teacher’s knowledge. Items relevant to each workshop assess the following: (1) content knowledge; (2) understanding of the developmental learning trajectory of the concept covered; and (3) application of the content and developmental trajectory to classroom practice (pedagogical content knowledge: PCK). Further information about the intervention and the SMILE assessment, as well as implications and future directions, will be discussed.

Preschool science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is important for later learning for all children, including dual language learners (DLLs). However the preschool workforce is generally not well prepared to teach STEM or to work with DLLs, and attitudes and beliefs may play a role in teachers feeling challenged to provide high quality STEM teaching. The objectives of the SciMath-DLL professional development (PD) model are to improve attitudes and change beliefs of educators, increase preschool teachers’ knowledge, and improve classroom instruction around STEM and supports for dual language learners (DLLs). This paper provides preliminary results from a randomized trial of participation in the SciMath-DLL PD on preschool educators’ attitudes and beliefs.