Children born to teen mothers tend to score lower on language development assessments and to have school readiness delays. To support teen mothers and their children in improving language development, educators need information about mothers' daily interactions with their children and how they contribute to their children's language development. The purpose of this descriptive case study was to understand mothers'perceptions of how they influenced their children's language development through play, routines, and other informal interactions. Flavell, Vygotsky, and Bruner's views on how learners' construct knowledge informed the study. Research questions were focused on the mothers' perceptions regarding interactions during routines and during play and on the mothers' beliefs about how influential they were developing their children's language skills. Data were gathered through semistructured interviews, journals, and follow-up questions addressed in narratives or additional interviews. A combination of a priori and open coding was used to support inductive analysis. Participants believed that they influenced their children's development and wanted to increase what they know about overall development and specifically language development. They indicated that they did not have enough time for reading, that they used songs and chants frequently, and that participation in the study made them think more about the importance of conversations shared within activities. The results of this study may help teen mothers, their families, and those who provide education and support to teen mothers in mentoring groups, faith-based support groups, and alternative high schools. Social change will occur when young parents are supported in enhancing the lives of their children.

本研究旨在以回溯方式瞭解兒童過去的幼兒園經驗、家庭背景因素與兒童教育成就及其幼兒就學準備度之相關情形，並更進一步探討就學準備度對於目前學童在教育成就表現上的影響 本研究以問卷調查法進行研究，問卷調查樣本以立意取樣的方式選取臺北市文山區、萬華區與信義區之公立小學三年級兒童為研究對象，共387位，樣本回收162份，回收率為42%，可用樣本為133份，可用率為34%。研究工具主要分為三大部分，第一部分為瞭解兒童教育成就現況，分別使用兒童小三上學業成績與生活適應能力表現（自評問卷）做為替代指標；第二部份則以家長問卷的方式瞭解兒童個人與家庭背景現況；第三部份為蒐集兒童過去幼兒就學準備度的表現，使用兒童在小一上學期五個學習領域之成績做為替代指標。本研究所使用的統計方法包含描述性統計分析、交叉表（Crosstabs）與卡方檢定（Chi-square test）、皮爾森積差相關(Pearson’s product -moment correlation)、斯皮爾曼等級相關（Spearman's rank correlation）、t考驗（t- test）與多元階層迴歸分析(Multiple hierarchical regression analysis)方法進行分析。 根據分析結果歸納之結論如下： 一、過去就讀公私立幼兒園的兒童在教育成就表現上無顯著差異；二、就讀幼兒園年數與兒童教育成就無顯著相關；三、家庭社經地位與兒童學業成績有顯著正相關，與兒童生活適應能力則無顯著相關；四、小學時期家長參與與兒童教育無顯著相關情形，幼兒時期家長參與與兒童學業成績有顯著正相關，與兒童生活適應能力則無顯著相關；五、兒童教育成就與幼兒就學準備度有顯著正相關；六、「母親教育程度」、「幼兒就學準備度」與「生活適應能力」對兒童學業成績有顯著預測力，「學業成績」對兒童生活適應能力有顯著預測力；七、過去就讀公、私立幼兒園的兒童在幼兒就學準備度上無顯著差異；八、就讀幼兒園年數與幼兒就學準備度無顯著相關；九、家庭每月總收入與幼兒就學準備度有顯著正相關；十、幼兒時期家長參與與幼兒就學準備度有顯著正相關。 最後，本研究根據分析結果，俾供相關建議給家長、教育工作者、教育單位及未來欲從事相同主題之研究者。 / The main purpose of this study is to investigate children’s experience in kindergarten, their family’s background, educational achievements and school readiness by ex-post-factor research. This study tries to explore the relationship between children’s educational achievements and school readiness. By questionnaires investigation, researcher collects data from the third grade students in Wenshan, Wanhua, and Xinyi district in Taipei City. Out of 387 questionnaires handed out, 162 were returned, of which 29 were invalid or partially answered, resulting in a total of 133 effective surveys. There are three questionnaires in this study, including children’s educational achievements, parents’ socioeconomic background, and school readiness. Data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, Crosstabs, Chi-square test, Pearson’s product -moment correlation, Spearman's rank correlation, t- test, and multiple hierarchical regression analysis. Based on the statistics analysis of the questionnaire, the results of this study are as follow: A. There is no significant difference towards children’s educational achievements between public and private kindergarten. B. There is no significant correlation between children’s school year in kindergarten and children’s educational achievements. C. There is a significant and positive correlation between parent’s socioeconomic status and children’s academic achievement. D. There is a significant and positive correlation between parents’ participation in early childhood and children’s academic achievement. E. There is a significant and positive correlation between children’s educational achievements and school readiness. F. Mother’s education level, school readiness, and the ability of life adaptation are appropriate indicators in predicting children’s academic achievement. G. Children’s academic achievement is an appropriate indicator in predicting children’s ability of life adaptation. H. There is no significant difference towards school readiness between public and private kindergarten. I. There is no significant correlation between children’s school year in kindergarten and school readiness. J. There is a significant and positive correlation between family’s income and school readiness. K. There is a significant and positive correlation between parents’ participation in early childhood and school readiness.

Le niveau de préparation scolaire des enfants est un prédicteur important de la réussite scolaire ultérieure. Les études ont montré que la fréquentation d’un milieu de garde extra-familial avant l’entrée en maternelle influence le niveau de préparation scolaire des enfants. L’objectif de cette étude est d’examiner quels parcours de garde sont associés à une meilleure préparation scolaire autant sur le plan cognitif que socio-émotionnel. Le second objectif est d’examiner si les différents parcours de garde contribuent différemment à la préparation scolaire selon les caractéristiques socio-familiales de l’enfant. Cinq cent soixante-douze enfants ont été recrutés à partir du registre des naissances du Québec et ont été suivis de l’âge de 5 mois jusqu’à leur entrée en maternelle. Trois parcours de garde ont été considérés: la garde continue en milieu familial (F-F), la garde en milieu familial durant la petite enfance suivie de la garde en installation durant l’âge préscolaire (F-I) et la garde continue en installation (I-I). Le niveau de préparation scolaire des enfants ayant suivi un de ces parcours de garde a été comparé à celui des enfants n’ayant jamais fréquenté de façon régulière un service de garde. La dimension cognitive de la préparation scolaire a été évaluée à l’aide du test du Lollipop et la dimension socio-émotionnelle à l’aide du Questionnaire des comportements sociaux. Les résultats indiquent qu’un parcours de garde favorise la dimension cognitive de la préparation scolaire de tous les enfants, sans nuire à la dimension socio-émotionnelle : le parcours F-I. On observe en outre un effet modérateur de la scolarité maternelle : lorsque les mères ont fait des études universitaires, la préparation scolaire de leurs enfants sur les deux dimensions de la préparation scolaire est aussi élevée pour ceux qui n’ont jamais fréquenté de service de garde sur une base régulière que pour ceux qui ont suivi le parcours de garde F-I. La présente étude confirme la contribution positive des milieux de garde au développement cognitif des enfants de milieux défavorisés. De plus, les résultats de cette étude précisent quel parcours de garde est associé à la meilleure préparation scolaire des enfants. Le parcours de garde F-I pourrait contribuer à réduire l’écart entre ceux qui sont prêts à entrer à l’école et ceux qui ne le sont pas et favoriser le succès scolaire pour tous les enfants, réduisant du coup les inégalités sociales. / School readiness is an important predictor of future academic success. Studies have shown that childcare before kindergarten entry influences academic readiness of children. The objective of this study is to examine which sequences of childcare type are associated with better cognitive and socio-emotional school readiness. The second objective is to examine whether the different sequences of childcare type contribute differently to the school readiness as function of social and family characteristics. 572 children from Quebec were randomly selected from the birth’s register and were followed from 5 months of age until they entered kindergarten. Three sequences of childcare type were considered: continuous home-based care (F-F), home-based care in infancy and center care during preschool period (F-I) and continuous center care (I-I). School readiness of children following one of these sequences of childcare type was compared to those of children who have never used a regular type of care. Cognitive school readiness was assessed with the Lollipop test and socio-emotional school readiness was assessed with the Social Behavior Questionnaire. The sequence of childcare type that promotes the best cognitive school readiness without compromising the socio-emotional dimension is the F-I sequence. Conversely, when the mother had a high level of education (university), children who have stayed at home are as well prepared to enter school as the ones that had followed the F-I sequence of care. Findings of this study confirm the positive contribution of childcare on cognitive development of disadvantaged children. In addition, results of this study specify which sequence of care promotes optimal child development. Attending F-I sequence could reduce the gap between those who are ready to enter school and those who are not and thus ensure that all children start school with the same chance of success. In this way, it would be possible to reduce social inequalities.

Résumé La présente thèse doctorale vise à déterminer sous quelles conditions la garde non-maternelle est associée (positivement/négativement) au niveau de stress et au développement cognitif des enfants. Elle comporte une recension des écrits et trois articles empiriques. Le premier article présente une recension des écrits (de type méta-analytique) qui synthétise les études portant sur le stress des enfants en services de garde et ayant utilisé le niveau de cortisol comme indicateur. Les résultats montrent que la garde non-maternelle est associée au niveau de stress des enfants, se reflétant dans des concentrations de cortisol élevées. Les niveaux de stress élevés s’observent particulièrement chez les enfants qui au départ ont tendance à être retirés, anxieux ou qui sont gardés dans un milieu de faible qualité. Cependant, certains éléments indiquent que les élévations de cortisol à la garderie sont temporaires et qu’elles disparaissent au fur et à mesure que l’enfant s’adapte à son milieu. Le deuxième article de thèse, réalisé dans le contexte de l’Échantillon longitudinal national des enfants et des jeunes [ELNEJ] (n = 3093), vise à déterminer dans quelle mesure l’association entre la fréquentation des services de garde et l’acquisition du vocabulaire réceptif au préscolaire dépend du milieu familial de l’enfant. Les résultats indiquent qu’à l’intérieur du groupe d’enfants défavorisés, ceux ayant été gardés à temps plein dans la première année de vie obtiennent des scores supérieurs sur une mesure de vocabulaire réceptif administrée à 4 ½ ans, comparativement aux enfants restés à la maison avec la mère (d=0.58). Le troisième article, réalisé dans le contexte de l’Étude longitudinale des enfants du Québec [ELDEQ]; (n=2,120), vise à documenter les bénéfices à long terme de la fréquentation des services de garde par les enfants issus de milieux désavantagés sur la préparation scolaire et les compétences académiques. Les résultats révèlent que les enfants dont la mère n’a pas terminé ses études secondaires obtiennent de meilleurs résultats sur une mesure de préparation scolaire cognitive (d=0.56) et de vocabulaire réceptif (d=0.30) en maternelle, et de connaissance des nombres (d=0.43) en première année, s’ils ont fréquenté un service de garde sur une base régulière. Par ailleurs, la garde non-parentale n’est pas associée aux compétences cognitives des enfants de milieux sociaux favorisés. L’objectif du quatrième article est d’examiner les facteurs de sélection quant à l’utilisation des services de garde dans le contexte de l’ELDEQ. Les résultats montrent que l’absence d’emploi de la mère pendant la grossesse, le faible niveau d’éducation de la mère; le revenu insuffisant de la famille, avoir plus de 2 frères et sœurs, la surprotection maternelle, et le faible niveau de stimulation cognitive sont associés à une faible utilisation des services de garde (30.7% de l’échantillon québécois). En d’autres termes, les enfants qui sont les plus susceptibles de retirer des avantages des services de garde sur le plan du développement, en raison de la présence de facteurs de risque dans leur milieu familial, sont aussi ceux qui utilisent le moins les services de garde. / Abstract The present doctoral thesis aims at determining under which conditions child-care experiences may be associated (positively or negatively) with children’s stress levels and cognitive development. It comprises one literature review and three empirical studies. The first study is a literature review (meta-analysis type) which summarizes the studies on child-care experiences and children’s stress (as indexed by cortisol) in order to identify individual and environmental conditions under which child-care is associated with elevated cortisol concentrations. Findings suggest that child-care may be more stressful, as reflected in higher salivary cortisol concentrations, for children who are less socially competent or who received low quality child-care services. However, some pieces of evidence suggest that cortisol elevations in child-care are transient and fade out as children grow older The second study uses data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth [NLSCY]; (n=3093). The goal is to determine whether the association between non-maternal care and receptive vocabulary skills depend upon children’s home environment. Results show that children from low socioeconomic status who received full-time (< 25 hours/week) child-care services in their first year of life obtain higher scores on a measure of receptive vocabulary at 4 ½ years than those who were cared for by their mothers (d=0.58). The goal of the third study is to document further the longer-term benefits of early child-care attendance on disadvantaged children’s school readiness and school achievement. This study uses data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development [QLSCD]; (n=2120). Findings reveal that child-care services produce benefits over maternal care for children from low educated mothers on a measure of receptive vocabulary (d=0.30) and cognitive school readiness (d=0.56) in kindergarten, and number knowledge in first grade (d=0.43). Overall, child-care services produce no advantage or disadvantage for children who do not experience risks in their home. The objective of the fourth study is to identify key family factors associated with low child-care services utilization, using the QLSCD sample. Results show that maternal unemployment during pregnancy, low levels of maternal education; insufficient household income, having more than two siblings, high levels of maternal overprotection, and low levels of cognitive stimulation are associated with lower child-care services use (30.7% of the Quebec sample). In sum, children who are the most likely to benefit from child-care services in terms of their development are also those who are less likely to receive it.

The diploma thesis deals with the hygienic and working habits of left-handed pupils at the first level of elementary schools. The thesis is divided into two main parts, theoretical and research. The theoretical part of the thesis deals with basic information about laterality, brain hemispheres and school maturity. The main focus is on leftist and writing, where we focus on preparation for writing and individual hygiene and working habits of pupils. Problems of written speech and famous leftists are also mentioned. The research part is focused on the survey of the level of hygienic and working habits of primary school pupils. The research was conducted in the form of observations. The obtained results are graphically processed and interpreted. In conclusion, there is a recommendation for working with left-handers in practice.

The Reception Year (Grade R) classroom is the educational setting for lifelong learning to take place. The Reception Year teacher is primarily involved in equipping the young child with care and education. Quality education calls for trained teachers with diverse, intense training; teachers who would use their knowledge, skills and attitudes to lead the child to ultimately reach his/her full potential in the classroom setting through the curriculum. This study investigates what constitutes and influences quality teaching in the Reception Year classroom. The investigation includes a literature review and empirical research using quantitative research approaches and expands on the role of the Reception Year teacher with regards to the child in totality, Grade R curriculum and outcomes-based education. Findings show that teachers with specialised qualifications in early childhood education bring to the Grade R classroom relevant skills, knowledge and attitudes that affect the young child’s developmental needs. / Teacher Education / M.Ed. (Didactics)

This thesis deals with diagnosing school readiness at enrollment for compulsory school attendance. The paper defines the terms of school readiness, school maturity, enrollment for compulsory school attendance, school attendance postponement and acceptance of the child younger than six years. Another part describes the enrolment process for compulsory education in primary schools in Českobudějovicko. Three goals have been set: how teachers of selected primary schools in Českobudějovicko diagnose school readiness during enrollment for compulsory school attendance, what is their experience with school start postponement and early school starts (before 6 years), and to see if elementary schools cooperate with kindergartens in enrollment for compulsory school attendance. To achieve the goals was used qualitative research, an interrogation method, semi-structured interview technique. Through interviews with selected teachers coming from nine primary schools these objectives have been met. Elementary schools use different methods for diagnosing school maturity, but in most cases they diagnose the child in the fields recommended by literature. They also cooperate with kindergartens in the enrolment process. Experience of their teachers with an additional postponement in enrolment, or with early enrolment...

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the topic of school-matureness diagnostics.Through theoretical background it presents, at which level a child should be developed enough in terms of his/her character and knowledge, before entering the compulsory school attendance. Terms such as school knowledge and school readiness are tightly connected to the topic and explained in this research. Recent and former legislative requirements concerning the beginning of one's compulsory school attendance, school enrollment, and postponement of compulsory school attendance are mentioned. Following the theoretical part, the practical part of this thesis diagnoses school maturity. The Preliminary test of school maturity by Jaroslav Jirasek is described in detail, other often used diagnostically materials and publicly available publications with content being well usable for the diagnoses are also shortly introduced. Base don those publications a test for the diagnosis of school maturity was developed, and it was together with Jirasek's Preliminary test of school maturity used for testing school maturity with a research sample. The results were analyzed and compared. The research focus was oriented on the applicability of Preliminary test of school maturity by Jaroslav Jirasek. Its results were compared with...

TITLE: Approach to Diagnostics of School Readiness in the Three European Countries AUTHOR: Anna Kubíčková DEPARTMENT: Department of Special Education SUPERVISOR: PhDr. Lenka Felcmanová, Ph.D. ABSTRACT: This thesis compares approaches to school readiness diagnostics in the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Austria. It explains the theoretical concept of school readiness, presents the possible consequences of inadequate readiness of a child enrolling in the first year of primary school, and gives examples of diagnostic materials used to evaluate school maturity and child readiness in the Czech Republic and abroad. This work describes the specifics of pre-school and early primary education, the processes of a child's entry into primary education and explains the involvement of educational authorities in the diagnostics of school readiness in the three studied countries. In practice, it compares the approaches to school readiness diagnostics and the entry of children into primary education through the testimonies of teachers and experts from these three countries. This thesis also deals with the different procedures for forwarding documents containing information on children's development from pre-school educational institutions to primary schools, the diversity of...

This diploma thesis focuses on the period of a child's transition from kindergarten to elementary school, an important milestone in every child's life. The theoretical part addresses current legislation, preschool education with its goals and sylabus, entry to elementary school, the child's maturity and readiness, and factors, which affect a child's adaptation in elementary school. By utilizing investigative inquiries, this thesis confronts opinions of the lay and expert community on school maturity and readiness, a child's preparation for compulsory schooling, the cooperation of kindergarten and family and child's adaptation to the school system. From data gained through surveys and semi-structured interviews it is evident, that opinions of parents and educators are alike and supplement each other. The applied method of testing allowed to detect and compare the real level of school maturity and preparedness of children at preschool classes of kindergarten and pupils in first grade at elementary school. The level of school maturity and preparedness is higher with pupils of the first grade of elementary school, thereby proving the hypothesis. The level of school maturity and preparedness is compared to the parent's subjective opinions. The real level of school maturity and preparedness of children...