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Eric.ed.gov – The Application of Videodisc Technology to the Diagnosis of Math Skills.

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Briefly presented are the rationale and procedures used to develop and validate an interactive videodisc program to assist in diagnosing difficulties in mathematics in grades 1-3. The mathematics assessment program is described as 408 criterion-referenced items divided into seven strands. Questions are administered until a student makes three consecutive errors; then the student is branched to the next section in a strand. At the teacher’s option, the test can be administered in either English or Spanish. Information is also included on equipment configurations possible among videodisc players, microcomputers, touch screens, and printers, and disc capacity is noted. Finally, comments on formative evaluation needs are given. (MNS) Link til kilde

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Eric.ed.gov – Talking Science in an ESL Pre-K: Theory-Building with Realia

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: What is realia and theory-building? Tim Kinard and Jesse Gainer explain that when students explore using “realia,” they are not just being exposed to abstract concepts or text on a page, they are using “real-life” objects to build understandings of the natural world while they builds vocabulary about it. Handling and discussing real-world objects (acorns, pine cones, flowers, bones, antlers, dirt), in both the first language of the students, as well as a second language learned in school, builds vocabulary quickly as students engage in meaningful communication with scaffolds bridging first and second languages. The use of “realia” and other visuals are one way to provide ESL students opportunities for meaningful communication in English. Creating strategic partnerships that pair ELLs with native English speakers is another effective… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Instruction in Spanish and Outcomes for Pre-Kindergarten English Language Learners. Research Brief

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This study examined associations between classroom quality, amount of instruction in Spanish, and academic learning of Spanish-speaking 4 years-olds. Findings suggest that gains in reading and math were larger when children received more instruction in Spanish in classrooms with more responsive and sensitive teachers. It is possible that instruction in Spanish in high-quality classrooms may enhance the academic skills for children with limited English. [This research brief is based on the following published study: Burchinal, M., Field, S., Lopez, M. L., Howes, C., & Pianta, R. (2012). Instruction in Spanish in pre-kindergarten classrooms and child outcomes for English language learners. “Early Childhood Research Quarterly,” 27, 188-197. (EJ958040)] Link til kilde

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Eric.ed.gov – Barriers to Student Success in Madagascar

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Various indicators suggest that math and science students in many developing countries are lagging behind their counterparts in other nations. Using Madagascar as a case study, we aimed to: (1) evaluate the effectiveness of education among those enrolled in science and math programs at primary, secondary, and university institutions; and, (2) understand barriers to student progression through the education system. To that end we conducted 63 semi-structured interviews in June and August 2012 with science and math teachers in five population centers, across all three levels of both public and private school systems. We found that crowded classes, limited resources (pedagogical and infrastructural), an average student range in age of seven years per classroom (suggestive of grade repetition and/or late school starting age), and discontinuities in the… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Foreign Language Anxiety in a New English Program in Thailand

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Thailand boasts a robust ESL system in both public and private schools, where students learn various subjects from native speakers in the English language. Foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) is a subject that is relevant to ESL instruction and learning. This study assesses associations between FLCA and academic performance in English and math subjects at a Thai government school which is in its second year of employing native English speaking teachers. 424 students were administered FLCA surveys, which were compared to English and math exams. Moderate-high FLCA levels were found in the sample, with no difference between an immersion group and non-immersion groups. A weak, negative correlation was found between FLCA and English performance (r = -0.163). Thai language math exam scores were significantly better than English… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Code-Switching Explorations in Teaching Early Number Sense

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: New semiotic perspectives about the role of language in mathematics education indicate that teachers have a fundamental role in communicating and teaching the language that carries mathematical meaning. However, little is known about how educators of young children understand and use the language of mathematics. This study addresses this void. Supported by the understanding that mathematics has its own language (Pimm, 1987), the study focuses on code switching–the mixing of words from two languages–by educators as they shift between the language of instruction and the language of mathematics. A qualitative multiple case study approach utilizing discourse analysis was used to explore three early years teachers’ math talk. Findings indicate that these educators code-switched to the mathematics register when they talked about numbers, number words and counting, to… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Investigating the Application of Communicative Language Teaching Principles in Primary-Education: A Comparison of CLIL and FL Classrooms

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: It is widely accepted that the learning of a new language, among other advantages, promotes respect and interest of the students towards other cultures and languages. The question is how learning languages can be promoted in educational settings. The aim of the present study is to explore the principles of communicative language teaching in primary-education CLIL and FL classrooms. More specifically, in this paper we address to what extent collaborative work, attention to language and content and corrective feedback are observed during teacher-student and peer interaction in these educational settings. Following an action research approach, ten Spanish and ten Math sessions were observed and recorded. Furthermore, whole group interaction and peer interaction were analysed in relation to the participants’ attention to language and content. Results from the… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – The Efficacy and Relevancy of the Language Courses in the Preparation of Elementary Science and Mathematics Prospective Teachers

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: The present study aims to determine the efficacy and relevancy of the two foreign language courses required for preparing elementary prospective teachers to teach Science and Mathematics in English or French. The study is a mixed one relying on quantitative data collected from the rating scales and the 5-point Likert-type Scale Questionnaires while the qualitative data is collected from the open-ended questions. Data was collected from: a) a questionnaire addressed to professors and instructors who teach the two language courses: “Language of Teaching” (FCE) and “Techniques of Expression” (TE), b) a questionnaire administered to science and mathematics trainers, c) a questionnaire addressed to students in the 2nd and 3rd semesters majoring in science and mathematics Education, d) a questionnaire addressed to a purposeful sample–3rd year students majoring… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Exploring the Tagalog-English Code-Switching Types Used for Mathematics Classroom Instruction

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: This study aimed to examine the types of Tagalog-English code-switching used in mathematics classroom discourse. Four purposively selected tertiary level math teachers in a college situated in a rural area in the Philippines were part of the study. Using a qualitative approach, data were gathered through non-participant class observations and interviews with selected math teachers and students. Syntactic analysis of code-switching types was done to categorize the Tagalog-English utterances. The findings showed that Tagalog-English intrasentential code-switching, which accounts for 58% of the code-switched utterances, was the most dominant type present in math teachers’ spoken discourse, and this was evident when math teachers had to explain math concepts and solutions, or provide examples, among others. Intersentential code-switching made up 38% of code-switched utterances, while tag switching was used… Continue Reading

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Eric.ed.gov – Fostering Early Math Comprehension: Experimental Evidence from Paraguay

eric.ed.gov har udgivet: Research indicates that preschool children need to learn pre-math skills to build a foundation for primary- and secondary-level mathematics. This paper presents the results from the early stages of a pilot mathematics program implemented in Cordillera, Paraguay. In a context of significant gaps in teacher preparation and pedagogy, the program uses interactive audio segments that cover the entire preschool math curriculum. Since Paraguayan classrooms tend to be bilingual, the audio and written materials use a combination of Spanish and Guaraní. Based on an experimental evaluation since the program’s implementation, we document positive and significant improvements of 0.16 standard deviations in standardized test scores. The program helped narrow learning gaps between low- and high-performing students, and between students with trained teachers and those whose teachers lack formal training… Continue Reading