Early School Research Articles

MATHEMAGIC SQUARE PUZZLE: AN INTERVENTION IN IMPROVING BASIC OPERATION SKILLS ON INTEGERS

Basic operation skills on integers are crucial for building a strong mathematical foundation. However, many students in early schooling show poor performance in these fundamental skills. To address this issue, this study aims to assess the effectiveness of using the MatheMagic Square Puzzle as an intervention to enhance integer operation skills among Grade 7 students at Kapalong National High School. The study had a total of 114 students, and it employed quantitative research with a one-group pre-test post-test design and purposive sampling. Results revealed that the overall mean score level of basic operation skills on integers of the experimental group in the pre-test is very low, which is interpreted as it did not meet the expectation. While results in the post-test revealed from the overall mean is average, which is interpreted as satisfactory. Results indicate significant difference between the pre-test and post-test of the experimental group shows that there is a significant difference in the performance levels of the experimental group before and after the intervention. The study revealed a significant improvement in students' ability to solve basic operations on integers. This improvement proved the effectiveness of the MatheMagic Square Puzzle intervention and proved it to be a valuable tool in mathematics education, specifically for teaching integers. The researchers suggest implementing MatheMagic Square Puzzle widely for teaching basic integer operations in Grade 7 due to its effectiveness in improving student performance. They also suggest studying its effectiveness across various grades and mathematical concepts to expand its impact. KEYWORDS: MatheMagic Square Puzzle, Basic Operation on Integers, Intervention, Grade 7 students, Philippines

The Implementation of Universal Mental Health Screening in an Early College High School Program

Meeting the needs of gifted students is particularly challenging for school counselors. This practitioner action research study examined the effectiveness of implementing complete universal mental health screening with early college high school students. Using a complete mental health approach, we classified students into need-based groups. The groups were then aligned with the school’s multitiered system of supports (MTSS) and results identified 64 students (20.1%) as needing services beyond Tier 1. The correlational analysis demonstrated a strong negative correlation between social/emotional well-being and internalizing psychopathology ( r = −.579, p < .05). These findings further support the gifted population’s need for tailored identification and can be used to support the expansion of targeted school counseling services, because this group often is overlooked due to their high functioning in certain areas.

Trajectories of advanced math taking for low-income students of color in middle and high school

Differential access to and enrollment in advanced mathematics for historically underrepresented groups is a pervasive problem in education, however, research has primarily focused on achievement rather than access. This necessitates an examination of who is accessing advanced coursework and what differentiates the course trajectories students follow across middle and high school. We utilized data from a large (N = 18,841), majority Latinx (57.6 % Latinx, 35.5 % Black, 6.1 % White/Other, and 0.6 % Asian/Pacific Islander) and low-income (77 % free/reduced-price lunch) sample of students followed longitudinally from middle through high school. Latent class analysis (LCA) categorized students into 6 classes representing commonly followed pathways of advanced math course taking from grade 6 to 12. Multinomial logistic regression was used to connect individual demographics, school readiness skills, and prior achievement variables to the likelihood of being assigned to a particular class. Prior academic performance was most strongly related to advanced math pathway assignment, but even controlling for this, gender, disability status, and cognitive and fine motor skills at age 4 also impacted the math pathway a student was likely to follow in middle and high school. Race/ethnicity was a significant differentiator only when comparing the two most advanced pathways. These findings highlight the importance of early school readiness skills and demonstrate how early opportunity gaps impact later student outcomes. Tailored intervention and supports are necessary to ensure equitable access to coursework which expands a student’s opportunities and chances for postsecondary success.

Spanish validation perceived ease of ICT among future early childhood education and primary school teachers

AbstractThe use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has been increasing in education. Despite its benefits, not everyone perceives its use with the same ease. This raises the need to observe the perceived ease of use (PEOU) of ICT among future teachers, which requires a valid and reliable instrument to measure this variable for the Spanish population. The aim of this study is to validate PEOU among trainee early childhood education and primary education teachers studying at Spanish universities and observe the factorial invariance across gender. Two studies were conducted: the first study consisted of an Exploratory Factor Analysis with 474 students (Mage = 21.17; SD = 4.03), while the second study tested the scale based on 796 students (Mage = 21.25; SD = 3.99). The results found that PEOU is a valid and reliable measurement scale consisting of two factors (FI. Difficulty [α = 0.89] and FII. Ease [α = 0.81], and that there are no gender differences. In conclusion, it provides a scale to assess PEOU of ICT among the Spanish adult population.

Are Younger Students More Likely to Drop Out? Spanish Evidence on the Moderator Role of Gender and Social Origin

ABSTRACTEarly school leaving (ESL) is considered one of the most serious problems in the functioning of European education systems. In particular, Spain has traditionally exhibited one of the largest ESL rates in Europe. This study aimed to shed light on the role of the month of birth as a factor conditioning the probability of ESL. Using high‐quality census data and a regression discontinuity design, we documented that Spanish males from lower social strata born before the school‐entry cut‐off are substantially more likely to be observed as early school leavers than their counterparts born after that date. We do not find such effect among females or males from other social strata. Overall, educational policy should target more seriously the inequalities associated with the month of birth as they do not vanish before affecting relevant decisions such as leaving education early, at least for males from lower social strata.

Nauczyciel wczesnej edukacji w obliczu problematyki tanatologicznej

Introduction: Including elements of thanatological education in early education is a necessary aspect of upbringing. Reaching the end of one’s life, the needs of a dying person and of his loved ones – these are difficult subjects, giving rise to strong, negative emotions. In the modern world, the experience of death has unfortunately become much closer, often also personally painful. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have caused a significant worsening of mental functioning in children as well as adults. Thanatological education at the stage of classes I–III in elementary school is therefore a difficult task, often overpassing the capabilities of even the most experienced and talented teachers. Research Aim: The article presents the subject of thanatological education as a challenge for the early education teacher, on the basis of subject literature, and the study’s purpose was to present the preparation of early education teachers in this area on the basis of their self-evaluation and to conduct a diagnosis of these competencies with reference to work experience on the basis of our own research. Method: In the research, use was made of a diagnostic survey, with the questionnaire technique and an online questionnaire (Google Forms). For analysis of the study material, elements of descriptive statistics were used. Results: Research results have indicated that most early education teachers do not possess sufficient competencies in the area of thanatological education, and for half of them, the subject of death is a difficult topic of conversation with children. At the same time, teachers realize the need to support a pupil suffering after the loss of a close person and declare that they offer help in this matter. Conclusions: The subject of death is everywhere present. The early education teacher should be aware that a conversation about dying is a very difficult, delicate subject for the young child. It is often related to dramatic events and stirs negative emotions in pupils. The teacher should have knowledge in the matter of thanatology, with skills and ease of conversation on this level; he should demonstrate sensitivity, tact and empathy towards the pupil in mourning. Therefore, it is suggested that thanatological education be included in the program of pedagogical studies. It has become necessary to consciously perceive the role and place of thanatological education as one of the necessary elements of early school education.

The effects of the 'active before school' programme on the academic skills of 8-9-year-old children: a physically and cognitively engaging intervention.

Literature underscores the significance of exercise and cognitive stimulation for achieving academic success. This study aims to investigate the effects of the technology-based "Active Before the First School Bell" programme, comparing the effects of two school-based interventions (physical activity vs. cognitive engagement) on the academic skills of 8-9-year-old children. This encompasses their school skills, visual-motor coordination, levels and attitudes towards physical activity, and fitness. The study involved 88 primary school children (age: 8.3 years, 58.0% girls). To assess the programme's distinct effects children were categorised into three groups. The first group (n = 31) participated in cognitive classes (CEG), the second (n = 27), in physical activity classes (PAEG), and the third (n = 30), was a control one (CG). A 12-week intervention, consisting of three 15-min sessions per week before school, was implemented. Self-report questionnaires gauged levels of physical activity. Academic skills were assessed using a battery of diagnostic methods for school failure in early childhood education. Fitness was measured using selected items from the Eurofit test battery. Pre- and post-test measures were collected and analysed, employing one-way ANOVA on ranks with Dunn's post-hoc tests. Significant post-test differences between the groups were observed in visual spatial function, with the PAEG outperforming the CG, and in auditory and language functions, where both experimental groups outperformed the CG. Results suggest that before school physical activities may be more effective than cognitive activities in improving the academic skills. The short-term effects obtained provide insights for implementing before-school programmes for children in the early school years.

Racial and gender education in the early school years: An examination of teachers’ reactions to discrimination

Teachers play a vital role in socializing children's anti-biased beliefs. Kindergarten through second grade teachers (N = 147; 99% women; 93% White, non-Hispanic) in the U.S. responded to hypothetical vignettes of peer-based racial and gender discrimination. Content analysis revealed 21 practices across three themes: Anti-Bias, Minimizing, and General. Teachers more frequently referenced Anti-Bias and Minimizing practices and less frequently referenced General practices in gender versus racial contexts. Further, the specific types of Anti-Bias and Minimizing practices were more varied in gender versus racial contexts. Findings have implications for ways teachers promote inclusive spaces for all children, including children of color and girls.

Socio-demographic and other factors contributing to excessive leisure screen time in preadolescent children.

Excessive screen use in early school age is associated with worsened health habits and negative child development in later age. We aimed to assess the time spent on modern and traditional screen-based devices and examine its associations with socio-demographic characteristics. This population-based cross-sectional observation study was conducted in Czechia, Slovakia and Finland between April and June 2021. Participants (N = 1,915) were parents/caregivers of children attending elementary school grades 1 to 3, selected by stratified random sampling. Children's daily leisure screen time (LST) based on parental reports was the main outcome. Descriptive statistics, mean comparison and linear regression analysis were used for the analysis. The average daily LST was found to be as high as 3.5 hours and significantly associated with most socio-demographic variables. Eighty percent of children exceeded the threshold of two hours of LST per day, which was formerly introduced by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The most important predictor of LST in children was having their screen-based device(s) for their exclusive personal use (EPU). Linear regression with all predictors assessed together confirmed the significant effect of the screen-based devices' EPU, the child's sex and grade, the child's birth order and the parent's education, even when controlled for media parenting practices. Given the widespread availability of smartphones for exclusive personal use among young children, the regulation of EPU and the reinforcement of effective media parenting practices, particularly in families with lower education and income, are critical public health strategies to mitigate the negative impact of excessive screen time on child development and overall well-being.

Nyitottság, elhivatottság, patriotizmus. Beszélgetés Szilágyi Istvánnal [Interjú] = Openness, Commitment, Patriotism: Conversation with István Szilágyi [Interview

This interview presents Professor István Szilágyi’s life and the major events in his career. It includes, among other things, the early school and university years, as well as all those by whom his career has been shaped. The semi-structured interview discusses his research activities, his travels and his advice for the younger generation of geographers. Professor István Szilágyi is a retired professor at the University of Pécs and the former Dean of the Faculty of Modern Philology and Social Sciences at Pannon University. He is a renowned researcher in the theory of international relations, geopolitics and political changes in Latin America and the Hispanic world. The Professor has not only published more than hundreds of papers and book chapters in Hungarian, English, German, Russian, Portuguese and Spanish, but also, he is the author of seventeen monographs. Throughout his career, he has developed significant foreign contacts in Latin America and Europe. As a guest professor, he has visited Valladolid, Paris, Cluj-Napoca, Cadiz, Valencia, La Laguna and Dijon, among others. He has also carried out research in Portugal, Brazil, Chile, Russia and Cuba.

Simple Climate Models That Can Be Used in Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Education.

Climate change is of great concern to all age groups but in particular to children. "Simple" climate models have been in place for a long time and can be used effectively with post-16 students. For younger children, modifications are required, and we describe in this paper the development and use of two such models. The first (the Granny Model) is a pictorial version of the model that has been used extensively with primary and early secondary school aged children (14 and younger). The second is an online version of the simple climate model that can be used without recourse to the underpinning mathematics and science but allows children to experiment with changing variables and how these changes affect the average surface temperature of the Earth.

The Effect of Children’s Sleep Problems on Problem Behaviors: The Serial Mediating Effect of Executive Function and Emotion Regulation

Objectives: This study explains the process by which sleep problems affect problem behaviors in early elementary school children and explores the roles of executive function and emotion regulation, which are concepts related to cognitive or emotional regulation.Methods: This study’s participants consisted of 283 children in first to third grades of elementary school. Questionnaires asked mothers about their children’s sleep problems, executive function, emotion regulation, and problem behaviors. Model 6 of PROCESS macro version 3.4 was used to analyze the collected data.Results: First, children’s sleep problems had a directly positive effect on problem behaviors. Second, children’s sleep problems had a negative effect on executive function, and executive function had a negative effect on problem behaviors. Third, children’s sleep problems had a negative effect on emotion regulation, and emotion regulation had a negative effect on problem behaviors. Finally, children’s sleep problems had a negative effect on executive function; executive function had a positive effect on emotion regulation; and emotion regulation had a negative effect on problem behaviors. Bootstrapping tests revealed that the mediating effect of executive function, the mediating effect of emotion regulation, and the serial mediating effect of executive function and emotion regulation were all significant in the relationship between children’s sleep problems and problem behaviors.Conclusion: This study expands on studies that revealed the mediating effect of executive function or emotion regulation in the relationship between sleep problems and problem behaviors. In other words, by confirming the serial mediating effect of executive function and emotion regulation, this study expands our understanding of the mechanisms by which children’s sleep problems affect problem behaviors.

Examining Similarities and Differences in Parent Advocacy During Early Intervention and School Services

ABSTRACT Although advocacy seems inevitable for families of individuals with disabilities across the lifespan, little is known about how advocacy may change from early intervention to school services. By understanding similarities and differences across the time periods, we can develop interventions to improve advocacy during early intervention and school services, respectively. We conducted interviews with 14 caregivers of individuals with disabilities comparing their lived experiences with advocacy during early intervention and school services. Participants reported conducting case advocacy (i.e. advocacy for one individual such as one’s child) and cause advocacy (i.e. advocacy for a group of individuals such as all children with disabilities) during early intervention and school services. They also reported the same advocacy strategies for each time period and many of the same barriers to advocacy. Only two barriers differed; in early intervention, participants reported lacking peer support and in school services, participants reported struggling with jargon. For early intervention and school services, participants reported that advocacy yielded positive outcomes for their children with disabilities. However, it often took a year to yield a positive outcome. There were mixed perceptions about whether case or cause advocacy was easier for families. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

NEET youth in central and eastern European countries: a panel model approach

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to examine macro-determinants of the Not Engaged in Employment, Education, or Training Young People (NEET) in Central and Eastern European Countries. Data from 16 countries were collected from Eurostat –, UNESCO – and Word Bank Database 2013–2021 by using the panel data analysis method. Early school leaving rate, vocational education and training enrollment rate, unemployment rate, labour market regulation, gross domestic product, education expenditure and human development index were used for explaining the NEET in selected area. The relationship between variables was analyzed using the Panel Data Methods via Fixed-Effects Model. Therefore, according to the findings of Driscoll and Kraay Estimator – One-Way Fixed Effects Model, gross domestic product, labour market regulation, early school leaving rate, vocational education, and training enrollment rate variables have a high and statistically significant effect on NEET as the dependent variable, while unemployment rate and human development index have a marginal but significant effect on NEET. The findings of the present study showed associations between socio-economic and institutional conditions (labour market regulation) and the NEET rate at the country level and may indicate appropriate policy measures to promote a decrease in the NEET rate.

Supporting equitable and anti-racist practices in early childhood programs: a framework for starting differently

Research has found that as early as preschool, children from diverse backgrounds are more at risk than their peers to experience bias and racism from teachers and negative behavioral outcomes. Given these negative early childhood school experiences can create greater risk for children and more stress for their families, it is important that research is utilized to change such experiences and support more positive development outcomes for young children. The purpose of this article is to prevent an approach to organize and participate in school differently. Our approach involves developing equitable systems that supports early childhood centers to develop equitable systems by building upon the foundational principles of anti-racism, equity, and barrier prevention rather than seeking to intervene upon inequitable systems through professional development and attempting to remove barriers that have already caused harm as is with traditional approaches.

Health literacy pedagogies and assessment embedded in a school-based health education program

AbstractStudies have focused on the development of teachers’ Health Literacy (HL) pedagogies but have yet to focus on building teachers’ assessment capacity. The aims of this research study were three-fold: 1) professionally develop teachers to enhance the HL planned in a Health and Physical Education (HPE) program and assessment task; 2) validate a previously developed curricular model of HL assessment (rubric) using student work samples; 3) measure students HL learning using an adaptation of the validated rubric. Researchers used a descriptive single school case study, using a mixed methods approach in an Independent, coeducational early learning, primary and secondary day school in Sydney, Australia to work closely with participants to review the pedagogical knowledge, learning activities and assessment within a HPE program using Nutbeam’s three level HL hierarchy. Using Messick’s six aspects of construct validity testing of the rubric was completed using 20 sample assessment tasks, as well as receiving feedback on the adaptability and feasibility of the rubric. The validated rubric was then adapted to the assessment task to measure students’ HL. Results demonstrated that professional development had a positive impact on the development of planned HL pedagogies as shown by a 17% increase in planned critical HL learning activities. Findings suggest that the validated rubric is a feasible and adaptable tool that teachers can use to measure students’ HL. This is the first study to validate a curricular model of measuring HL. Future research needs to develop teachers’ HL capabilities and assessment literacy.

The importance of academic advising for dual credit and early college high school students

AbstractAcademic advising for dual credit and early college high school students is significant to postsecondary matriculation and degree completion of these students after high school graduation. Unstructured advising can lead students to take excess credits and have an unclear path to a postsecondary credential. This study focused on the importance of academic advising, ensuring a clear path is identified for each student participating in a dual credit or early college high school program. A qualitative survey identifying high school personnel's understanding of advising, needs to better serve students, and current challenges facing high school counselors is discussed. Quantitative data landscapes student demographics and attempted versus completed credits for both dual credit and early college high school students at multiple high schools. Practitioner recommendations underscore the need for college advising by a college advisor who is familiar with the college advisement process versus a high school counselor who focuses on high school completion needs.

Przywiązanie w dzieciństwie w aspekcie wybranych sytuacji trudnych dzieci

The family plays a crucial role in shaping an individual’s personality and influencing emotional, social, and cognitive development. J. Bowlby underscores the significance of early attachments, particularly with the mother, in the proper formation of an individual. The primary and biologically rooted need for proximity to the caregiver profoundly impacts a child’s well-being. This study explores the repercussions of challenging childhood experiences, including maternal abandonment or frequent distancing, on the individual’s functioning not only in childhood, but also throughout adolescence and adulthood.The behavior of attachment figures, especially the caregiver acting as the mother, determines the quality of the child’s attachment, classified as either trusting, anxiety-avoidant, anxiety-ambivalent, or disorganized. Insecure attachments, specifically anxiety-avoidant and anxiety-ambivalent bonds, along with disorganized attachment, can give rise to various difficult situations for individuals. The focus, particularly on disorganized attachment, highlights the heightened risk of mental disorders, behavioral issues, and personality disorders.This article delves into John Bowlby’s attachment theory, elucidating its key aspects, and draws connections to difficult situations experienced by preschool and early elementary school children with diverse attachment types. These situations encompass conflicts, loneliness, peer rejection, and failures.

Treatment of substance use disorders in adolescence and early school leaving.

To examine early school leaving in a longitudinal cohort of all high school students treated for substance use disorder (SUD) and their demographic counterparts in Norway. From the National Patient and National Population Registries, we extracted (a) all high school students born in 1991-1992 who received SUD treatment during 2009-2010 (N = 648; nalcohol = 95, ncannabis = 327, and nother drugs = 226) and (b) their age-and-gender matched counterparts (n = 647). From the National Educational Database, we obtained enrollment and graduation status for these two cohorts throughout the designated school period of 5 years. We estimated the hazards of early school leaving as a function of students' treatment for alcohol, cannabis, and other drug use disorders and other known risk factors. Nine out of 10 adolescents receiving SUD treatment left high school early (89%) compared with one in four (27%) from the matched cohort; 422 (73.5%) of these left high school during or after the treatment year. Multivariate discrete-time models revealed significant and ordered associations between receiving SUD treatment and early school leaving, HRalcohol = 3.09 [1.96, 4.89], HRcannabis = 3.83 [2.64, 5.56], HRother drugs = 5.16 [3.32, 8.03], even after accounting for individual-level (sex, immigrant background, criminal charges, and mental health treatment), family-level (family structure, parental education, and family income), and structural risk factors (municipal size, county employment, and dropout rates). Adolescents receiving SUD treatment remain especially vulnerable for early school leaving. These findings underscore the importance of improving and coordinating health and educational services for youth in SUD treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Effectiveness of motor learning model based on local wisdom in improving fundamental skills

Traditional Balinese games are considered a cultural heritage that provides many basic movement benefits but have not been well revealed, this study aims to describe the effectiveness Motor Learning Model Based on Local Wisdom (MLMBLW) in Improving Fundamental Skills of students in early childhood education programs in Buleleng Regency in Bali Provinces.The data analysis technique used descriptive quantitative. The sample in this study was the students in early childhood education Laboratory of Undiksha shool and early childhood education Telkom School (n = 44) age 5 year taken by purposive sampling technique with active children for traditional Balinese games. Data were collected by direct observation, questionnaires, and tests. Based on the results of data analysis, the effectiveness of the MLMBLW which can be seen from the activities of students participating in learning 81.3% belongs to the very high/very active category, student learning achievement as seen from the average fundamental motor skills above 70% have moderate to high basic movement skills, and the teacher's response to the implementation is overall positive. This research is evidence that MLMBLW is effectively applied in the implementation of motor learning in early childhood students From the results of this study, there are several things that are recommended: (1) early childhood education teachers must understand the character of students and the local wisdom used, so that the learning steps (syntax) can be implemented properly, (2) the learning model can be implemented properly, if the teacher understands how to play traditional games (local wisdom) well. Introducing culture to every child is the same as preserving the world's cultural wealth, for that reason traditional Balinese games are also important in addition to improving fitness Keywords Basic Movement Activities, Balinese Culture, Traditional Games