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Research -- StepUp to Learn

Achievement Gaps May Explain Racial Overrepresentation in Special Education

Achievement Gaps May Explain Racial Overrepresentation in Special Education

School districts may be flagged as over-identifying students of color as having disabilities when other factors, such as achievement gaps, may explain these disparities.
Posted in Attention, Education, Engagement, Mathematics, Motivation, Reading Skills, School Readiness

Rethinking Role of Technology in the Classroom

Rethinking Role of Technology in the Classroom

Study finds added access can lead to decrease in students' academic motivation. Engagement "is more than a matter of providing children with access to the latest electronic devices."
Posted in Attention, Education, Engagement, Motivation, Social Skills, Technology

Elementary school student support leads to lower high school dropout

Elementary school student support leads to lower high school dropout

Elementary-school students who participated in a comprehensive support intervention in the Boston public school district had about half the odds of dropping out of high school as students not in the intervention.
Posted in Education, Engagement, Health & Wellness, Motivation, School Readiness, Social Development

Simple Directions From Parents Can Guide Children’s Discovery

Simple Directions From Parents Can Guide Children’s Discovery

Simple cues from parents for their children to either “explain” or “explore” influences learning behavior and abilities, particularly as it relates to scientific reasoning.
Posted in Attention, Engagement, Motivation

Report examines origins and nature of 'math anxiety'

Report examines origins and nature of 'math anxiety'

Research reveals that teachers and parents may inadvertently play a role in a child's development of 'math anxiety' and that girls tend to be more affected than boys.
Posted in Education, Engagement, Mathematics, Motivation, School Readiness, Social Skills

Do persistent babies make for successful adults?

Do persistent babies make for successful adults?

University of Washington researchers argue that greater study of infant persistence can shed light on the factors that instill persistence, and the outcomes that may emerge from it later in life.
Posted in Attention, Engagement, Motivation, Neuroscience

Connection of children to nature brings less distress, hyperactivity and behavioral problems

Connection of children to nature brings less distress, hyperactivity and behavioral problems

University of Hong Kong study found that parents who saw their child had a closer connection with nature had less distress, less hyperactivity, fewer behavioral and emotional difficulties, and improved pro-social behavior. 
Posted in Attention, Health & Wellness, Motivation, Movement & Exercise, Social Skills

Intellectual Curiosity and Confidence Help Children Take on Math and Reading

Intellectual Curiosity and Confidence Help Children Take on Math and Reading

Characteristics related to openness, such as intellectual curiosity and confidence, made children more adept to take on math and reading than characteristics describing conscientiousness, such as diligence and perseverance.
Posted in Attention, Education, Engagement, Mathematics, Memory, Motivation, Neuroscience, Reading Skills, School Readiness

The powerful impact of real-world learning experiences for kids

The powerful impact of real-world learning experiences for kids

Researchers found that 4- to 9-year-old kids knew more about how animals are classified after a four-day camp at a zoo. It wasn’t that children who attended just knew more facts about animals, the researchers noted. The camp actually improved how they organized what they knew – a key component of learning.

Posted in Attention, Education, Engagement, Memory, Motivation

Case Study: Developmental Coordination Disorder

Case Study: Developmental Coordination Disorder

Emily is an eight year old in the third grade at a private school. She does not receive any special education services through the local school district. Emily was conceived as a result of in vitro fertilization and carried to full term. Developmentally, Emily was a late walker and an early talker. Significant health history includes fracturing the tibia at 12 months of age and again at 4. At birth she was diagnosed with Lordosis (curvature of the spine) and the presence of a sacral dimple. Emily had a few ear infections between the ages of 1 and 2 at which time she was considered for tubes.
Posted in Mathematics, Motivation, Movement & Exercise, School Readiness

New research helps to instill persistence in children

New research helps to instill persistence in children

Encouraging children “to help,” rather than asking them to “be helpers,” can instill persistence as they work to fulfill daily tasks that are difficult to complete, finds a new psychology study.

 

Posted in Education, Motivation, School Readiness, Social Skills

Kids connect with robot reading partners

Kids connect with robot reading partners

Kids learn better with a friend. They’re more enthusiastic and understand more if they dig into a subject with a companion. But what if that companion is artificial?
Posted in Attention, Education, Engagement, Motivation, Technology