Hart and Risley introduced the staggering “30-million-word gap” between children of different households, back in 1995. Some may call it a famous study while others may call it an infamous study. This is because it has caused quite a stir directly and indirectly; the proposed solutions tended to sprout problems of their own. In their study, Hart and Risley followed parent-child language usage (listening/speaking opportunities) in a range of different contexts. The children in the most socially disadvantaged group produced only half the number of words that the children of the “professional” families did. Hart and Risley also noted that vocabulary size is a major predictor in future scholastic success and that the vocabulary size gap among young children quickly widens from a 2:1 ratio to a 4:1 ratio in a matter of months.
Author: Brain Admin
Theory to Practice: Rules of Thumb for Teaching Children
Theory to Practice: Rules of Thumb for Teaching Children By: The Practitioners Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on linkedin Dear readers, the Think Tank Team has contacted some
The Hidden Role of Teachers of Young Learners
I am going to say something drastic: Of all teachers, those that teach young learners are, by far, the most important. They have the potential to save the world.
This is not a statement I came up with. It came from some economists who produced a National Public Radio Planet Money podcast with the title: Why Preschool Can Save the World. Economists? Preschool? Save the World? Trust me, it all connects.
A Scientific Approach to Early Language Learning
My daughter read her first word on her third birthday. My family was amazed. We thought we had a true genius on our hands. But when I visited her Montessori preschool, I discovered the truth—in Montessori school, they explicitly teach you how to read as soon as you’re interested in it. Not to say that my daughter isn’t a genius (she’s amazing), but she was not the only 3-year-old in her class who was happily sounding out words. How could that even be possible?
An Earnest Investment
Children are without a doubt fascinating in many aspects. They possess many unique features that make teaching them crucial, tricky, and rewarding: their amazing ability to enjoy mundane tasks repeatedly, their never-ending curiosity, and the fact that they are always busy with a task can teach adults a thing or two about life. Children are blessed with some amazing physiological characteristics as well: they make more than 1,000,000 neural connections in a second and at age 3-6 months, they can discriminate all the sounds of all languages of the entire world!
Call for Contributions: Ideas & Articles
Become a Think Tank star! Here are some of the future issue topics we are thinking about. Would you, or anyone you know, like to write about any of these? Or is there another topic you’d like to recommend? Do you have any suggestions for lead-in, or just plain interesting, videos? How about writing a book review? Or sending us a story about your experiences? Contact us.
Perseverantia Vincit (Perseverance Conquers)
Perseverantia Vincit (Perseverance Conquers) By: Chris Clancy Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on linkedin I never wanted to be a teacher. My mother was a teacher and I
Looking Back: Write Slower to Write Deeper
Looking Back: Write Slower to Write Deeper By: John Duplice Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on linkedin From the editors: We love to include something in the current
Introducing Cognition and Emotion Connections through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Introducing Cognition and Emotion Connections through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy By: Josh Brunotte Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on linkedin There is a growing awareness that mental health disorders
Teachers and Stress
Teachers and Stress By: Lydia Rickard Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on linkedin It’s 7:00 am and Alec, a second-grade teacher, has just started his working day. Firstly,