Here are a couple of articles from this week's PEN NewsBlast that you
might enjoy reading.

 

CLOSE EARLY CHILDHOOD ACHIEVEMENT GAPS BY READING, STORY-TELLING
Currently, Latino children represent 21.4 percent of the early childhood
population and that figure is supposed to grow by 146 percent by 2050.
However, relative to the size of this population, little research exists
that is focused on Latino infant and child development. One such study
recently released by the Harvard Family Research Project involved an
examination of the characteristics and early predictors of infant
development and parenting. The study's researchers found that family
engagement for all children is vital, regardless of social, cultural or
ethnic group. The study also notes that there is no difference in
cognitive or motor competencies between Latino children and their white
peers at nine months of age. According to results from other studies,
school readiness differences are found as early as at kindergarten age
between Latino and white children. This finding might help point to the
period in development when the divide occurs between the two groups.
While few differences in parenting behaviors exist across ethnic groups,
Latino families are less likely to read books and share stories with
their children than parents from other ethnic backgrounds. 
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/fine/resources/digest/infants.h
tml
<http://public-education.org/080E1502001B11173214131F1E1B065C1D00150E454
64645460E4043444641400E400E434141414B45450E08.aspx> 

 

 

 

ZOOM ALONG 'ROUTE 21' FOR TOOLS TO IMPLEMENT 21ST CENTURY SKILLS
Everyone has grown accustomed to business leaders and other stakeholders
clamoring for increased attention paid to 21st century skills (global
literacy, problem solving, innovation and creativity), as they have
become stock skills in an increasingly interconnected global workforce.
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has tried to satiate these calls
by launching "Route 21," the first ever online conglomeration of 21st
century skills-related tools and resources. The website provides
information on standards, assessments, curriculum and instruction and
opportunities for professional development. Route 21 also allows users
to mark, organize, collect and share content based on their
personal/professional needs. The site is intended to be a living entity
by being continuously updated and providing an online forum where users
can share their experiences on implementing 21st century skills. It's
not quite the Jetsons or hover cars, but it does serve as a great tool
for educators.  
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/route21/
<http://public-education.org/080E1502001B11173214131F1E1B065C1D00150E454
64645460E4043444641400E400E4341414642444B0E08.aspx> 

 

 

Gail J. Price

Multimedia Specialist

National Center for Family Literacy

325 W. Main Street, Suite 300

Louisville, KY 40202

gprice at famlit.org

502 584-1133, ext. 112

 

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