The present study examines the influence of economic and family stress processes on change in drug and alcohol use in a cohort of 478 Mexican American youth (50.8% female) followed longitudinally beginning in Grade 5 when the youth averaged 10.4 years of age. Adolescents, their mothers (median age 36 at Grade 5), and their fathers (median age 39…

This paper investigates the effect of primary school students' utilization of extended education offerings and of the quality of extended education on reading achievement in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. All-day schools are being set up. Among other reasons, as a means to level the increasing scholastic demands in the primary schools.…

"Let's Play! Activities for Families" has been developed by the B.C. Ministry of Education for families and caregivers to support children's early learning experiences through playing and having fun. Each play activity connects with one of the Living Inquiries described in the "B.C. Early Learning Framework," which are: (1)…

Using data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD), this dissertation examined the relationship between pre-K quality and children's academic achievement at 54 months and in first, third, and fifth grades, controlling for child and family covariates and the…

Pursuing new, commonsense approaches to education reform and work-family policies, from childcare and early education through higher education and workforce flexibility, will foster the conditions for family flourishing and increase birth rates for married couples. Affordable childcare from a variety of providers, including at-home options, access…

Background: Uncertainty remains concerning how children's reading and academic self-concept are related and how these are differentially affected by social disadvantage and home learning environments. Aims: To contrast the impacts of early socio-economic risks and preschool home learning environments upon British children's reading abilities and…

Educational opportunities and resources for students differ around the world. Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) highlights students' achievement, home resources, and attitudes towards mathematics and science. In this study, we sought to identify home resources and attitudes towards mathematics factors that significantly…

At start-up of a book distribution programme (Dolly Parton's Imagination Library) in a southeastern United States community, we examined baseline relationships between at-home shared book reading (SBR) and children's language/literacy abilities and skills at kindergarten entry. One hundred fifty-two parent/child dyads participated; children (53%…

In the past, physical barriers such as geography and distance limited global communication. In this paper, we explore how young children in immigrant families engage in transnational literacy practices. Specifically, we explore the transnational funds of knowledge that result from those experiences. This three-year longitudinal collective case…

Conducted every five years, Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) assesses international trends in the reading comprehension of young students in their fourth year of schooling--an important transition point in children's development as readers. PIRLS was designed to complement the International Association for the Evaluation of…

Are parental inputs complements or substitutes to education quality? Using variation induced by identification into a gifted and talented (GT) program, I find no aggregate effects on parental behavior as a result of their child's access to a higher quality education. However, there are heterogeneous effects. Non-minority parents decrease…

This paper explores a volunteer teaching project that set out to meet a school's need for English instruction and instead encountered other more profound needs. This case study investigates these needs as they emerged in the written and oral reflections of the four volunteer teachers. In tandem with the teaching project, the study found that the…

When identifying parental socialization processes influencing children's reading achievement, building self-regulation is a potential underlying mechanism. Yet socialization (i.e., warmth, stress) of self-regulation may vary based on the sociocultural context of ethnic minority families. Using the ECLS-K: 2011 (N = 17,020; M[subscript Age] = 73.43…

Introduction: Students' academic performance can be influenced by several of their contextual and personal factors. In some cases, it is influenced by the educational practices of their family of origin, and by parental support with homework and learning at home. Or in other cases, it is influenced by the characteristics of the students, as well…

Despite research evidence showing that home language maintenance is important both individually and societally, the task of managing and encouraging it has traditionally fallen to minority language communities and families, tending to lead to inter-generational language shift. Teachers' discourses about responsibilities for language maintenance,…