Researchers have argued that there are strong links between primary school students' competence with fraction concepts and operations and their algebraic readiness. This study involving 162 Years 5/6 students in three primary schools examined the strength of that relationship using a test based on familiar fraction tasks and a test of algebraic…

The 2013 Washington State Legislature enacted legislation (Revised Code of Washington [RCW] 28A.165.100) requiring additional data reporting for the Learning Assistance Program (LAP). Under the guidelines provided in the law, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) produces an annual report to the Legislature summarizing the…

This rapid review of research evidence was commissioned by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) to investigate the issue of relative age in the international context. The review findings are drawn from 18 research studies published from 2000 to 2008 and carried out in Australia, Chile, the United Kingdom and the USA together with…

In a study involving 48 kindergarten children, tests using tachistoscopic exposures, divided form boards, and grooved pegboards, all showed significant correlations with readiness. Results of the Auditory-Visual Integration Test were not significant at the kindergarten level. Findings suggest that individuals with good perceptual skills are likely…

In response to the first of the National Education Goals (1991), which reads, "all children in America will start school ready to learn," this paper addresses four interpretations of the term "readiness" and the methods that have been devised to assess children's learning at the outset of formal schooling. The idealist or nativist view claims that…

Results suggest that the STAR or MRT, coupled with teacher observations and the BGT, can provide a school system with an adequate screening readiness battery. Of the several skills measured by readiness tests, letter knowledge is the most predictive of actual first grade achievement. (Author)

Concludes that teachers' perceptions of academic maturity are a predictor of learning readiness. (RB)

The place of kindergarteners in academia has grown more important in recent years. Increased emphasis on learning at the kindergarten level, however, should not blind educators to the developmental levels of four- and five-year-olds, who may learn most effectively by playing creatively and exploring new language skills. (PGD)

Administered Peabody Mathematics Readiness Test to 325 students in kindergarten through second grade to investigate selected psychometric characteristics of the test. Found low item-to-item correlations; results did not support factor structure suggested by test's authors or proposed hierarchical structure. (Author/NB)

Examined the potential of using repeated rate-of-response measures to identify students exhibiting difficulties in arithmetic. Second-grade students (N=30) were followed over two years. Pearson product-moment correlations were computed to determine the ability of rate-of-response measures to predict arithmetic achievement. Results indicate that…

Many schools across the United States have created a new grade between kindergarten and first grade, called transition classes, to deal with low-achieving kindergarten and first-grade students. Upon completion of the transition class, students return to a regular class, where they usually remain a year behind their age cohorts. This paper presents…

This research examined stress in the kindergarten in the public school system of North Carolina. A questionnaire was designed to collect information from public school kindergarten teachers concerning seven stressors: (1) academic tasks that students were developmentally unable to handle; (2) death of a close family member or friend; (3) the move…

An overall rationale for the early identification of strengths and possible developmental weaknesses in school beginners is presented in Part I, with the research-based areas of assessment of tests for auditory analysis skills, conceptual skills and language skills. The general purposes of diagnostic assessment and a model of a behavioral…

The study reported in this document was undertaken to determine the effects of Black Studies on Afro-American five-year-old preschool children, especially the changes which might occur in Afro-American pupils' self-concepts after exposure to Black Studies. In addition, this study sought to measure readiness gain in relation to improved…

Reviews the ValueTale series of books which are designed to demonstrate how positive values influenced the lives of famous people. Concludes that they fall short of their goal. Points out that the series attempts to teach concepts beyond the understanding of the intended learners. (KO)