Third grade follow-up
1. Briefly describe the study design for the impact of study?
The study design for the Head Start impact study was to address the impacts of having children in preschool and seeing the effects of having it in a follow up study by the third grade. It observes two sets of children in the ages of 3 to 4 years of age and from different demographic backgrounds to see how being in headstart gives longer effects from kindergarten, 1st grade, all the way to 3rd grade.
2. What were the important finding of the 3rd grade follow-up study?
The findings towards the study was that the children who were apart of the Head start program that there was an improvement towards the developmental domain with the children being in preschool programs. But what was noticed is that even with such drastic improvements in the preschool to 1st grade years that by the end of 3rd grade the children showed even lesser impact then they did earlier on.
3. What surprised you the most on the findings? Why?
While reading into this study I find it interesting how many people question how children being put into a preschool program can help later on in life as the child got older. The study showed how the children who entered the program there was an increasing improvement towards the development but later as the child gets older the childs development slows down and that through this there was no clear pattern to follow or to grasp to be favorable towards the children.
Another thing that I found really interesting about this is the involvement of parents in the children learning. That I think that the interaction with parent and child while they were younger made an impact towards the improvement in their developmental state. As the child gets older and moves on to grades where the parent interaction lessens that it is true that the child continues to improve of the improvement will slow down. Seeing that I have slowly observed it happen that as the parents see their child get older that the daily interaction that is given just as they were younger begins to lessen. So I see that it is important to have a constant interaction from the child as a parent, guardian, or even the teacher or care taker.
Battle over Head Start
1. What is the fade-out myth for Head start?
The myth about Head Start is a misunderstanding of results of failure towards cognitive and academic outcomes. Also in the flawed research methods that created false conclusions. There was also questionable notation that the benefits of Head Start, the suggestion is that Head Start educational benefits only fade out because of the schools the children enter might be of poor quality.
2. What recommendations does Barnett make for improving the quality of ECE?
Reading through the article Barnett states that in order to make an improvement towards Early Educations is that the teachers need to meet higher standards and that the teacher also receive better pay. He recommends this because due to evidence found regarding preschool teachers effectiveness and analysis of expectation for preschool teachers and young learners. That the quality of the teacher is only as good as the pay they are given. Also how for preschool teachers that they should only have a 4 yr degree from a college which shows that the pay won't be as well unless you strive for a higher type of degree. But the overall is that if there is higher pay that it increases the opportunity for the job field and that the quality of teachers coming through can be able to give their full potential to the children. That based off of the teachers qualifications and standards shows the quality of the teachers and that shows in order for that to increase the degree of the field should be raised to help know that this is a field that is strongly needed for children.
The fade-out myth reveals the short comings of the study and the fact that there are many variables that go into the children's outcomes when they are in 3rd grade. You mentioned that some children may enter elementary schools that are not as good as others and this is why the findings show the fade-out. This is one of many factors. I also think that children's growth in all areas of development is so significant in the early years and starts to even out by third grade, as if there is a shift in the natural development in children when they reach the third grade. It is as if the sponge is full and now it is time to figure out what to do with the knowledge. Maybe the Head Start Third Grade follow up will encourage researchers to look into what would be the best education for kindergarten -third grade. Maybe there needs to be changes in the curriculum that support the development of young children.
ReplyDeleteHi, Jasmine! Thank you for your insight! Unfortunately, many families fail to realize that they are their children’s first teacher. The Head Start program not only works with just the children, but they also work with the families and the community to help the children reach their full potential and become productive members of society. They work with the families to provide them with the understanding and knowledge of how they could provide appropriate assistance to their children. I appreciate what the program has done for my daughter and my family. They made the families feel comfortable and they provide us support through resources and referrals. I’m sure that perhaps not all teachers are as dedicated but from my first-hand experience with them when my daughter was enrolled in the program, the teachers were very pleasant. In this field, we need dedication and passion. Let’s face it, the pay is not great. This results in the loss of great teachers. It is very unfortunate that early childhood educators sometimes are just seen as “babysitters.” Many fail to see the work that we do and the impact that we have in the lives of children and families. Many do not even realize that for the Head Start program (I am not sure about the requirements for other preschools), the teachers require a degree. Getting your education takes time, energy, effort, and money. The dedication and passion that the teachers have for the field need more recognition and more pay.
ReplyDeleteHi Jasmine,
ReplyDeleteYou make an interesting point about the reduction of parenting involvement in school as children get older. What more could elementary schools do to involve parents, similar to how Head Start does it? What else do you think is at play in regards to the reduction in gains as the child reaches third grade? Why does Head Start get the blame? How could the current elementary school paradigm affect these gains?
Do you agree with Barnett's recommendations? What other recommendations would you make to improve the quality of ECE? Like you and Marichelle said, this field is important, but dedication and passion are not enough and that qualified teachers deserve higher pay. What else could we do to raise our wages? Who would we need to appeal to?
Thanks for your thoughts this week!