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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Hi! I came across two good articles this morning. I don’t have as much time as usual to read through them thoroughly and process them in advance, but in my brief review I think they are noteworthy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17562431">Toddlers’ make-believe games ‘help poor pupils succeed’</a> by Hannah Richardson, BBC New Education Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">This article covers a newly released study called E<a href="https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/DFE-RR202.pdf">ffective Pre-school, Primary and Secondary Education 3-14 Project (EPPSE
 3-14) Report from the Key Stage 3 Phase: Influences on Students Development from age 11-14</a> which is available for free online. This study took place in the UK so it is important to note the potential difference in population. The most noteworthy key findings
 covered in the article are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo2"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">“…early learning activities can give children a three-year academic boost by age 14.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo2"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">These beneficial early learning activities are defined as “being read to, planning with numbers and letters, doing craft activities, but also playing with friends at home and elsewhere, as well as
 enjoying ‘make believe’ games like dressing up.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo2"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">“The study says that difference in academic attainment and social development related to background emerge in children by the age of three.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo2"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt">“Learning opportunities in the home such as reading with children, playing with letters and shapes, sharing nursery rhymes, (and) going to the library all have positive effects later in the secondary
 phase, in fact, more than parental occupation or income.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://tiny.cc/bmf5bw">Evidence-based practice: Separating the wheat from the chaff</a> by Washington Learning Systems<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">This is a short article that is well-worth reading in full because it describes how to “identify the most accurate information, leading us to the most effective methods”. Here is the list of specific criteria
 for evaluating research from the article. If you are not familiar with these criteria already, I suggest printing them out and posting them next to your computer.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">“The age range of the children should match the group you are working with.” 
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">“The geographic location of the study should be representative of your students.  Even within the U.S. there are regional differences.”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">“Ideally, studies should use the “gold standard” of empirical research:  random assignment to treatment groups.” <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">“Research studies should be published no earlier than 1985.  However, do not reject foundational literature written before 1985, e.g., Piaget  and Vygotsky.”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">“The study should measure child change.  Knowing that you have changed parent or teacher behavior is useful, but is not as convincing as demonstrating child change directly.”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">“Finally, look for information in good quality, peer reviewed journals.”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#365F91;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3">
<i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">These two are not listed in the article, but are criteria I personally use.
<o:p></o:p></span></i>
<ul type="circle">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#365F91;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo3">
<i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">How large is the study group? The larger the number of people, the more potential for all types of diversity in the group and the more broadly it
<b><u>may</u></b> apply, e.g., a study on 3,000 children <b><u>may</u></b> have more validity than a study on 50 children.<o:p></o:p></span></i></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#365F91;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo3">
<i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Has a similar study been done with similar results? The more studies that are conducted the same way with the same results the more valid the argument/research.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></li></ul>
</li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal">Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="color:black">Katie Anderson, Library Development Services<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="color:black">* Youth Services Consultant * Oregon Center for the Book Coordinator *<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="color:black">Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:katie.anderson@state.or.us"><span style="color:blue">katie.anderson@state.or.us</span></a>, 503-378-2528<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">If the hyperlinks don’t work, try cutting and pasting these URLs into your browser:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="color:black">BBC article: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17562431">
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-17562431</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="color:black">Full, almost 196 page report on the study:
<a href="https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/DFE-RR202.pdf">
https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/DFE-RR202.pdf</a> <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="color:black">Evidence-based practice:
<a href="http://www.walearning.com/articles/evidence-based-practice-separating-the-wheat-from-the-chaff/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Early+Literacy+Newsletter+April+2012&utm_content=Early+Literacy+Newsletter+April+2012+CID_834ae9e4d5377b139949eef3cc5b51a1&utm_source=Mailing+List&utm_term=Read+more">
http://www.walearning.com/articles/evidence-based-practice-separating-the-wheat-from-the-chaff/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Early+Literacy+Newsletter+April+2012&utm_content=Early+Literacy+Newsletter+April+2012+CID_834ae9e4d5377b139949eef3cc5b51a1&utm_source=Mailing+List&utm_term=Read+more</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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