Effects of a book gifting programme on literacy outcomes for foster children: A randomised controlled trial evaluation of the Letterbox Club in Northern Ireland

The poor educational outcomes of children in care is a significant concern internationally. Whilst there have been many interventions developed to address this problem, very few of these have been rigorously evaluated. This article presents the findings of a randomised controlled trial that sought to measure the effectiveness of a book gifting programme (the Letterbox Club) that aims to improve literacy skills amongst children aged 7-11 years in foster care. The programme involves children receiving six parcels of books sent through the post over a six-month period. The trial, which ran between April 2013 and June 2014, involved a sample of 116 children in Northern Ireland (56 randomly allocated to the intervention group and 60 to a waiting list control group). Outcome measures focused on reading skills (reading accuracy, comprehension and rate) and attitudes to reading and school. The trial found no evidence that the book-gifting programme had any effect on any of the outcomes measured. Drawing upon some of the emergent themes from the accompanying qualitative process evaluation that sought to determine foster carer/child attitude towards and engagement with the parcels, it is suggested that one plausible reason for the ineffectiveness of the Letterbox Club, as intimated by carers and children (rather than explicitly explored with them), is the lack of support provided to the carers/children in relation to the packs received. Reflective of an ecological model of children’s development, it is recommended that for book-gifting programmes to be effective they need to include a focus on encouraging the direct involvement of foster carers in shared literacy activities with the children using the books that are gifted.

Geologia 11.º ano - guia do professor

Na primeira parte, são fundamentalmente as orientações metodologicas, as quais incluem referências à educação para o desenvolvimento sustentável, algumas sugestões didáticas e observações relativas à avalliação das aprendizagens. Pretende-se que os professores desenvolvam um quadro de referência, o qual será importante para justificar algumas das decisões que terão de tomar na preparação das suas aulas e, depois, em situação de ato de ensino. Na segunda parte, são apresentados para cada uma das quatro Unidades Temáticas que integram o programa de Geologia do 11.º ano, mapas de conceitos, propostas de planificação, sugestões diversas, recursos e recomendações de avaliação. Tudo isto visa proporcionar aos professores elementos que lhes permitam vir a reunir um conjunto de condições necessárias a uma abordagem sustentada e atual do programa, em íntima articulação com o manual, de modo que os alunos procedam a uma aprendizagem que conduza a uma cidadania ativa.

Mundo Shuar 11: La cocina

La doctora Irene Paredes de Martínez, profesora en la Universidad Central de Quito y especialista en folklore de la alimentación, me hacía notar un día que el "hambre" nos la quitamos de cualquier manera y con cualquier material apenas comestible, pero cuando se trata del apetito entran en juego reglas culturales a veces muy sofisticadas.

Star recyclers : an out-of-this-world recycling activity book

This children's activity and coloring book explains the importance of recycling.

A "Portrait" of Book XII of the Æneid: the Mosaic of the «House of the Medusa» (Alter do Chão, Portugal)

This paper addresses the study of a mosaic discovered in 2007 at the archaeological site of Alter do Chão, Portugal, whose central panel represents the penultimate scene narrated in the last Book of the Æneid – a Roman epic composed by the poet Publius Vergilius Maro (70 BC – AD 19), at the request of Gaius Julius Cæsar Octavianus Augustus (63 BC – AD 14): it shows the very moment when Turnus, the Latin king of the Rutuli, kneels before Æneas, considered the precursor to the foundation of Rome (Virgil, Æneid, XII, 926-950).

Humberstone Shoe Company Limited Minute Book

Book contains meeting minutes of the Board of Directors of the Humberstone Shoe Company Ltd., held at the Office of McLeod, Young, Weir and Co. Limited, Metropolitan Building, Toronto. Board of Directors includes: H.H. Knoll (President), J.H. Radcliffe, E. K. Reiner, T.H. Kinnear, L.B. Spencer. There is some correspondence, annual reports, contracts, by-laws, statements of profit and loss etc. throughout the book.

Second Welland Canal - Book 2, Survey Map 5 - Locks 16, 17 and 18 in Grantham

Survey map of the Second Welland Canal created by the Welland Canal Company showing the Grantham Township at Merritton. Identified structures associated with the Canal include Locks 15, 16, 17, and 18, and the towing path. The surveyors' measurements and notes can be seen in red and black ink and pencil. Local area landmarks are also identified and include streets and roads (ex. Hartzel Road and Macadamized Road), Lybster Cotton Mill, St. Catharines Paper Mill, J. Brown Cotton Mills, hydraulic race, a pond, several barns, and a number of structures (likely houses or cabins) belonging to: J. McNamara, M. Moran, A. Delany, T. Joyce, J. Delany, C. Blake, F. Weaver, W. Leeson, and Mrs. Aikins. Properties of note are: Concession 10 Lots 11 and 12. A number of reserved properties exist and are outlined in blue. They include three reserved properties for lock lots, and one large property reserved for a quarry.

The Weekly Register Vol. III, No. 11, Whole No. 63- November 14,1812

The Weekly Register, also known as Niles Weekly Register, was a weekly periodical edited by Hezekiah Niles (1777-1839) and published in Baltimore Maryland. Volumes of interest were published between 1811 (Vol. 1, No. 1, September 7, 1811) to 1814 (Vol. 5, No. 26, February 26, 1814). These volumes focus primarily on 19th century politics and government in the United States of America. Niles edited and published the Weekly Register until 1836, making it one of the most widely-circulated magazines in the United States. The popularity also made Niles into one of the most influential journalists of his day. Devoted primarily to politics, Niles' Weekly Register is considered an important source for the history of the period. The Register also recorded current economics, technology, science, medicine, geography, archaeology, the weather, and stories of human interest. This issue is part of a bound book titled the Weekly Register 1812-1814. Pages are divided as follows: November 14, 1812- Pages 161-174 January 22, 1814- Pages 337-352 July 30, 1814- Pages 361-376 Look for other issues of the Weekly Register within the website.

Two leaves from a Medieval breviary (prayer-book), c.1350-1400

The actual scripture quotations begin with blue and gold illuminated letters. Towards the end of each passage, there is a small red “R” that marks the “Response”. At the conclusion of the Response, the next lesson is announced. There are three lessons on these leaves. The first leaf begins with the word “Requiem” with the initial letter illuminated. The third lesson begins with the illuminated letter “M” on the word “Manus”. This passage is from the Book of Job, Chapter 10, verses 8-11 which reads: Your hands have formed me and fashioned me; will you then turn and destroy me? Oh, remember that you fashioned me from clay. Will you then bring me down to dust again? Did you not pour me out as milk, and thicken me like cheese? With skin and flesh you clothed me, with bones and sinews knit me together.

Province of Ontario Gazetteer and Directory 1910 - 1911 (1910/11)

Gazetteer and business directory for the Province of Ontario for the year 1910 - 1911.