Construction and validation of an instrument to assess the reading comprehension of students from the third to the fifth grades of elementary school

Objetivo:Este estudo teve como objetivo construir e validar um instrumento de avaliação da compreensão de leitura a fim de caracterizar o perfil de leitura e detectar dificuldades de compreensão em escolares do terceiro ao quinto ano do Ensino Fundamental.Métodos:Participaram 378 escolares divididos em trés grupos para avaliação da compreensão de proposições literais e inferenciais de micro e macroestruturas de dois textos expositivos e dois textos narrativos por meio de questões de múltipla escolha.Resultados:Os dados analisados estatisticamente indicaram valores do teste alfa de Cronbach apresentando consisténcia interna nos quatros textos aplicados para os trés grupos.Conclusão:Foi possível constatar que os escolares apresentaram menor número de erros com o aumento da escolarização e que cada tipo de texto apresentou uma dificuldade específica para os escolares.

The perspective of the teaching of arts projected by H. Gardner and the National Syllabus Parameters - (arts) of elementary school

In a concise way, the article reports part of the Master of Arts dissertation in Music entitled The meaning of the teaching of Arts in H. Gardner's perspective, presented in the IAUNESP [Arts Institute-State of Sao Paulo University] in 2008. Some considerations on the Statutory Law n. 11.769/08 were added to the original text. The produced research had an exploratory nature and a theoretical mark. Some texts by Howard Gardner, by the psychologist Eliane Leao, as well as the text of the National Syllabus Parameters-Art, from the Department of Elementary Education, served as a foundation for this article. The intended aim was to demonstrate to what extent the pedagogical proposition of the Arts Education projected by H. Gardner is similar to the one proposed by the National Syllabus Parameters, and which would the benefits be in this age group of an artistic sensitizing work for the development of the individual's personality.

The Social Geography of Education: Neighborhood, Class Composition, and the Educational Achievement of Elementary School Students in Zurich, Switzerland

Despite an impressive amount of research and policy intervention no robust pattern of neighborhood effects on educational attainment has previously been identified. Adequate theoretical modeling and the sensitivity of the results to the method of the study are the major challenges in this area of research. This paper elaborates the social mechanisms of neighborhood effects and applies various methodological approaches to test them. Using data from Switzerland, the research reported here has detected heterogeneous effects of neighborhood on elementary school students’ educational achievement in Zurich. Although modest in comparison with the effects of classroom composition, these effects appear to be mediated primarily through social integration into a local peer network and are differentiated according to students’ gender and their social origin.

Characterization of diabetes risk factors of elementary school children in low income areas of San Antonio, Texas

The number of children developing type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing globally, especially in Western countries. Previous studies have indicated that low socioeconomic status (SES) is a contributing factor to diabetes. This study of children examined the relationship of socioeconomic status and two physiological measures that are risk factors for diabetes: the level of fasting capillary glucose (FCG) and hyperglycemia, in which there is an elevated amount of glucose in the blood. This study utilized data from the study entitled Bienester: A School-Based Diabetes Mellitus Prevention Program. The sample was 1,426 fourth grade students from 27 San Antonio Independent School District elementary schools. The dependent variable was FCG and the independent variable was the median family income associated with the student's zip code based on Census information. Other variables included body mass index, gender, and ethnicity. The statistical results showed no relationship between FCG, continuously defined, and income. In addition, there was no relationship between hyperglycemia and income. Furthermore, there was no relationship of FCG with BMI, gender, or ethnicity. Income measured at the zip code level is likely too aggregate and distal an influence to demonstrate an impact on FCG. Research should continue to examine risk factors associated with the onset of T2DM.^

The impact of a cooking and gardening summer camp experience on the fruit and vegetable consumption of elementary school-aged children

Childhood obesity is a significant public health problem. Over 15 percent of children in the United States are obese, and about 25 percent of children in Texas are overweight (CDC NHANES). Furthermore, about 30 percent of elementary school aged children in Harris County, Texas are overweight or obese (Children at Risk Institute 2010). In addition to actions such as increasing physical activity, decreasing television watching and video game time, decreasing snacking on low nutrient calorie dense foods and sugar sweetened beverages, children need to consume more fruits and vegetables. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2002, about 26 percent of U.S. children are meeting the recommendations for daily fruit intake and about 16 percent are meeting the recommendations for daily vegetable intake (CDC NHANES). In 2004, the average total intake of vegetables was 0.9 cups per day and 1.1 cups of fruit per day by children ages four to nine years old in the U.S. (CDC NHANES). Not only do children need effective nutrition education to learn about fruits and vegetables, they also need access and repeated exposure to fruits and vegetables (Anderson 2009, Briefel 2009). Nutrition education interventions that provide a structured, hands-on curriculum such as school gardens have produced significant changes in child fruit and vegetable intake (Blair 2009, McAleese 2007). To prevent childhood obesity from continuing into adolescence and adulthood, effective nutrition education interventions need to be implemented immediately and for the long-term. However, research has shown short-term nutrition education interventions such as summer camps to be effective for significant changes in child fruit and vegetable intake, preferences, and knowledge (Heim 2009). ^ A four week summer camp based on cooking and gardening was implemented at 6 Multi-Service centers in a large, urban city. The participants included children ranging in age from 7 to 14 years old (n=64). The purpose of the camp was to introduce children to their food from the seed to the plate through the utilization of gardening and culinary exercises. The summer camp activities were aimed at increasing the children's exposure, willingness to try, preferences, knowledge, and intake of fruits and vegetables. A survey was given on the first day of camp and again on the last day of camp that measured the pre- and post differences in knowledge, intake, willingness to try, and preferences of fruits and vegetables. The present study examined the short-term effectiveness of a cooking and garden-based nutrition education program on the knowledge, willingness, preferences, and intake among children aged 8 to 13 years old (n=40). The final sample of participants (n=40) was controlled for those who completed pre- and post-test surveys and who were in or above the third grade level. Results showed a statistically significant increase in the reported intake of vegetables and preferences for vegetables, specifically green beans, and fruits. There was also a significant increase in preferences for fruits among boys and participants ages 11 to 13 years. The results showed a change in the expected direction of willingness to try, preferences for vegetables, and intake of fruit, however these were not statistically significant. Interestingly, the results also showed a decrease in the intake of low nutrient calorie dense foods such as sweets and candy.^

What is a good play school? Recommended standards for the group care of children of elementary school age.

Mode of access: Internet.

Study of elementary school libraries--phase I : report on inquiry no. 1, April 1, 1959.

Includes bibliographical references.

Functional planning of elementary school buildings,

"Undertaken by the Office of education in cooperation with the National advisory council on school building problems."--Introd., p. vii.

A study of the relationship between parental self-efficacy and indicators of school involvement exhibited by Hispanic parents of elementary school children

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Hispanic parents' sense of self-efficacy at various degrees of acculturation to the United States and specific indicators of school involvement in their elementary school children's education. It assessed the effects of acculturation on the level of parental self-efficacy and their degree of school involvement. The theoretical framework guiding this investigation was Bandura's theory of self-efficacy which advocates that the amount of effort a person devotes to the accomplishment of a specific outcome is related to a person's beliefs in their capabilities regardless of actual competencies.^ The research method involved a correlational design measuring levels of parental self-efficacy, acculturation, degree of school involvement and related demographic characteristics. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the degree of relationships existing between the predictor variables of self-efficacy and level of acculturation, and level of school involvement. The data was subjected to a path analysis to test the validity of the causal model advanced in this study specifying a positive relationship between the constructs of acculturation, parental self-efficacy and level of school involvement.^ A total of 109 Hispanic parents of students enrolled in five elementary public schools in Dade County, Florida, were selected for participation in the study. Results revealed a significant positive correlation r =.23, p $<$.05 between level of parental self-efficacy and number of hours parents spent helping their children with homework. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between acculturation and level of self-efficacy r =.21, p $<$.05. Statistically significant positive correlations were also found between acculturation and such indicators of parental school involvement as participation in parent-teacher conferences r =.20, p $<$.05, volunteering at school, r =.22, p $<$.05, attendance at school sponsored sports activities r =.26, p $<$.01, and volunteering in field-trips r =.28, p $<$.01.^ The multiple regression analysis equation predicting level of homework assistance provided by parents and self-efficacy was statistically significant, F(2,106) = 3.59, p $<$.03. The beta weights revealed that self-efficacy contributed the most to the prediction of homework assistance by parents, B =.258, p $<$.009. In turn, the variable of acculturation was the most significant predictor of number of school based parent involvement activities, B =.281, p $<$.05 level. The path analysis confirmed the results obtained in the multiple regression analyses, establishing self-efficacy as having a direct effect on the level of homework assistance provided by parents. Conversely, the variable of acculturation had a direct effect on the number of school based parent involvement activities. ^

Writing concepts in the textbook of elementary school: writing as a consequence with nuances of gift

The text production commands from a collection of textbooks Portuguese (6 to 9 years) were analyzed in order to verify the design of writing that guides the work with this practice in the classroom. Therefore, the study is guided in Applied Linguistics, in theoretical view of Geraldi (1996) and Fiad and Mayrink-Sabison (1994) and methodological of Sercundes (1997). The analysis and systematization of data allowed to highlight the writing concepts such as work, written as a result and writing as a consequence with nuances of gift, and in this article, the commands guided are presented in the latter, given the recurrence that was used in the activities. Thus, the results indicate that the commands of the collection, guided by the concept of writing as a consequence with the nuances of gift, promote dialogue between two predefined by Sercundes conceptions (1997) written as a gift and as a result, showing their overlapping for the realization of production activity. Moreover, the written are the result of activities carried out previously, at the same time that the student is asked to use their imagination, his gift of writing at the time of production, not setting actual production conditions written to students.

Educação física na 4ª série do ensino fundamental das escolas Governador Freitas Neto e Colégio Lerote da cidade de Teresina-PI : a relação entre leitura e expressão corporal

RESUMO:O hábito de ler é decorrente do exercício e nem sempre se constitui num ato prazeroso, porém, sempre necessário. Por este motivo se deve recorrer a estímulos para criar o hábito de leitura em nossos alunos. Desta forma, a disciplina de Educação Física pode também contribuir para este processo. Por ser uma disciplina que envolve a dimensão motora, cognitiva e expressionista, a sua relação com a leitura é quase que intrínseca, porém, viabilizada de formas diferentes. É certo que a criança não conseguirá na sua totalidade, uma absorção intelectual explícita da leitura para construir uma realidade virtual e representar em gestos corporais, a partir de um conjunto léxico de significantes e significados correspondentes à postura física. No entanto, o exercício da leitura desenvolve na criança capacidades cognitivas de mais valia que lhe possibilita níveis satisfatórios de representatividade corporal. As atividades recreativas oferecem, sem dúvida, um processo excepcional para fazer as crianças tomarem parte ativamente no processo do ensino, como participantes, em vez de meros espectadores. A proposta deste trabalho de intervenção busca auxiliar o professor de Educação Física no campo de atuação profissional do pesquisador, tendo como delimitação do campo de investigação o Centro de Educação Básica Governador Freitas Neto, escola da rede municipal de Educação de Teresina e, Colégio Lerote, da rede particular de Teresina. Deste modo, os objetivos do presente estudo consistem em analisar as contribuições da disciplina de Educação Física para a aprendizagem do ensino da prática de leitura com crianças do Ensino Fundamental, nas séries iniciais com escolas da rede municipal e particular da cidade de Teresina – Piauí. Concluiu-se que com um trabalho integrado da Educação Física com o processo de alfabetização nas primeiras séries do Ensino Fundamental, essa etapa pode ser vista de forma rica e ampla. Assim, com essa contribuição, aprender a ler e escrever pode, pois, se tornar mais natural e mais divertido. ABSTRACT: The habit of reading is a result of exercise and is not always a pleasurable act, but always necessary. For this reason one should resort to incentives to create the reading habit in our students. Thus, the discipline of Physical Education can also contribute to this process. Because it is a discipline that involves the size motor, cognitive and expressionistic, their relationship with reading that is almost inherent, however, made possible in different ways. It is true that the child can not in its entirety, an explicit intellectual absorption of reading to construct a virtual reality and represented body gestures from a whole lexicon of signifiers and meanings corresponding to the physical posture. However, the exercise of reading the child develops cognitive abilities that enables him to gain more satisfactory levels of representative body. The recreational activities offer, no doubt, an exceptional procedure to make the children take part actively in the process of education, as participants rather than spectators. The purpose of this intervention work intends to help the physical education teacher in the professional field of research, with the delimitation of the field of research the Centre for Basic Education Governador Freitas Neto, the municipal school of Teresina and Education, College Lerote, from private Teresina. Thus, the objectives of this study are to analyze the contributions of physical education for learning the practice of teaching reading with children of elementary school, in the early grades with municipal schools and particularly the city of Teresina - Piauí. It was concluded that with an integrated physical education with the acquisition of literacy in the early grades of elementary school, this step can be seen in a rich and broad. So, with this contribution, learning to read and write may therefore become more natural and fun.

Dez anos dos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais: contribuições para o ensino de ciências naturais nos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental I

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O ensino da temática racial: formação e práticas docentes na educação escolar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Relações étnico-raciais e progressão continuada na escola: o difícil diálogo com a inclusão

Pós-graduação em Ciências Sociais - FFC

Contribuições da perspectiva histórico-cultural para a alfabetização nas séries iniciais do ensino fundamental

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)