Teachers’ Perspectives of Readiness, Academic, and Social Skills of First Graders Who Did Not Attend Kindergarten

Research suggests that kindergarten attenders benefit from the time spent learning basic academic and social skills. Skills students learn in kindergarten lead to skills taught in first grade and school readiness; however, many children do not attend kindergarten. The problem under study was that records indicate that many students do not attend kindergarten, and so may not be ready for first grade. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of first grade teachers in a southeastern U.S. state regarding the readiness for first grade of students whose entry records indicate they did not attend kindergarten. Pianta’s theory on social relationships provides the foundation for school readiness and was used as the conceptual framework for this study. The two research questions were focused on teachers’ perspectives regarding the academic and social skills of students whose entry records indicated they did not attend kindergarten. Data were gathered from interviews with 10 first grade teachers. Thematic analysis was conducted using in vivo and axial coding. The findings of this study indicated that kindergarten nonattenders were less prepared academically and socially for the first grade classroom than kindergarten attenders. The findings of the study suggested that kindergarten attendance positively affects first grade students’ academic and social abilities, so an implication of this study is that full-day kindergarten should be available and mandatory for all students. Additional funding may be needed to provide full-day kindergarten to all students in the United States. Positive social change may result from this study when administrators and legislators provide kindergarten nationwide and all children attend kindergarten and become fully ready for first grade success

Examining the appeal and ascribed meanings of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use by males: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Men are commonly and consistently underrepresented in global depression rates, however figure predominantly in rates for substance abuse and suicide. It has been suggested that men’s under-utilisation of mental health services accounts for the discrepancy between the genders and that hegemonic masculine stereotypes have created a barrier for males in seeking help for mood disorders. The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) has been expanding globally, with research showing in some instances of self-diagnosed depression and anxiety, CAM is being utilised more often than mainstream health care services. The present study explored the personal meanings of males who currently use CAM in Western Australia. The objective was to examine male motivations towards CAM use and their interpretations of men’s health issues. Eight self-selected participants, from three procedure-based CAM (Yoga, Applied Kinesiology, Meditation), were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to construct a framework for understanding the personal meanings of the participants’ experiences. Four overarching themes were identified and discussed: (1) Male depression; Experience and expression, (2) Environmental influence, (3) CAM use to develop positive mental habits over time, and (4) CAM benefits of self-awareness, self-care and self-responsibility. CAM users report positive benefits in their thoughts, moods and behaviours, however feel restricted in talking about their positive experiences among some peer groups. Conclusions are made regarding the role societal expectations play on the expression of emotions for men. Limitations of this study and future directions are discussed

Astrophysical Effects of Scalar Dark Matter Miniclusters

We model the formation, evolution and astrophysical effects of dark compact Scalar Miniclusters (``ScaMs''). These objects arise when a scalar field, with an axion-like or Higgs-like potential, undergoes a second order phase transition below the QCD scale. Such a scalar field may couple too weakly to the standard model to be detectable directly through particle interactions, but may still be detectable by gravitational effects, such as lensing and baryon accretion by large, gravitationally bound miniclusters. The masses of these objects are shown to be constrained by the Ly$\alpha$ power spectrum to be less than $\sim 10^4 M_\odot$, but they may be as light as classical axion miniclusters, of the order of $10^{-12} M_\odot$. We simulate the formation and nonlinear gravitational collapse of these objects around matter-radiation equality using an N-body code, estimate their gravitational lensing properties, and assess the feasibility of studying them using current and future lensing experiments. Future MACHO-type variability surveys of many background sources can reveal either high-amplification, strong lensing events, or measure density profiles directly via weak-lensing variability, depending on ScaM parameters and survey depth. However, ScaMs, due to their low internal densities, are unlikely to be responsible for apparent MACHO events already detected in the Galactic halo. A simple estimate is made of parameters that would give rise to early structure formation; in principle, early stellar collapse could be triggered by ScaMs as early as recombination, and significantly affect cosmic reionization.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures. Replaced to reflect published versio

Exploring the Overlap Between Dyslexia and Speech Sound Production Deficits

Purpose Children with dyslexia have speech production deficits in a variety of spoken language contexts. In this article, we discuss the nature of speech production errors in children with dyslexia, including those who have a history of speech sound disorder and those who do not, to familiarize speech-language pathologists with speech production-specific risk factors that may help predict or identify dyslexia in young children. Method In this tutorial, we discuss the role of a phonological deficit in children with dyslexia and how this may manifest as speech production errors, sometimes in conjunction with a speech sound disorder but sometimes not. We also briefly review other factors outside the realm of phonology that may alert the speech-language pathologist to possible dyslexia. Results Speech-language pathologists possess unique knowledge that directly contributes to the identification and remediation of children with dyslexia. We present several clinical recommendations related to speech production deficits in children with dyslexia. We also review what is known about how and when children with speech sound disorder are most at risk for dyslexia. Conclusion Speech-language pathologists have a unique opportunity to assist in the identification of young children who are at risk for dyslexia

White Noise from Dark Matter: 21 cm Observations of Early Baryon Collapse

In concordance cosmology, dark matter density perturbations generated by inflation lead to nonlinear, virialized minihalos, into which baryons collapse at redshift $z \sim 20$. We survey here novel baryon evolution produced by a modification of the power spectrum from white noise density perturbations at scales below $k \sim 10 h {Mpc}^{-1}$ (the smallest scales currently measured with the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest). Exotic dark matter dynamics, such as would arise from scalar dark matter with a late phase transition (similar to an axion, but with lower mass), create such an amplification of small scale power. The dark matter produced in such a phase transition collapses into minihalos, with a size given by the dark matter mass within the horizon at the phase transition. If the mass of the initial minihalos is larger than $\sim 10^{-3} M_\odot$, the modified power spectrum is found to cause widespread baryon collapse earlier than standard $\Lambda$CDM, leading to earlier gas heating. It also results in higher spin temperature of the baryons in the 21 cm line relative to $\Lambda$CDM at redshifts $z > 20$ if the mass of the minihalo is larger than $1 M_\odot$. It is estimated that experiments probing 21 cm radiation at high redshift will contribute a significant constraint on dark matter models of this type for initial minihalos larger than $\sim 10 M_\odot$. Early experiments reaching to $z\approx 15$ will constrain minihalos down to $\sim 10^3 M_\odot$.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure

The Expansion of Ecotourism in Tanzania and its Implications for the Maasai

Arts and Sciences Research GrantThe Maasai are a group of semi-nomadic pastoralists that have traditionally lived in the Serengeti Plains. Historically, the Maasai have faced a plethora of land tenure issues. The government and environmentalists have created challenges for the Maasai in the past, and today, the tourism industry is creating issues as well. Tourism companies often advertise as ecotourism companies, implying that they embody the principles of ecotourism and execute these principles in their business models; however, this is not always the case. The impact of tourism on the Maasai has attracted the attention of non-governmental organizations, international organizations, journalists and bloggers from all over the world. The purpose of this study is to examine how ecotourism manifests itself in Tanzania and the implications it will have for the Maasai. There is a myriad of definitions for ecotourism. Various organizations and scholars have put forth definitions for ecotourism, and this study will analyze them in order to determine an applicable framework for ecotourism. This framework will then be used to evaluate the tourism companies that operate in Tanzania and affect the Maasai. These evaluations will allow us to discern between companies that truly practice ecotourism from those that do not. My methodology integrates various sources. My research is a synthesis of printed sources, online sources, historical documents, reports from non-governmental organizations, accounts of various journalists and bloggers, and reflections from my personal experience in Tanzania. Current research shows that spurious ecotourism companies do exist in Tanzania, and as a result, the Maasai are negatively impacted. Current research also shows that genuine ecotourism companies operate in Tanzania and can empower the Maasai. This study suggests that ecotourism can positively impact local groups such as the Maasai; however, companies must truly emulate ecotourism principles in order to make these positive impacts.No embarg

Assessing Perceptions of Group Work Using Team-Based Learning

Group work is frequently incorporated into courses; however, student perceptions of their experiences and the benefits of group work might differ based on the structure of course. In this study, we examined student perceptions of group work in a team-based learning (TBL) course. Undergraduate students completed pre- and post-surveys on their team work experiences over a semester. Students had lower agreement with the statement “working in groups usually ends up with one person doing all of the work” and higher agreement with “working in a group makes me feel as though I am part of a learning community” at post-test. On an open-ended question comparing their group work experiences in the TBL setting to previous group work experiences, students had positive reactions, indicating that their teammates were prepared, accountable, and worked well together. While our small sample size leaves room to examine individuals’ different experiences with group work more closely, as a whole, TBL appears to provide a structure for group work that ensures individual accountability prior to team work and to provide a space for students to practice transferable skills valued by employers

Depositional Environments and Sequence Stratigraphy of a Breathitt Group Exposure, U.S. 25E, Flat Lick, Kentucky

The Pennsylvanian fluvial deltaic Breathitt Group is exposed along U.S. 25E near Flat Lick, Ky. This exposure is ideal for field trips because of the quality of the exposure, its accessibility, the range of facies present, and its potential for demonstrating principles of outcrop-based sequence-stratigraphic interpretation. Eight facies are present and represent deposition in fluvial, delta-plain, and delta-front environments. Several facies contain an abundance of trace fossils, and a wide range of sedimentary structures are also present. Flooding surfaces are well developed in the delta front and delta plain and are characterized by abrupt contacts with distal, deeper-water deltaic environments overlying proximal, shallower-water deltaic environments. Major flooding surfaces display evidence of condensation, including firmgrounds and enrichment of authigenic minerals such as siderite. At this exposure, most parasequence sets display progradational stacking and are interpreted as highstand systems tracts. Two sequence boundaries are present that may represent two different scales of sequences. The upper sequence boundary is more obvious and is characterized by a prominent erosional surface and is overlain by multistory fluvial channels. The lower and more subtle sequence boundary is interpreted as an interfluve surface marked by a bleached paleosol