Investigating applicability of ratings of indicators of the CLASS Pre-K instrument

When classroom observations are increasingly used for accountability and evaluation purposes, a deeper understanding of the psychometric properties of such measurement tools is needed. The present study took a unique approach to examine the psychometric properties of a commonly used classroom observation measure by testing the reliability of indicators for higher-order constructs (i.e. dimensions). We investigated the reliability of indicator ratings of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) Pre-K instrument in Finnish kindergarten and first grade classrooms. Twenty-one observer pairs rated 838 segments identified from the 413 lessons of 48 teachers. Variance components models were specified to investigate variance proportions of each indicator and dimension. The results showed that most observer disagreement was found for the instructional support domain. Observers disagreed relatively more depending on the teacher they observed. There is a clear need for additional understanding on how observers process information on the complex elements of classroom interaction in order to improve training programmes and the reliability and accuracy of the assessment procedure.peerReviewe

Developmental leisure reading profiles and their association with reading skills across Grades 1–9

This study examined the developmental profiles of different leisure reading habits and their association with reading fluency and comprehension in 2525 Finnish students from Grade 1 to 9. Four profiles were identified based on the reading frequency of different materials: Comics readers, Online readers, Book readers and Non-readers. Profile differences in leisure reading emerged early, although leisure reading levels changed. Boys were over-represented in the Comics readers and Non-readers, while girls were over-represented in the Online readers and Book readers. Book readers showed the highest level of reading skills, though Comics readers were also above-average readers. Among Online readers, girls had above average skills in reading while boys had below-average skills. Non-readers, especially boys, had the poorest reading skills. The study highlights the emergence of early onset individual differences in leisure reading habits and an association between different kinds of active leisure reading and reading development across grades. The educational relevance and implications statement Leisure reading is important as it can contribute to the evolution of a positive or negative cycle of reading development. Our study aimed to identify different leisure reading habits and their development and how these habits connect to reading skills. Our study revealed that there are different leisure reading profiles and that differences in these profiles emerge early. Our results indicate that although active book reading is associated with the best reading skills, other kinds of active reading also connect to above-average reading skills. Passivity in leisure reading is related to the poorest skills in reading. On the basis of these results, besides book reading, the reading of lighter materials like magazines, newspapers and comics, deserves to be encouraged. This kind of reading is connected to above-average skills and is popular especially among boys, who are at higher risk of ending up as passive leisure readers. Additionally, it might be important to target the reading motivation actions of children before they reach primary school age in the home and kindergarten settings to enhance the adoption of beneficial leisure reading habits before these are established.peerReviewe

Maternal parenting styles, homework help, and children’s literacy development in language minority and Finnish-speaking families

The aim of this study was to examine the role of mothers’ (language minority mothers, LM, n = 49, and Finnish-speaking mothers, MP, n = 368) parenting styles and maternal help with their children’s homework in the children’s (mean age 11.43 years) literacy skills at fourth grade in Finland. In addition, the moderating effect of a child’s gender on this relationship was investigated. The results showed that the LM mothers used psychological control more than MP mothers. Furthermore, the more LM mothers used warmth and psychological styles of parenting, the more they helped their daughters, not sons, with homework. MP mothers’ parenting styles did not relate to their children’s reading and spelling skills. LM maternal behavioral control parenting styles were positively related, and psychological control was negatively related to children’s reading skills through help with homework. Maternal help negatively related to children’s reading skills in both groups. This research provides also new information to teachers and educators who work in multicultural teams. Because our findings could be applied in the educational settings of multilingual students, they are likely to be of great interest to the visionary scientists, researchers, teachers, and trainees.peerReviewe

Investigating educational dialogue : Variations of dialogue amount and quality among different subjects between early primary and secondary school classrooms

To support student learning throughout their school journey, it is important to investigate the authentic state of educational dialogue both in early primary and secondary school to map the potential variations concerning dialogue. The present study examined educational dialogue in early primary school and secondary school in literacy, mathematics and science lessons. Video-recorded classroom lessons (n = 115 in both grades) of Grade 2 primary school teachers (n = 50) and Grade 9 subject teachers (n = 36) were analysed in terms of the amount, duration, and quality of episodes of educational dialogue. Educational dialogues were found to be typically longer in Grade 9 than in Grade 2. In terms of the quality of educational dialogue, teacher-initiated dialogue of moderate quality occurred more in Grade 9 classrooms, whereas teacher-initiated dialogue of high quality was observed more in Grade 2 classrooms. In Grade 2, both the amount and quality of dialogue varied across subjects, whereas in Grade 9, variation concerning specific subjects was scant. The findings contribute to prior research by suggesting differences in several aspects of educational dialogue between early primary and secondary school. These variations should be considered when supporting students' learning and participation through educational dialogue in different developmental phases and in different subjects.peerReviewe

Longitudinal associations between teacher-child interactions and academic skills in elementary school

This study examined the extent to which the quality of teacher-child interactions assessed in kindergarten (6-year-olds) is associated with children's reading and math development across the elementary school years. The sample consisted of 515 Finnish children (271 boys, 244 girls). Teacher-child interactions were observed in 49 kindergarten classrooms. The findings from the latent growth curve models showed that high-quality teacher–child interactions in kindergarten were positively associated with the initial levels of reading and math skills. Furthermore, the results indicated that high-quality teacher-child interactions in kindergarten were positively associated with children's academic skills four years later. The results emphasize the importance of strong emotional, organizational, and instructional supports in kindergarten for further development of academic skills.peerReviewe

Child-centered versus teacher-directed teaching practices: Associations with the development of academic skills in the first grade at school

This study examined the extent to which child-centered versus teacher-directed teaching practices predicted the development of children's reading and math skills in the first year of elementary school. In addition, we investigated whether associations between teaching practices and children's academic skills development in Grade 1 differed among children who had low, average, or high initial academic skills at the beginning of school. The reading and math skills of 1,132 Finnish children from 93 classrooms were assessed at the beginning and end of Grade 1, and the Early Childhood Classroom Observation Measure (ECCOM) was used to observe teaching practices in 29 classrooms. The results of multilevel modeling showed, first, that better reading skills upon entering school were associated with a higher level of child-centered teaching practices in the classroom. Second, a high level of child-centered teaching practices predicted children's reading and math skills development during the first school year. Third, the results showed that child-centered teaching practices were equally beneficial for the academic skills development of children with varying initial skill levels. However, teacher-directed practices were found to be negatively associated with reading skills development, particularly among children who had average or high initial reading skills at the beginning of school. The results emphasize the importance of child-centered teacher practices in promoting children's academic skills development also after kindergarten in elementary school.peerReviewe

Associations among Teacher-Child Interactions, Teacher Curriculum Emphases, and Reading Skills in Grade 1

Research Findings: The purpose of the present study was to examine the extent to which the quality of teacher–child interactions and teachers’ self-reported curriculum emphases are related to children’s reading skill development during their 1st school year. To accomplish this, we assessed the reading skills of 1,029 Finnish children (M age = 85.77 months) twice during Grade 1, and the children’s teachers (n = 91) completed questionnaires concerning their literacy-related curriculum emphases. In addition, teacher–child interactions in terms of emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support were observed in 29 classrooms. The results of multilevel modeling showed that a high global quality of teacher–child interactions was positively associated with improved children’s reading skills at the end of Grade 1. In addition, a teacher emphasis on comprehension and production skills was related to better reading skills via teacher–child interactions. Domain-specific analyses revealed that emotional support and classroom organization in particular were related to better reading skills. Practice or Policy: The present study adds to previous research by showing that children had better reading skills at the end of their 1st school year in classrooms in which the teachers were warm, responsive, and sensitive to children’s needs and provided well-planned activities, clear rules, and expectations for behavior.peerReviewe

Observed Classroom Quality Profiles of Kindergarten Classrooms in Finland

Research Findings: The aim of the present study was to examine classroom quality profiles of kindergarten classrooms using a person-centered approach and to analyze these patterns in regard to teacher and classroom characteristics. Observations of the domains of Emotional Support, Classroom Organization, and Instructional Support were conducted in 49 Finnish kindergarten classrooms utilizing the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (R. C. Pianta, K. M. LaParo, & B. K. Hamre, 2008 ). In addition, questionnaire data on classroom and teacher characteristics, as well as Early Childhood Classroom Observation Measure (D. Stipek & P. Byler, 2004 ) observational ratings, were used in the analyses. Latent profiling analysis was utilized to identify different profiles of classroom quality. Four latent profiles of classroom quality were identified that differed from one another most clearly in the domain of Emotional Support. Profile 1 represented a generally high level and Profile 4 a generally low level of classroom quality compared to the other profiles, whereas the medium-quality Profiles 2 and 3 showed varying levels of support in the assessed dimensions of quality. Only a few differences emerged among the profiles in classroom and teacher characteristics: The teachers in Profile 4 provided the least literacy instruction and had the least amount of work experience of all of the teachers. The findings using the Early Childhood Classroom Observation Measure indicated that child-centered practices were predominant among the profiles of higher classroom quality. Practice or Policy: The results of this study can be used to recognize kindergarten teachers' professional strengths and weaknesses and to support teachers' professional development with the aid of pedagogical interventions.peerReviewe