Lessons Learned: Effective Reading Practices For The Struggling Reader

This study investigated schools who received Reading First (RF) monies to determine if student reading achievement in kindergarten through second grade was a function of the funding earmarked for implementation of the RF practices. The researchers also examined a seven-year reading progress trend to observe changes in Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI) composite means of 37 participating campuses by grade level and by assessment measure from 2006 to 2012. Multiple linear regression and one-way repeated measures outputs were used for evaluating the evidence. A longitudinal progress trend was used over a seven-year period. Both a linear regression and a repeated measure analyses of variance produced significant results that supported the claim that the size of a reading budget had an impact on students’ reading achievement. The linear regression judged the size of budget statistically significant at the .01 alpha level. The repeated measure analyses found differences and significant results among the means of the five TPRI measurements tested in kindergarten through second grade. The five critical elements of reading measured by TPRI included: phonemic awareness, graphophonemics, listening comprehension, accuracy, and reading comprehension. The analyses showed that student achievement was at its highest during the implementation of the RF program years. The analyses also showed a steady decline in reading composite scores after the loss of the funding. The results of the long trend performance examination might infer that the practices that teachers used in kindergarten through second-grade during the RF years were more effective than those used before or thereafter

Faculty Perceptions of Online Instruction and Educational Technology in Higher Education

The purpose of this research was to obtain faculty perceptions of online instruction and educational technology in higher education. Data was collected from eight participants through interviews and open-ended questions at a higher education institution. Results showed that faculty consider that online instruction is only possible for certain programs and that it’s only for certain student populations. In addition, faculty perceive online learning environments as a repository for class information and serve as a communication medium between instructor and student. Furthermore, faculty believe that there is no substitution for traditional teaching methods regardless of the educational technology available. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed

Evaluation of critical parameters in the hollow-fibre system for tuberculosis: A case study of moxifloxacin

AimsThe hollow‐fibre system for tuberculosis (HFS‐TB) is a preclinical model qualified by the European Medicines Agency to underpin the anti‐TB drug development process. It can mimic in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK)–pharmacodynamic (PD) attributes of selected antimicrobials, which could feed into in silico models to inform the design of clinical trials. However, historical data and published protocols are insufficient and omit key information to allow experiments to be reproducible. Therefore, in this work, we aim to optimize and standardize various HFS‐TB operational procedures.MethodsFirst, we characterized bacterial growth dynamics with different types of hollow‐fibre cartridges, Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains and media. Second, we mimicked a moxifloxacin PK profile within hollow‐fibre cartridges, in order to check drug–fibres compatibility. Lastly, we mimicked the moxifloxacin total plasma PK profile in human after once daily oral dose of 400 mg to assess PK–PD after different sampling methods, strains, cartridge size and bacterial adaptation periods before drug infusion into the system.ResultsWe found that final bacterial load inside the HFS‐TB was contingent on the studied variables. Besides, we demonstrated that drug–fibres compatibility tests are critical preliminary HFS‐TB assays, which need to be properly reported. Lastly, we uncovered that the sampling method and bacterial adaptation period before drug infusion significantly impact actual experimental conclusions.ConclusionOur data contribute to the necessary standardization of HFS‐TB experiments, draw attention to multiple aspects of this preclinical model that should be considered when reporting novel results and warn about critical parameters in the HFS‐TB currently overlooked

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

FMT : a Swedish neuromuscular method of treatment

Title FMT – a Swedish neuromuscular method of treatment Abstract FMT, Functional oriented Music Therapy, is an approach to identify and treat functional disabilities. The method focuses on neurological functions which are expressed through motor activity. The essence is to initiate activities in order to promote and influence sensorimotor processes, which will benefit the client’s natural development. Description Within the theoretical base of FMT, there is a developmental psychology tradition, represented by Piaget, as one cornerstone. However, a neurological and neuropsychological way of looking at things is also involved: The plastic brain and nervous system, which through interaction with the environment forms itself and creates conditions for facing challenges. In Sweden FMT is used in rehabilitation, school and senior services, among others. The method has been shown especially applicable to neuropsychiatric conditions. This paper will show how FMT can be used among children with special needs. We will mention subjects concerning interaction between motor control, perception, emotion, cognition and show how we use FMT to influence these systems. We will also demonstrate observation, analysis, treatment and evaluation according to the method. Presenters Marie Simonsson - music therapist, musician and music pedagogue, working in music, compulsory and special schools. Since 2005 she attends the master programme Community Care and Public Health at Karlstad University. Torben Stenberg - music therapist, teacher and musician, working in compulsory schools. Since 2005 he attends the master programme Community Care and Public Health at Karlstad University.Titel FMT – en svensk neuromuskulär behandlingsmetod Abstract FMT, Funktionsinriktad Musik Terapi, är ett tillvägagångssätt att identifiera och behandla funktionsnedsättningar. Metoden fokuserar på neurologiska funktioner som uttrycks genom motorisk aktivitet. Essensen är att initiera aktiviteter för att främja och påverka sensomotoriska processer, vilka gagnar klientens naturliga utveckling. Beskrivning Inom den teoretiska basen för FMT finns en utvecklingspsykologisk tradition, representerad av Piaget, som en hörnsten. Emellertid är även ett neurologiskt och neuropsykologiskt synsätt involverat: den plastiska hjärnan och nervsystemet, som genom interaktion med omvärlden formar sig självt och skapar förutsättningar för att bemästra utmaningar. I Sverige används FMT bland annat inom rehabilitering, skola och äldrevård. Metoden har visat sig särskilt applicerbar på neuropsykiatriska tillstånd. Det här föredraget kommer att visa hur FMT kan användas bland barn i behov av särskilt stöd. Vi kommer att beröra sambandet mellan motorik-perception-emotion-kognition och hur vi använder FMT för att påverka dessa system. Vi kommer också att demonstrera observation, analys, behandling och utvärdering enligt FMT-metoden. Presentatörer Marie Simonsson - Musikterapeut, musiker och musikpedagog. Hon arbetar I musik-, grund- och särskola. Sedan 2005 läser hon magisterprogrammet Community Care and Public Health vid Karlstad university. Torben Stenberg - Musikterapeut, musiker och musikpedagog. Han arbetar inom grundskolan. Sedan 2005 läser hon magisterprogrammet Community Care and Public Health vid Karlstad university.</p

Barn i rörelse : Hur prioriteras rörelse på förskolan

Vårt syfte och intresse var att undersöka hur rörelse prioriteras inomhus på några olika förskolor i vår kommun. För att avgränsa vårt arbete har vi fokuserat oss på rörelse i lekhallen.Vi har genom ostrukturerade observationer och kvalitativa intervjuer med både pedagoger och barn på tre olika förskolor tagit reda på om rörelse prioriteras inomhus och i så fall hur? Resultatet visar utifrån frågeställningar, observationer och intervjuer med både pedagoger och barn att rörelse prioriteras utomhus. Förskolans lekhallar inbjuder till rörelse men rörelseytan är begräsad, lekhallen används både som matsal och för mer stillasittande lekar. Överlag uppmuntras barn inte till rörelse inomhus.I första hand är avsikten med vårt arbete att vi som blivande förskollärare ska inse och förstå vikten av barns behov av rörelse och hur den behöver prioriteras. I andra hand är vår önskan att vårt arbete ska väcka nya tankar hos fler pedagoger om rörelsens betydelse så det kommer till barnens fördel

Barn i rörelse : Hur prioriteras rörelse på förskolan

Vårt syfte och intresse var att undersöka hur rörelse prioriteras inomhus på några olika förskolor i vår kommun. För att avgränsa vårt arbete har vi fokuserat oss på rörelse i lekhallen.Vi har genom ostrukturerade observationer och kvalitativa intervjuer med både pedagoger och barn på tre olika förskolor tagit reda på om rörelse prioriteras inomhus och i så fall hur? Resultatet visar utifrån frågeställningar, observationer och intervjuer med både pedagoger och barn att rörelse prioriteras utomhus. Förskolans lekhallar inbjuder till rörelse men rörelseytan är begräsad, lekhallen används både som matsal och för mer stillasittande lekar. Överlag uppmuntras barn inte till rörelse inomhus.I första hand är avsikten med vårt arbete att vi som blivande förskollärare ska inse och förstå vikten av barns behov av rörelse och hur den behöver prioriteras. I andra hand är vår önskan att vårt arbete ska väcka nya tankar hos fler pedagoger om rörelsens betydelse så det kommer till barnens fördel

Constructions of Girls in Preschool Parent–Teacher Conferences

The article investigates the discursive constructions of preschool girls and points to how girls are positioned, assessed and constructed by adults in parent–teacher conferences in Swedish preschools. Using transcripts of audio-taped episodes from parent–teacher conferences, the analysis reveals that gender is an important aspect of the adults’ talk and indicates that a practice like parent–teacher conferences contributes to and distributes conventional and traditional gender roles in the existing preschool context. The girls are positioned as ordinary preschool girls who do what preschool girls should normally do and as disputed “girlish girls” associated with behaviour and characterisations embedded in a historically feminine discourse. Additionally, there are also counter discourses that both challenge and encourage different femininities, including one that draws on masculinity and is regarded as empowering. These contradictions not only show the complexity of the pedagogical practice but also of gender issues in the early years</p