Writing instruction in early education should be about more than letter formation and penmanship, argue researchers who found preschool teachers don’t often encourage writing for communication purposes. «Few teachers in this study think about writing as communication,» said Hope Gerde, associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. «However, all children have…

An international collaborative study provides findings on the neural basis of intelligence, otherwise known as general cognitive ability (IQ). This new research uses an imaging technique called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to provide an insight into how small variations in this wiring system is associated with differences in IQ in both the general population and…

Despite the belief of many parents and teachers, school uniforms don’t seem to have any effect on young students’ behavior or attendance overall, a new U.S. national study found. But students who attended schools requiring school uniforms did report lower levels of «school belonging» in fifth grade than did students in schools without uniforms. The…

Living with a food allergy can greatly impact a child’s everyday life — from limiting participation in social activities to being treated differently by peers. While previous research indicates many kids experience food allergy-related bullying, a new study found that offering kids with food allergies a multi-question assessment gives a more accurate picture of the…

When newborns observe adults performing everyday tasks, their social, motor and cognitive development is stimulated. According to the authors, from the earliest age babies watch adults carrying out activities such as handling utensils and putting them away in drawers or closets. They should themselves have frequent contact with objects to develop the ability to hold…

Researchers have found that 94% of middle school teachers experience high levels of stress, which could contribute to negative outcomes for students. Researchers say that reducing the burden of teaching experienced by so many teachers is critical to improve student success — both academically and behaviorally. The new study, which expands on work looking at…

Language proficiency has an important influence on learners’ ability to answer scientific questions a new study has found. And this is particularly challenging for children from homes where English is not their first language — now a significant and increasing proportion of classrooms worldwide. And this is particularly challenging for children from homes where English…

Expert computer programmers show higher proficiency in certain behavioral and attention skills than their novice peers. To identify the responsible brain regions, scientists used fMRI to analyze the brain activities of 30 programmers of different skill level, finding that seven regions of the frontal, parietal and temporal cortices in expert programmers’ brains are fine-tuned for…

A survey of around 1,300 Zurich school children, their parents and teachers suggests that the more time children spend in external daycare, the more likely they are to exhibit problematic behavior. However, this behavior generally disappears at the end of primary school. The Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development at the University of Zurich has…

Lego could be used as a practical tool to train doctors in anaesthetic skills according to new research that has shown a simple task using the building bricks can help improve technical skills — a finding that could improve medical training and patient safety. Scientists from the University of Nottingham’s School of Psychology and School…