What is Emergent Literacy?

What is the essential difference between emergent literacy and mature reading? What are some components of emergent literacy that we might not think of when we think of mature literacy? What experiences support emergent literacy? Reflect on the presence or absence of these experiences in your own or a peer’s life. What was the effect on developing literacy?

Are there sex differences in reading and verbal ability?

Why is this topic of interest to contemporary researchers? How big is the sex difference according to recent meta-analyses? How consistent is this effect? What are the reasons that have been cited for differences in reading and verbal ability between boys and girls?

What are the main sources of variability in developing mathematical proficiency?

In particular, please clarify how math disabilities, cultural differences, and sex differences influence mathematical performance. In each case, describe the nature of the limitation. Specifically, how do each of these factors affect math proficiency? What are thought to be the primary cause of these differences in each case?

What is Siegler’s Adaptive Strategy Choice Model?

What does this model show with regard to the development of children’s mathematical competence? How is competence related to strategy use and how can we best describe changes in strategy use over time? Discuss the role of games in learning arithmetic strategies in childhood.