Research that Benefits Children and Families

One area in the early childhood field that I would like to study further is the benefits of children learning two languages at an early age.  Since all of my students enter the school speaking Spanish, it is crucial to help them learn the English language.  By the end of the year, they leave speaking a great deal of English, allowing them to hold whole conversations.  I will like to conduct research on how the dual language ability affects the children later on in life.  Were they more successful than those who only speak one? Were they able to help their families more because they spoke both languages?  Some might feel that we already know the answers to those questions.  I would like to stay with the same family and do research over the years to see what differences occur between a child speaking two languages versus the other speaking only one.

I can see there being positive contributions to the field by this research.  A key component might be how more advanced the children’s thinking and problem solving ability may be from having to switch the language in their brain back and forth between the two.  They might be more qualified at jobs and have no trouble being accepted into college because they possess the dual language ability.  The children might also be able to help their family better understand ways to better themselves such as how to defend their rights and attend better school systems.

Personal Research Simulation

The topic that I chose for the simulation parent involvement and the impact it has on their child’s education.  I have a great deal of experience with this topic and that has sparked my interest in researching it further.  I am a teacher in a Head Start program and have about 95% of my students speaking only Spanish when they enter my classroom.  Their parent’s speak no English at all making it difficult to communicate.  They often drop their children off and run right back out the door. None of them take the time to ask questions about what their learning or even to read a book.  I would like to find concrete evidence to provide to them how their presence in the classroom, even for a short time, can alter their child’s learning experience. 

Upon completing the research chart, I now have a better understanding of terminology that I did not know before such as triangulation. Based on the word, I had a basic comprehension that it dealt with three of something but that is about it.  The chart is a handy tool to keep on hand and perhaps even add to the vocabulary aspect of it further. 

Has anyone else have a similar experience in regard to parent involvement or have had it in the past and can offer some suggestions on how to get them more involved?  I would like for them to understand how important it is without stressing them out if they feel they truly cannot spend a little bit of time.

One resource that I have found incredibly helpful with the field of early childhood education in general is zerotothree.org.  The site is current and follows the guidelines set in the assigned reading.  I find myself returning to the site to check for new information and journal articles.  It is a very useful resource to keep close by.