- FPG experts will be presenting at meetings around the world. Visit the FPG website for a complete list of upcoming presentations.
- Visit the FPG websitefor the latest news on FPG projects.
A study in the April 2007 issue of Early Education and Development shows that English-only policies may not help children with English proficiency, and may actually harm children in other ways. Researchers showed that Spanish-speaking children with teachers who spoke some Spanish in the classroom were rated by their teachers as having better social skills and closer relationships with their teachers than children with teachers who did not speak Spanish in the classroom.
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James Gallagher, FPG fellow and former director, has a commentary published in the April 4th edition of Education Week entitled, "Reform’s Missing Ingredient: Building a High-Quality Support System for Education."
The piece notes the lack of funding for support systems for education, particularly compared to other national priorities like health and defense. Dr. Gallagher asserts that support systems are primarily responsible for efficient operation and quality performance. He proposes creating a high-quality national support system for education that includes appropriate funding for research and development, technical assistance, personnel preparation, communication, program evaluation, demonstration centers, technology development, and data systems and state planning. The article outlines with specificity a new, but practical, vision for successful reform.
www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/04/04/31gallagher.h26.html
Frances Campbell, a senior scientist at FPG, will receive the Alumni Distinguished Service Award from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Dr. Campbell is internationally recognized for her work on the Abecedarian Project, one of the longest running longitudinal studies in the world.
The Alumni Distinguished Service Award recognizes UNCG alumni who have made significant contributions to the liberal arts ideal in service as well as outstanding achievement and service to their profession, community, and society. Dr. Campbell received her Bachelor of Arts from UNCG in 1955.
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Jim Gallagher recently received a five-member delegation from the Ukraine interested in models for educating gifted students. The delegation has been traveling in the United States visiting schools and specialists. Their trip was sponsored by the International Affairs Council. Dr. Gallagher was assisted by Mrs. Linda Robinson, a specialist from Raleigh in educating gifted students.
Grace Wright, a FPG health promotions assistant, was among the 25 people from across the country honored by Susan G. Komen for the Cure and SELF magazine as a 2007 Yoplait Champion. Champions, selected in nationwide search last fall, are ordinary women and men doing extraordinary things in their local communities to help in the fight against breast cancer.
Grace has taken a lead role in developing Women Be Healthy, a program that teaches women with disabilities about reproductive health, breast cancer screenings and active participation in their healthcare.
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Michael Thomas, a preschool teacher at FPG Child Development Institute’s (FPG) Child Care Program received the Mary Y. Bridgers Child Care Provider Award from the Child Care Services Association (CCSA). The award is presented to a Triangle child care teacher for outstanding service to children.
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The Inclusion Institute—the premier educational opportunity for anyone involved in the care and education of children birth through age five with special needs in inclusive settings—will be held July 31 through August 2, 2007.
Attendees will learn about the latest research findings and resources to guide inclusive policy, professional development and practice; develop collaborative relationships and cross-agency systems to support early childhood inclusion; gain awareness of strategies and models to support inclusive services; and have the opportunity to meet, learn from and problem solve with peers.
For more information, visit www.nectac.org/~meetings/InclusionMtg2007/splash.html or contact Judi Shaver at 919-962-7316 or judi_shaver@unc.edu.
The FPG Child Care Program will host a workshop on evidence-based approaches to inclusion for North Carolina early childhood professionals. The program will cover routines-based assessment, integrated therapy, and embedded intervention.
The workshop will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2007, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm and Friday, June 22, 2007, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. The workshop is limited to 20 persons, and applications must be submitted by May 7, 2007. The $195 fee includes the cost of training materials.
Download flyer.
Download application.
The Crosswalks National Institute will provide the latest information on how to prepare tomorrow’s workforce to work with today’s culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse young children and their families. Leading experts will gather for the conference—entitled Infusing Cultural, Linguistic and Ability Diversity in Preservice Education—on July 25-28, 2007 in Asheville, North Carolina.
Among the topics to be discussed at the three-day meeting are how to prepare your students to support young English language learners; how to collaborate with culturally and linguistically diverse family and community partners as part of coursework and practica; how to use instructional dilemmas to explore issues of culture; approaches for using state and national standards as a framework for increasing the emphasis on diversity and much more.
There are a limited number of spaces available. More information and registration forms are available online.