ERIC Number: EJ974458
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0885-2006
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Young Girls' Arithmetic and Spatial Skills: The Distal and Proximal Roles of Family Socioeconomics and Home Learning Experiences
Dearing, Eric; Casey, Beth M.; Ganley, Colleen M.; Tillinger, Miriam; Laski, Elida; Montecillo, Christine
Early Childhood Research Quarterly, v27 n3 p458-470 3rd Qtr 2012
The present study addressed girls' (N=127) early numerical and spatial reasoning skills, within the context of a critical environment in which these cognitive skills develop, namely their homes. Specifically, proximal links between distal family socioeconomic conditions and first-grade girls' arithmetic and spatial skills were examined (mean age=6.72 years; SD=0.34). The proximal roles of two factors were considered: the general learning characteristics of girls' homes, and the kinds of math and spatial learning activities in which girls participated. General quality of the home learning environment and specific math activities mediated the relation between family socioeconomics and girls' arithmetic skills. In contrast, socioeconomics and home learning experiences were related to girls' spatial skills indirectly only through their verbal skills; spatial activities were not proximal predictors of spatial skills. For both arithmetic and spatial skills, mothers' spatial skills were a strong predictor. Future research and intervention implications of these findings are discussed. (Contains 4 tables and 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Females, Spatial Ability, Arithmetic, Mathematics Skills, Family Influence, Socioeconomic Status, Family Environment, Cognitive Development, Correlation, Grade 1, Elementary School Students, Verbal Ability, Predictor Variables
Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 1
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

Peer reviewed
Direct link
