Research
There are many experts in the educational and medical fields that acknowledge the importance of early literacy pertaining to cognitive, social, and emotional development. This is because the human brain is most permeable during the first few years of life.
In fact, babies begin learning how to socialize as soon as they become conscious of verbal and facial communication. By playing simple games, you can get a head start on your baby's social development. You can talk to them about what you are doing to expand their vocabulary. For example, "I am so hungry. I think I will eat a cookie. Oh, these are chocolate chips, my favorite!"
And since sensory stimulation through interactive read-aloud routines increase synaptic growth and create stronger networking connections in the brain, immersing your child in different practices can help them do better in life and in school. Here are a few things you can do to achieve sensory simulation:
How Do You Know If a Book Is Too Hard For Your Child?
For older children, have your child open the book to any page in the middle of the book and read that page. Each time she comes across a word she does not know, she should hold up a finger. If she gets to five fingers before she finishes reading the page, the book is too hard. If she doesn't hold up any fingers, the book is probably easy for your child and can be used to build reading fluency. If she holds up two or three fingers, the book is likely to be at a good level for her reading to grow.
Bibliotherapy
I presented my research on the effects of bibliotherapy with children internationally. Feel free to contact me if I can help you or your child by sharing my resources.
"I will never forget the constant sound of oxygen tank alarms. I will never forget going to church of my lunch break every day to pray that we'd find survivors. I will never forget the sound of my student crying on 9/12 that a parent never came home the night before. I will never forget the heroic actions of everyday heroes in and out of uniform. I will never forget the patriotism we felt as we overcame. My heart goes out to all affected by this tragic day in our history."
- Danielle F. Lowe
Additional International Presentations Include:
Developmental Stages of Writing
Children will naturally progress through the developmental stages of writing when they are ready. The key is to offer them opportunities to explore and create. Providing them with different writing tools, such as crayons, color pencils, markers, even shaving cream will build their foundational reading skills, as well as their fine motor skills!
I have been conducting informal research for the past eight years by guiding children through the stages. I hope to share my research once I complete my dissertation study on the impacts of reading with babies on attention span. I am happy to share my research with anyone that is interested.
Offering Educational Initiatives For Parents With Babies
Aside from providing books to mothers and families with babies to promote infant literacy, Baby S.T.E.P Inc. also offers a wide variety of projects and researches for parents. These initiatives are done by the talented members of our organization’s board.
For a List of Creative Activities To Build Writing Skills in the Primary Grades
We Must Advocate for Those Without a Voice Special Education Eligibility in America's Schools
As a leader in the community and taxpayer, I am hopeful that you will be share my passion to help children in our community. There is a serious injustice occurring is schools, not only in Orange County, but across the United States. Our children are being assaulted with political and corporate rapacity. Teachers and parents substantiate, that children in need of special education services, are being denied! Students with diagnoses from doctors, as well as parental advocacy are being deprived the right to a fair and equal education.
This is a moral and legal injustice. As a veteran teacher, I am often disgusted by the changes I have observed in the educational system over the past few years. We possess decades of research demonstrating the most effective developmentally appropriate practices. Yet, this knowledge is being replaced by test preparation and financial budget boundaries.
Learn More About What We Do
To get more details about the projects and resources that we offer at Baby S.T.E.P Inc., get in touch with us today. We look forward to speaking with you.
Baby's social development
Babies begin learning how to socialize as soon as they are conscious about verbal and facial communication. By playing simple games you can get a head start on your baby's social development. Speak about the what you are doing to expand vocabulary. For example; "I am so hungry. I think I will eat a cookie. Oh, these are chocolate chip, my favorite!"
Sensory Stimulation
There are many experts in the educational and medical fields that acknowledge the importance of early literacy pertaining to cognitive, social, and emotional development. The human brain is most permeable during the first few years of life. Sensory stimulation through interactive read aloud routines, increase synaptic growth and create stronger networking connections in the brain.
Practicing These Skills Will Help Your Child Do Better in School!
Talk to them- The more experience they have with language, the easier it will be for them to learn to read. Your child should be able to have a conversation with you and others.
Rhyming- Nursery Rhymes help children to listen for and recognize rhyming words. Tell me a word that rhymes with cat?
Alphabet- It is important that children recognize the letters of the alphabet. It is very helpful when they are familiar with the letter sounds.
Concepts of Print- This is how we look at books. Does your child know where to begin reading? That the message is contained in the words, as well as supported by the illustrations? Do they know to point at the words? Do they know how to hold a book and to turn pages?
Writing- Children that explore printing and drawing do better in school. Let them explore with all kinds of writing tools. Even a stick and some dirt can offer creative and unique opportunities play with writing! Have your child hold pencils and crayons, and praise their attempts to write. Can they write their name?
PLAY- Play is so crucial in Early Childhood Learning.!! It allows for opportunities to have fun and explore. 80% of what people experience personally is retained to memory. 95% of what we teach others is retained. Let children act like Mommy, Daddy, and teachers. Let them explore!
How Do You Know if a Book Is Too Hard for Your Child?
For older children, have your child open the book to any page in the middle of the book and read that page. Each time she comes across a word she does not know, she should hold up a finger. If she gets to five fingers before she finishes reading the page, the book is too hard. If she doesn't hold up any fingers, the book is probably easy for your child and can be used to build reading fluency. If she holds up two or three fingers, the book is likely to be at a good level for her reading to grow.
Dissertation Study
In January 2016, I defended my dissertation on "The Effects of Reading with Infants” which led me to receive my doctoral degree in Education. Up to this day, I continue to conduct this research by collaborating with parents and families with infants of all ages.
As a kindergarten teacher, I can easily tell which children are read to at home as babies during the first day of school. These children generally come to school ready to learn and are able to focus for longer periods of time. With this in mind, I am hoping this study provides the research required to show policymakers the importance of early childhood literacy exposure.
The study can be done at your convenience, no matter where and when you want to participate. You will also receive free personal feedback and support from an expert in the fields of early childhood development and education.
In as little as a few minutes a day, you can bond with your baby, offer a more diverse vocabulary, build stronger brain cells, develop oral language skills, create a larger prior knowledge bank, and provide infants with the foundation they require for lifelong learning.
Update
Danielle successfully defended the dissertation study in January 2016. Although the dissertation study has commenced, she continues to conduct the study with infants of all ages if you are interested in joining! Feel free to contact us with any questions!
Click Here to Join the Free and Convenient Study!
Established Reading Routine
The study can be done at your convenience in the comfort of your own home and can be designed around the most convenient time for you! You will also receive free personal feedback or support if you desire from an expert in the fields of early childhood development and early education.
Babies are needed for a 28 day reading study! Although I am actively recruiting infants for both groups, at the moment, I am desperately in need of infants for the control group. Perhaps infants that do not have an established reading routine yet. Specifically infants that do NOT like to listen to stories. If they get up and run away...even better 🙂 The control group only needs one book, Brown Bear Brown Bear and it would only require one reading on day 1, day 14, and day 28. (If you read additionally, it is okay but not required like the intervention group.)
In total, this group would only require less than 10 minutes for the whole entire month. This would be a wonderful option for the super busy parent that would like to begin to introduce reading gradually into the life of their child!
There will also be an intervention group of babies for the study. The intervention group will read to their babies daily for 28 days digitally recording (with iPhone/Android/etc.) day on day 1, 14, and 28. (Babies that currently have a reading routine will automatically be enrolled in the intervention group as to not disrupt the current schedule.)
Childhood Literacy Exposure
This is a great opportunity to bond with your baby, as well as provide him/her with foundational skills that will help him/her to be successful when they attend school later in life. Although I am focused specifically on infants between the ages of 12-29 months, anyone interested is invited to participate.
As a kindergarten teacher, it is very clear, on the 1st day of school, which children are read to at home as babies. These children generally come to school ready to learn and to focus for longer periods of time.
I am hoping this study provides the research required to show policy makers the importance of early childhood literacy exposure. In as little as a few minutes a day, you can bond with your baby, offer a more diverse vocabulary, build stronger brain cells, develop oral language skills, create a larger prior knowledge bank, and provide infants with the foundation they require for lifelong learning! Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am happy to share my research with you!
150 infants
There were 150 infants who participated in the study. Demographically, they were from across the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, Australia, and Finland!
Please share this information with anyone that you think might be interested in participating in future reading studies.
If you would like to participate in the study, these are the steps:
1. Sign Page 3 of the Parental Consent Form. You are welcome to sign digitally to save in and paper
2. Submit the signed permission form. You are welcome to copy and paste consent form into an email or take a photograph of the permission form and email it to me at [email protected]
3. Once you submit the consent form, Please fill out this brief 2 minutes survey so that I can assign your baby a confidential ID number -
4. - Once I receive the survey, I will send you the short training video and reading calendar, along with the confidential ID number.
Other Projects by Members of the Board
- Danielle received her doctoral degree through Taft University in January 2016. The dissertation evaluated the effects of attention span and engagement when reading with infants.
- Tarkan received his doctoral degree through Sage Colleges. He explored participative leadership for his dissertation study. He is currently the superintendent of schools in New York.
- Barbara recently received her administrative degree through Long Island University.
- Danielle has developed her own strategy for teaching writing to primary aged children and has been gathering data for the past seven years. She hopes to publish that research in the future.
- Tarkan is a 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Trainer and Facilitator.
- Laura helps to meet the needs of students in special education. Her experience includes helping children from kindergarten to the eighth grade.
- Diane and Danielle Lowe authored and illustrated Trixie the Christmas Pixie.
- Danielle, Tarkan, and Barbara are Starlab facilitators and Trainers