Breaking Cycle of Poverty

04/09/2009

People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.
A.A. Milne

A study reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sheds light on one of the enduring problems of society — that poor children underachieve later in life and thus remain poor themselves. According to researchers Gary Evans and Michelle Schamberg of Cornell University, the lack of achievement later in life of poor children is a result of reduced memory capacity, and the reduced memory capacity is caused by stresses they experience in their impoverished childhoods.

The researchers examined a number of factors that distinguish the experiences of poor children and middle class children — mother's age at birth, mother's level of education, mother's marital status, and the mother's own stress level. None of these factors were found to have an impact on children's memory capacity. Only stresses experienced by the child impacted brain development and, as a result, the capacity to hold items in memory.

Success without Stress

A well-designed, well-executed curriculum can result is stress free yet stimulating experiences for young children. Exchange has packaged seven of its most popular curriculum resources into a single “Curriculum Tool Kit” and is offering the entire set at a 33% discount; separately these resources would cost $166, but we are offering the entire Tool Kit for only $112. Resources in the kit include:

Beginnings Workshops Book #4 - Curriculum: Brain Research, Math, Science
Beginnings Workshops Book #5 - Curriculum: Art, Music, Movement, Drama
Hearing Everyone’s Voice: Educating Young Children for Peace and a Democratic Community
Connecting: Friendship in the Lives of Young Children
More Than Numbers: Mathematical Thinking in the Early Years
Exchange Articles Collection #3 - Children with Differing Abilities
Out of the Box Training Kit (printed version): Recognizing the Essentials of Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum

Get Your Kids Moving with Circuit Play(R) Beginnings from BCI Burke!
Circuit Play Beginnings is exclusive from BCI Burke and helps younger children to develop balance, hand-eye coordination and basic upper body strength. It also helps build self-confidence as children master the challenge of each element and of the entire circuit. Circuit Play Beginnings is a complement to physical activity programs in early childhood settings and all events are ground level, thereby reducing the risk of falling from excessive heights.

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.