Helyn Kim

Developmental Relations among Motor and Cognitive Processes and Mathematics Skills.

This study explored transactional associations among visuomotor integration, attention, fine motor coordination, and mathematics skills in a diverse sample of one hundred thirty-five 5-year-olds (kindergarteners) and one hundred nineteen 6-year-olds (first graders) in the United States who were followed over the course of 2 school years. Associations were dynamic, with more reciprocal transactions occurring in kindergarten than in the later grades. Specifically, visuomotor integration and mathematics exhibited ongoing reciprocity in kindergarten and first grade, attention contributed to mathematics in kindergarten and first grade, mathematics contributed to attention across the kindergarten year only, and fine motor coordination contributed to mathematics indirectly, through visuomotor integration, across kindergarten and first grade. Implications of examining the hierarchical interrelations among processes underlying the development of childrens mathematics skills are discussed.

Implications of Visuospatial Skills and Executive Functions for Learning Mathematics

The purpose of this article is to review the literature and apply a developmental neuroscience perspective in investigating the role of two interrelated cognitive processes—executive functions (EFs) and visuospatial (VS) skills—which have been empirically and theoretically linked to children’s mathematics achievement. To illustrate, we provide evidence of the importance of EFs and VS skills for mathematics learning by examining and comparing the distinct cognitive profiles of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and Williams syndrome. By simultaneously considering two cognitive processes that are implicated in mathematics, we offer insight into the underlying mechanisms by which EFs and VS skills support children’s learning and acquisition of mathematical skills, as well as how neuroscience research may successfully inform educational practice.

Relations among motor, social, and cognitive skills in pre-kindergarten children with developmental disabilities.

Despite the comorbidity between motor difficulties and certain disabilities, limited research has examined links between early motor, cognitive, and social skills in preschool-aged children with developmental disabilities. The present study examined the relative contributions of gross motor and fine motor skills to the prediction of improvements in childrens cognitive and social skills among 2,027 pre-kindergarten children with developmental disabilities, including specific learning disorder, speech/language impairment, intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorder. Results indicated that for pre-kindergarten children with developmental disabilities, fine motor skills, but not gross motor skills, were predictive of improvements in cognitive and social skills, even after controlling for demographic information and initial skill levels. Moreover, depending on the type of developmental disability, the pattern of prediction of gross motor and fine motor skills to improvements in childrens cognitive and social skills differed. Implications are discussed.

Psychometric Properties of the Teacher-Reported Motor Skills Rating Scale

Children’s early motor competence is associated with social development and academic achievement. However, few studies have examined teacher reports of children’s motor skills. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Motor Skills Rating Scale (MSRS), a 19-item measure of children’s teacher-reported motor skills in the classroom. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) support the validity of the three-factor structure of MSRS. The subscales of the MSRS were also associated with child academic and behavioral outcomes, with differences in the associations depending on the subscale. Only the Classroom Fine Motor skills subscale was uniquely associated with academic knowledge and mathematics achievement, whereas Body Awareness and Shapes and Letters were not significantly associated with either of the academic outcomes. Implications of the findings are discussed.

The development of theory of mind: predictors and moderators of improvement in kindergarten

ABSTRACT Theory of mind describes the ability to engage in perspective-taking, infer mental states, and predict intentions, behavior, and actions in others. Theory of mind performance is associated with foundational cognitive and socioemotional skills, including verbal ability (receptive and expressive vocabulary), executive function (inhibitory control and working memory), and emotion knowledge. In a sample of 354 children from low-income households, theory of mind and foundational skills were directly assessed before and after kindergarten. Results indicate emotion knowledge, inhibitory control, and expressive language predicted improvement in theory of mind. Expressive language also served as a moderator such that children with low expressive language failed to improve in theory of mind regardless of initial theory of mind performance.

Preliminary Validation of the Teacher-Rated DESSA in a Low-Income, Kindergarten Sample:

This study investigated the measurement of social emotional competence in low-income youth by assessing the validity of responses derived from the widely used, teacher-rated Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA). Based on the five-component social emotional learning model proposed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, the teacher-rated DESSA shows promise as an easy-to-administer, strengths-based assessment tool for teachers from low-income communities. In a sample of 313 kindergarten students from a southeastern city, three competing measurement models were tested (one-factor, correlated five-factor, and higher order five-factor) using confirmatory factor analyses. Results revealed that, relative to the one-factor model, the higher order five-factor framework had the best model-data fit, although the first-order factors were highly correlated with the second-order factor. Furthermore, zero-order correlations showed that the DESSA was associated with both direct and teacher-reported measures of school-related outcomes. Implications for practice and directions for future research are discussed.

Variance in Teacher Ratings of Children’s Adjustment

This study examined the variance in teacher ratings attributable to teacher, occasion, and child on the original Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC). Teachers rated approximately 1,100 girls (52%) and boys (48%) at four public elementary schools over 3 years. About half of the students were rated twice and about a seventh 3 times. Approximately 30% of students were White, 50% African American, 9% Hispanic, 2% multiracial, and 2% Asian. Children were in kindergarten to fifth grade. Cross-classified random effects models were used to account for multiple occasions of data nested within both children and teachers. Overall, the child accounted for the largest amount of variance in ratings (52.3%) followed by occasion (34.2%) and teacher (13.5%). However, large differences existed across composites and scales. The findings suggest that teachers’ ratings of adaptive competencies, externalizing behaviors, and school problems are based primarily on child behavior/characteristics. Ratings of internalizing problems may be more situational.