Mission Statement
Our lab studies early math learning and cognitive development in young children. We are particularly interested in the associations between children’s executive functioning abilities and their acquisition of math skills, as well as the role that early childhood learning environments play in their development. We specifically attend to issues of racial and socioeconomic equity in accessing high-quality early childhood experiences that are culturally relevant for children and families.
Current Projects
Publications
Current Projects
Improving Flexible Attention to Numerical and Spatial Magnitudes in Young Children
The goal of this study is to distinguish individual mechanisms that help improve young children's flexible attention to magnitudes (FAM) skills, specifically looking at the roles of mathematical language and visual experience. Additionally, this study aims to explore the impact that improving FAM skills can have on math achievement and executive functioning, while also considering children's socioeconomic status and prior number word knowledge.
Early Development of Children's Flexible Attention to Numerical and Spatial Magnitudes
This study aims to develop an assessment of children's flexible attention to numerical and spatial magnitudes, evaluate the associations of children's performance on this assessment with their executive functioning skills and overall math achievement, and then conduct a clinical trial to determine the malleability of children's flexible attention to magnitudes.
Preschool Promise Evaluation
Along with Dr. Richard Stock and the Business Research Group at the University of Dayton, our team leads the program evaluation for Preschool Promise (https://www.preschoolpromise.org/) to assess which classroom and programmatic quality features relate to growth in children's school readiness skills. This is a multi-year longitudinal project. We hope to help Preschool Promise and local early childhood learning providers figure out what works best and for whom to best meet the needs of our local preschool-aged children.