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Many older adults in Medicare managed care programs have low health literacy, and this may affect use of preventive services. Objectives. To determine whether older adults with inadequate health literacy were less likely to report receiving influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, mammograms, and Papanicolaou smears than individuals with adequate health literacy after adjusting for other covariates. Research Design. Cross-sectional survey; home interviews with community dwelling enrollees. Subjects. Medicare managed care enrollees 65 to 79 years old in four US cities (n = 2722). Measures. Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults and self-reported preventive service use. Results. In bivariate analyses, self-reported lack of preventive services was higher among individuals with inadequate health literacy than those with adequate health literacy: never had an influenza vaccination: 29% versus 19% (P = 0.000); never had a pneumococcal vaccination: 65% versus 54% (P = 0.000); no mammogram in the last 2 years: 24% versus 17% (P = 0.017); never had a Papanicolaou smear: 10% versus 5% (P = 0.002). After adjusting for demographics, years of school completed, income, number of physician visits, and health status, people with inadequate health literacy were more likely to report they had never received the influenza (OR, 1.4% 95% CI, 1.1-1.9) or pneumococcal vaccination (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7), and women were less likely to have received a mammogram (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.2) or Papanicolaou smear (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-3.1). Conclusions. Among Medicare managed care enrollees, inadequate health literacy is independently associated with lower use of preventive health services. (Abstract taken from JSTOR.)

In this prospective study home literacy is considered a multifaceted phenomenon consisting of a frequency or exposure facet (opportunity), an instruction quality facet, a parent-child cooperation facet, and a social-emotional quality facet. In a multiethnic, partly bilingual sample of 89 families with 4-year-old children, living in inner-city areas in the Netherlands, measures of home literacy were taken by means of interviews with the parents and observations of parent-child book reading interactions when the target children were ages 4, 5, and 6 years. At age 7, by the end of Grade 1, after nearly 1 year of formal reading instruction, vocabulary, word decoding, and reading comprehension were assessed using standard tests. Vocabulary at age 4 and an index of the predominant language used at home were also measured in order to be used as covariates. Correlational and multiple regression analyses supported the hypothesis that home literacy is multifaceted. Home literacy facets together predicted more variance in language and achievement measures at age 7 than each of them separately. Structural equations analysis also supported two additional hypotheses of the present research. First, the effects of background factors (SES, ethnicity, parents' own literacy practices) on language development and reading achievement in school were fully mediated by home literacy, home language, and early vocabulary. Second, even after controlling for the effects of early vocabulary and predominant home language, there remained statistically significant effects of home literacy, in particular, opportunity, instruction quality, and cooperation quality. (Abstract taken from JSTOR.)

This study analyzed the acceptance of a school cafeteria based program called "Kid's Choice", where students are given increased amounts of healthy vegetables and fruits in their lunch meals. Results were compared between those who were overweight and those considered average-weight. The study found that both groups were equally accepting the program and would continue the program after the 1 month trial. This study would help my research because it shows that children who are overweight are, in fact, willing and able to make positive changes in their diets to improve their body weight and overall health.

Science literacy is frequently touted as a key to good citizenship. Based on a two-year ethnographic study examining science in the community, the authors suggest that when considering the contribution of scientific activity to the greater good, science must be seen as forming a unique hybrid practice, mixed in with other mediating practices, which together constitute "scientifically literate, good citizenship." This case study, an analysis of an open house event organized by a grassroots environmentalist group, presents some examples of activities that embed science in "good citizenship." Through a series of vignettes, the authors focus on four central aspects: (1) the activists' use of landscape and spatial arrangements, (2) the importance of multiple representations of the same entity (e.g., a local creek), (3) the relational aspect of knowing and becoming part of a community, and (4) the insertion of scientific into moral discourse, resulting in what they call a "stewardship triad." (Abstract taken from JSTOR.)

This study represents a grounded theory investigation of how motivation and self-perceptions influence students' emotions, cognitions, and behaviors by focusing on student-athletes, individuals who may experience conflicting sets of motivation and self issues. From observing and interviewing nine student-athletes at a Research 1 university, we developed a process model relating themes to the students' experiences.

In this study 538 collegiate athletes were asked how they were perceived and treated by faculty and other non athlete students. 33% reported they were perceived negatively by professors and 59.1% by students, Only 15% reported positive perceptions.

This article is about literacy. It is helpful.

This article focuses on the implementation of early financial programs for young children. Financial literacy is a skill which all individuals will need throughout their life. Studies have found that individuals who received financial education in high school reported an increase up to 1.5% in their assets when compared to individuals who did not receive any education. While adding these course is certainly beneficial there are still a number of challenges. There is a cost to create such programs and some school districts are already facing budget problems.

This article is about a study that was done with children and there parents. It tested the correlation between the chidren's BMI and the parents BMI. They looked at the children's lifestyle behavior and practices compared to the children weight status.

Solow discusses in this article uses of the graphing calculator, and how she incorporated it into her classroom while teaching calculus. The article explains uses of the graphing calculator, and how it can be integrated into the calculus course. The article explains what the graphing calculator can be used for, and the benefits. That the students scored higher on tests, and over all performed better in class with the use of graphics calculators.

The Authors of this article have conducted a study on 710 college students who were taking Pre-Calculus class. They were split into a controlled group, and a test group. The control group took the course using basic technology, and text books. The test group used graphics calculators and textbooks geared towards learning with graphics calculators. At the end of the course the students were required to take a comprehensive exam. The results showed that the students who took the course with the graphics calculators scored much higher than those who took the course in the traditional fashion. This study was conducted over a period of three semesters, and will prove very useful in my argumentation.

This article explains how graphing calculators can be used in calculus to benefit students, and also how graphing calculators are changing the way that calculus is being taught. One issue that sets this article apart from the other articles is its assessment of how students are required by most schools to purchase their own calculators. This article analyzes the effect this can have on how the class should be taught, and how calculators put students at advantages and disadvantages depending on how they are used, and how students with more computing power excelled or failed compared to those with the less powerful model of calculator.

While the studies conducted in this paper are of an Australian background, this article offers some background information on the graphing calculator, such as when they were first introduced to students in Australia. The article also contains information on the background of the use of graphing calculators, such as how they affect students' performance, their attitudes towards the subject, and their confidence. This study shows how the performance can be enhanced by the use of graphics calculators.

This article discusses the assessment of a class of girls who were issued a certain type of graphics calculator. The teacher of this class was known for his integration of calculators in his course curriculum, and his classes were known for achieving above average on tests. The primary study was to investigate the effects of learning with the use of a graphing calculator. Classroom conversation was recorded and analyzed in order to determine how well the class understood the curriculum. This article while limited only to certain number of students delves deeply into how they were taught, and their response to the use of graphics calculators in the classroom.

Forster discusses how teaching with a graphics calculator can help a student understand the concepts of certain graphs, and how graphs are formed. One graph specifically mentioned is the scatter plot graph, and how it is applied to functions. She also discusses how after learning these concepts on a graphics calculator, students were able to graph by hand easier without the help of the instructor. A study was conducted and explained within the classroom setting. This article while limited in the size of study shows how the use of graphics calculators can help students in the understanding of certain math concepts.

This article deals with uses of graphics calculators to help the understanding of mathematics, but takes a different approach. It addresses the issue that some scholars make concerning calculators, that calculators impede the understanding of mathematical concepts and only leads to incompetent students. This includes an in-depth analysis of the concepts a graphing calculator can help a student understand.

Using Financial Education Curriculum for Teens Today's American teenagers are regarded as "financially illiterate," and lacking sufficient knowledge of personal finance and an understanding of money. The authors examine the effectiveness of the Money Talks program implemented in several California schools. The Money Talks program was designed to inform students about financial subjects relevant to them. The study proved the program had a positive effect on students by administering a post-test and comparing it with one taken before the course

Colletti,Carolyn. "Girls & Money: A Coordinated Approach to Financial Literacy." Independent School 63.1 (Fall2003 2003): 64-65. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Roesch Lib., U. of Dayton, Dayton, OH.14 Mar. 2009. .

Colletti discusses the coordinated approach to financial literacy for girls that was started by the National Coalition of Girls' Schools in the U.S. The article stresses the importance for woman and girls to have sound financial literacy for success. Children have an understanding of finance and fairness even at a very young age. Therefore, young children are capable of learning about financial literacy at a very early age. The article also shares results of a financial skills study of teenage girls. Financial literacy education is a tool to help bridge the gap that woman have experienced throughout the ages.

This article from Direction's Magazine online was written by Alexander Murphy who is a professor of geology at the University of Oregon. This article talks about how America's lack of knowledge about the wolrd is a negative thing since we are in a position of strength in it. It uses knowledge about Iraq during the war as an example.

The author in this article filled the pages with stats about how Potter has affected literacy. This article does not only go into depth on children but also the affect it has on parents. This is a great article for facts.