The Effects of Home STEM Activities: Examining English Language Academic Outcomes of Dual-Language Kindergarteners

• In Event: Novel Approaches in Informal Learning Research

Abstract

Providing effective support for children with diverse backgrounds is crucial for reducing opportunity gaps. This paper applies a potential outcomes approach to draw a causal inference on the effects of home STEM activities on dual-language learners’ (DLLs) English language skills. The findings suggest a potential positive effect of home STEM activities on DLL children’s English language development. The estimations indicate differential treatment effects for two groups (i.e., exposure to STEM activities vs. no exposure to STEM activities at home) in this population. In other words, exposure to home STEM activities is likely to have larger effects on DLLs’ English language skills who are typically in the treatment group compared to those who are typically in the control group.

Author

• Jun Wang, The Ohio State University