LeFevre, J., Skwarchuk, S.L., Smith-Chant, B.L., Fast, L., Kamawar, D. & Bisanz, J. (2009). Home Numeracy Experiences and Children’s Math Performance in the Early School Years. Canadian journal of Behavioural Science, 41, 55-66.
Sénéchal, M., LeFevre, J., Smith-Chant, B.L., & Colton, K. (2001). On refining theoretical models of emergent literacy: The role of empirical evidence. Journal of School Psychology, 39, 439-460.
I am interested in cognitive development from the perspective that the experience, education and social programs have a fundamental influence on how information is organized in memory and the resulting behavior. Accordingly, my research follows three main streams: 1) How children acquire basic math and literacy skills, particularly the influence that their preschool learning environment has on their performance; 2) How social programs influence cognition and behavior; and 3) Community-based initiatives to support cognitive and behavioural change.
Currently, I am involved in three major research initiatives: “Count Me In!”, examining long-term predictors of math performance in Canadian Children; the “Cuba/Canada Initiative”, a cross-cultural exploration of the impact of preventative vs a traditional ‘medical’ model for health and social programs on children’s development; and “An Evaluation of the Aboriginal Community Activator Pilot Program”, an evaluation of a community-based approach to developing social programs.