Applied Developmental Psychology: Children's transition to school, development of self-regulation/executive functioning, private speech, bilingual language development, the arts and child development, long-term pre-K effects, advanced course placement, and educational success and equity for children of color
Dr. Winsler is an applied developmental psychologist with interests in children's transition to school, the development of self-regulation, private speech, Vygotskian sociocultural theory and bilingualism and early schooling for English-Language Learners (ELLs). His current research explores childcare, school readiness, and school trajectories among ethnically and linguistically diverse, immigrant, low-income, urban preschoolers using data from the large-scale (n > 30,000) longitudinal Miami School Readiness Project; Private speech and self-regulation in typical children and those with ADHD or autistic spectrum disorders; Music/dance and self-regulation; and self-regulated learning and motivation among college students.
Dr. Winsler is author of more than 100 journal articles and book chapters and has two books. His most recent book, Private speech, executive functioning, and the development of verbal self-regulation was published by Cambridge University Press in 2009. He has received over $2 million of research funding for his work. Dr. Winsler also served as editor of the journal, Early Childhood Research Quarterly.
Long-term outcomes associated with different types of bilingual education models (i.e., two-way immersion) for ELLs in Miami
Predictors of, and Benefits From, Elective Arts Classes (music, drama, visual art, dance) in Middle School Among Ethnically Diverse Children in Poverty
Predictors of, and negative consequences from, failing high-stakes tests and being retained among ethnically diverse children in poverty
Long-term effects of public school pre-K, center-based and family childcare among ethnically diverse children in poverty
Predictors of, and Benefits From, taking advanced courses (honors, AP, IB) in Middle and High School Among Ethnically Diverse Children in Poverty
Predictors of, and negative consequences from, school suspension among ethnically diverse children in poverty
see winslerlab.gmu.edu for more details
Byers-Heinlein, K., Esposito, A.G., Winsler, A., Marian, V., Castro, D.C., & Luk, G. (2019). The case for measuring and reporting bilingualism in developmental research. Collabora: Psychology. https://www.collabra.org/articles/10.1525/collabra.233
Gara, T., & Winsler, A. (in press). Selection into, and academic benefits from, middle school dance elective courses among urban youth. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. DOI:10.1037/aca0000250
Tavassolie, T., & Winsler, A. (2019). Predictors of mandatory 3rd grade retention from high-stakes test performance for low-income, ethnically diverse children. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 48(3), 62-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2019.02.002
Alegrado., A., & Winsler, A. (in press). Predictors of taking elective music courses in middle school among low-SES, ethnically diverse students. Journal of Research in Music Education.
Winsler, A., Gara, T., Alegrado, A., Castro, S., & Tavassolie, T. (2019). Selection into, and academic benefits from, arts-related courses in middle school for low-income, ethnically diverse youth. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/aca0000222
Mead, D.L., & Winsler, A. (2019). Change over time in the type and functions of crib speech around the fourth birthday. Language and Communication, 67, 29-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langcom.2018.12.001
Conger, D., Gibbs, C.R., Uchikoshi, Y., & Winsler, A. (2019). New benefits of public school pre-kindergarten programs: Early school stability, reduced retention, and early exit from ELL programs. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 48, 26-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2018.10.015
Thibodeaux, J., & Winsler, A. (2018). What do youth tennis athletes say to themselves?: Observed and self-reported self-talk on the court. Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 38, 126-136. DOI:10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.06.006
Tavassolie, T., Lopez, C., De Feyter, J., Hartman, S.C., & Winsler, A. (2018). Migrant preschool children’s school readiness and early elementary school performance. Journal of Educational Research, 111 (3), 331-344. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00220671.2016.1261074
Chen, L., Hu, B.Y., Zhou, Y., Fan, X, & Winsler, A. (2017). Preschool expenditures and Chinese children's academic performance: The mediating effect of teacher-child interaction quality. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 41, 37-49. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2017.05.002
Espinosa, L.E., Burchinal, M. R., Winsler, A., Castro, D. C., Peisner-Feinberg, E., Laforett, D.R. (2017). Child care experiences among dual language learners in the US: Analyses of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey-Birth Cohort. AERA Open, 3 (2), 1-15. Doi: 10.1177/2332858417699380
Tavassolie, T., Lopez, C., De Feyter, J., Hartman, S.C., & Winsler, A. (2016). Migrant preschool children’s school readiness and early elementary school performance. Journal of Educational Research. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00220671.2016.1261074
Ansari, A., López, M., Manfra, L., Bleiker, C., Dinehart, L.H.B., Hartman, S.C., & Winsler, A. (2016). Differential third grade outcomes associated with attending publically funded preschool programs for low-income, Latino children. Child Development. Advance online DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12663
Ansari, A., & Winsler, A. (2016). Kindergarten readiness for low-income minority children in center-based care, family childcare, and public school pre-K. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 37, 69-80. Doi: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2016.06.002
Winsler, A., Deutsch, A., Vorona, R., Payne, P. A., & Szklo-Coxe, M. (2015). Sleepless in Fairfax: The difference one more hour of sleep can make for teen hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and substance use. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44 (2), 362-378. Doi: 10.1007/s10964-014-0170-3
Winsler, A., Burchinal, M., Tien, H., Peisner-Feinberg, E., Espinosa. L, Castro, D.C., LaForett, D., Kim, Y.K., & De Feyter, J. (2014). Early development among dual language learners: The roles of language use at home, maternal immigration, country of origin, and sociodemographics. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. Advance online. Doi: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2014.02.008
Winsler, A., Deutsch, A., Vorona, R., Payne, P. A., & Szklo-Coxe, M. (2015). Sleepless in Fairfax: The difference one more hour of sleep can make for teen hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and substance use. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44(2), 362-378. Doi: 10.1007/s10964-014-0170-3
Winsler, A., Kim, Y. K., & Richard, E. (2014). Socio-emotional skills, behavior problems, and Spanish competence predict the acquisition of English among English language learners in poverty. Developmental Psychology, 50, 2242-2254. Doi: 10.1037/a0037161
Winsler, A., Gupta, Karkhanis, D., Kim, Y., & Levitt, J. (2013). Being Black, male, and gifted in Miami: Prevalence and predictors of placement in elementary school gifted education programs. Urban Review, 45, 416-447. DOI: 10.1007/s11256-013-0259-0
Winsler, A., Hutchison, L., De Feyter, J.J. Manfra, L., Bleiker, C., Hartman, S., & Levitt, J. (2012). Child, family, and childcare predictors of delayed school entry and kindergarten retention among linguistically- and ethnically-diverse children. Developmental Psychology, 48, 1299-1314. doi: 10.1037/a0026985
Winsler, A., Ducenne, L., & Koury, A. (2011). Singing one’s way to self-regulation: The role of early music and movement curricula and private speech. Early Education and Development, 22, 274-304.
De Feyter, J.J., & Winsler, A. (2009). The early developmental competencies and school readiness of low-income, immigrant children: Influences of generation, race/ethnicity, and national origins. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. 24, 411-431. doi: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2009.07.004
Winsler, A., Fernyhough, C., & Montero, I. (Eds.). (2009). Private speech, executive functioning, and the development of verbal self-regulation. Cambridge University Press.
Winsler, A., Tran, H., Hartman, S., Madigan, A.L., Manfra, L., & Bleiker, C. (2008). School readiness gains made by ethnically-diverse children in poverty attending center-based childcare and public school pre-kindergarten programs. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 23, 314-329.
Winsler, A., Abar, B., Feder, M., Rubio, D.A. & Schunn, C. (2007). Private speech and executive functioning among high functioning children with autistic spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 37. 1617-1635.
Winsler, A., Manfra, L., & Diaz, R.M. (2007). “Should I let them talk?” Private speech and task performance among preschool children with and without behavior problems. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 22, 215-231.
see CV
HNHR 110 Research and Inquiry
HNRS 230 Cross Cultural Perspectives on Human Behavior
PSYC 313 Child Psychology
PSYC 379 Applied Cross Cultural Psychology
PSYC 612 Advanced Statistical and Research Methods in Psychology II
PSYC 646 Issues and Methods in Longitudinal/Developmental Research
PSYC 780 Applied Developmental Psychology
PSYC 890 Professional Seminar in Psychology
PSYC 592 Early Childhood Education, Child Care, and School Readiness
PSYC 615 Language Development
PhD, 2004, Child Development, Stanford University
BA, 1988, Psychology, University of New Mexico
191) *Mumma, K., & Winsler, A. (2018, June). The influence of elementary school quality on differential effects of preschool programs in fifth grade. Poster presented at the Biennial ACF National Research Conference on Early Childhood. Arlington, VA.
190) *Parada, M., Carr, R., Allan, M., Peisner-Feinberg, E., Friedman, R., Malin, J., & Winsler, A. (2018, June). The Rewards and Challenges of Research-Policy Partnerships: Perspectives from SRCD State and Federal Policy Fellows. Symposium presented at the Biennial ACF National Research Conference on Early Childhood. Arlington, VA.
189) *Mize, J., & Winsler, A. (2018, May). Maternal and Peer Relations in Early Childhood Predict Aggression in Grades 3-6. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association for Psychological Science. San Francisco, CA.
188) *Rozell, N., & Winsler, A. (2018, April). Elementary School Outcomes Associated with Faster English Language Acquisition for Dual Language Learners. Poster presented at the annual conference of the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Edmund, Oklahoma, OK.
187) *Ricciardi, C., Manfra, L., Hartman, S., Bleiker, C., Dinehart, L., & Winsler, A. (2017, May). School readiness skills at age 4 predict academic achievement through 5th grade. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association for Psychological Science. Boston, MA.
186) *Mize, J., & Winsler, A. (2017, May). Negative influences from socialization agents on externalizing behavior problems in adolescence. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association for Psychological Science. Boston, MA.
185) *Thompson, B., & Winsler, A. (2017, May). Parent-teacher agreement on the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) for preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association for Psychological Science. Boston, MA
184) *Moffett, A., & Winsler, A. (2017, May). Child- and school-level predictors of elementary school mobility among ethnically diverse children in poverty. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association for Psychological Science. Boston, MA.
183) *Williams, A., Picci, G., & Winsler, A. (2017, May). How are they doing? Long-term outcomes for ethnically diverse children with ASD in pre-K programs for children with disabilities. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association for Psychological Science. Boston, MA.
182) *Burke, J., Tavassolie, T., & Winsler, A. (2017, May). The impact of school suspensions on school attendance, academic performance, retention, and school leaving. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association for Psychological Science. Boston, MA.
181) Mize, J., & Winsler, A. (2017, April). Social support from the family, school, and neighborhood: Links To rebelliousness and sensation seeking in adolescence. Poster presented at the biennial conference of the Society for Research on Child Development. Austin TX.
180) *Alegrado, A., Gara, T., Tavassolie, T., & Winsler, A. (2017, April). Predictors of music class participation and persistence in middle school among low-income, ethnically diverse students. Poster presented at the biennial conference of the Society for Research on Child Development. Austin TX.
179) *Thibodeaux, J., Bradner, P., Hines, C., Perla, V., Burke, J., & Winsler, A. (2017, April). Young tennis athletes' self-talk and sport motivation. Poster presented at the Biennial conference of the Society for Research in Child Development, Austin, TX.
178) Esposito, A., Luk, G., Marian, V., Castro, D.C., Byers-Heinlein, K., & Winsler, A. (2017, April). Describing and quantifying “bilingualism” Part 2; the need for consistency and accuracy for research and education. Roundtable discussion presented at the biennial conference of the Society for Research on Child Development. Austin TX.
177) *Parada, M., & Winsler, A. (2016, October). Immigrant advantage for Latino and Black males attending elementary school in Miami. Poster presented at the SRCD theme conference: Babies, Boys, and Men of Color Tampa, FL.
176) *Mumma, K., & Winsler, A. (2016, October). Positive effects of pre-k are sustained for Black males through third grade, and effects are stronger at higher-quality elementary schools. In S. Anderson (Chair), School-based mechanisms of differential long-term pre-K effects among black and white youth. Symposium presented at the SRCD theme conference: Babies, Boys, and Men of Color Tampa, FL.
175) *Tavassolie, T., Hines, C., & Winsler, A. (2016, October). How do boys of color experience high-stakes tests and mandatory retention policies in Miami, Florida? In S. Anderson (Chair), School-based mechanisms of differential long-term pre-K effects among black and white youth. Symposium presented at the SRCD theme conference: Babies, Boys, and Men of Color Tampa, FL.
174) *Mumma, K., Moffett, A., & Winsler, A. (2016, July). Elementary school quality moderates third grade academic outcomes associated with attending public school pre-k and subsidized center-based and family child care. Poster presented at the ACF National Research Conference on Early Childhood, Washington, D.C.
173) * Haag, A., & Winsler, A. (2016, May). Child, family, and school factors associated with gifted educational placement and services for low-income, ethnically diverse children in Miami: Which students are breaking the barriers? Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science. Chicago, Il.
172) *Thibodeaux, J., & Winsler, A., (2016, May). What do youth tennis athletes say to themselves? Observed and self-reported self-talk on the court. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association for Psychological Science, Chicago, IL.
171) *Burke, J., & Winsler, A. (2016, April). The impact of school suspensions on school attendance, academic performance, retention, and school leaving. Poster presented at the National Collegiate Undergraduate Research (NCUR) conference. Asheville, NC.
170) *Alegrado, A., Gara, T., & Winsler, A. (2016, April). Predictors of music class enrollment and persistence in middle school among low-SES, ethnically diverse students. Paper and poster presented at the National Collegiate Undergraduate Research (NCUR) conference. Asheville, NC.
169) *Gara, T., Tavassolie, T., & Winsler, A. (2016, April). Who is taking dance electives? Predictors of in-school dance engagement among low-income, ethnically diverse middle school students. Poster presented at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association. Washington, DC.
168) *Hines, C., & Winsler, A. (2016, April). School quality and mobility between public school prekindergarten and kindergarten: Predictors and outcomes. Paper presented at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association. Washington, DC.
167) *Matthew, D., Conway-Turner, J., & Winsler, A. (2016, April). Predictors of school suspension in elementary school for low-income, ethnically diverse children. Poster presented at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association. Washington, DC.
166) *Ansari, A., Lopez, M., Manfra, L., & Winsler, A. (2015, November). Differential third grade outcomes associated with attending publicly funded preschool programs for low-income, Latino children. In J.E. Finch (Chair), Publicly funded preschool: Impacts across early- and middle-childhood. Symposium presented at the annual conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. Miami, FL.
165) Winsler, A. (2015, November) (Chair and Discussant). Preschool program fadeout: Understanding impact persistence and heterogeneity. Symposium to be presented at the annual conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. Miami, FL.
164) Hines, C., Doll, E., & Winsler, A. (2015, October). Longitudinal academic outcomes for ethnically diverse children with speech or language disorders. Poster presented at the Society for the Study of Human Development, Austin, TX.
163) *Hines, C., & Winsler, A. (2015, May). Predictors of mobility between public school pre-K and kindergarten and links with children’s school readiness and performance in K and 1st grade. Poster presented at the annual convention of the Association for Psychological Science, New York, NY.
162) *Moffett, A., & Winsler, A. (2015, March). Cyberbullying, depression, and substance abuse in adolescence: Variation by sexual orientation, gender, and age. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
161) Menzer, M., & Winsler, A. (Co-Chairs). (2015, March). Arts participation and early childhood social and emotional development. Symposium presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA
160) *Hutchison, L.A., Mead, D., & Winsler, A. (2015, March). Relations between executive functioning, second language fluency, and externalizing behavior problems in early childhood. In Daneri, P., & Blair, C. (Co-Chairs), Executive functioning among dual language learners. Symposium presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
159) *Qiu, C., & Winsler, A. (2015, March). Language use in a “One-Parent One-Language” bilingual family: Maternal perception, noun/verb use, and code switching. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
158) *Conway-Turner, J., Visconti, K, C., & Winsler, A. (2015, March). Gang involvement is a protective factor for depression among those who experience victimization. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
157) *Tavassolie, T., & Winsler, A. (2015, March). Long-term academic outcomes for low-income, ethnically diverse children retained from third-grade high-stakes tests. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
156) *Tavassolie, T., López, C., De Feyter, J.J., Hartman, S., & Winsler, A. (2015, March). Migrant preschool children’s school readiness and early elementary school performance through 3rd Grade. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
155) *Thibodeaux, C., Bock, A., & Winsler, A. (2015, March). Singing to the self: The role of singing and private speech in executive function. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia, PA.
154) *Thibodeaux, J., Curby, T., & Winsler, A. (2014, October). Are college students feeling motivated? Growth in goal orientation and GPA. Poster presented at the American Educational Psychology Conference, Fairfax, VA.
153) *Ansari, A., & Winsler, A. (2014, July). Kindergarten readiness for low-income minority children in center-based care, family childcare, and public school pre-K. Poster presented at the 12th National Head Start Conference, Washington, DC.
152) Karkhanis, D. G., Winsler, A., & Levitt, J. (2014, April). Being Black, male, and gifted in Miami: Prevalence and predictors of placement in elementary school gifted education programs. In M. Henfield, Symposium Chair, Race, masculinity and the pursuit of academic excellence: Educating gifted Black males. Paper presented at the annual conference on the American Educational Research Association.Philadelphia, PA.
151) *Tavassolie, T., & Winsler, A. (2014, April). Mandatory grade retention from high-stakes test performance among low-income, ethnically diverse children: Who fails the FCAT and who repeats 3rd grade?. Poster to be presented at the SRCD theme conference –Strengthening Connections Among Child and Family Research, Policy and Practice. Alexandria VA.
'Could Later School Start Times Improve Adolescent Health?' Psychiatric News August 18, 2017
WDTV TV News (Bridgeport, WV) 'Using music as pre-school prep' http://www.wdtv.com/content/news/Using-music-as-pre-school-prep-439874443.html
'Teenagers Who Don't Get Enough Sleep at Higher Risk for Mental Health Problems' Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/teenagers-who-don-t-get-enough-sleep-at-higher-risk-for-mental-health-problems/ July 2015
Child Trends News Service story “Music, Movement, and Preschool Readiness” - covered on multiple TV news stations (PA, NJ, MN)
‘Sleep deprivation among teenagers' - With Good Reason’ NPR radio show. Jan 2017
‘Why does my child talk to himself?‘ With Good Reason’ NPR radio show. July 2008 and June 2010
‘I’m talking to me’ Working Mother, May 2009 www.workingmother.com
‘Why does my child talk to himself?’ Pediatrics for Parents, 25 (11-12), 2009. pp. 24-25. (Newsletter and podcast)
‘Among Child Care Options in Miami, Children Learn More in School-Based Pre-K’ Early Ed Watch (Newsletter and blog) April 2009.
Alex Moffett, Urban Intradistrict School Mobility and Its Association with Elementary School Academic Achievement (2020)
Amber Shriver, Relations Between Child Obesity and Executive Functions Among Low-income Latinx Families Participating in an Obesity Intervention: A Secondary Analysis (2020)
Angelique B. Williams, Black Girl Magic: Factors associated with Access to Advanced Math in Middle and High School for Black Girls (2020)
Mayra Parada, Academic Trajectories for Latino and Black Immigrant Advantage in Middle School (2020)
Kaitlyn Mumma, The Influence of School Quality on Fifth and Eighth Grade Outcomes of Public-school Pre-k and Center-based Preschool Programs (2019)
Alex Moffett, The Association Between Intradistrict School Mobility and Academic Performance in Elementary School for Ethnically Diverse Children Living in Poverty (2019)
Tanya Tavassolie, How Profiles of School Readiness Relate to Third Grade Performance among Low-income Ethnically and Linguistically Diverse Children (2018)
C. Jordan Thibodeaux, What Are Athletes Saying to Themselves? Self-talk and Motivation in Youth Tennis (2016)
Jameela Conway-Turner, Does Diversity Matter?: The Impact of School Racial Composition on the Academic Achievement of Elementary School Students in an Ethnically Diverse, Low-Income Sample (2016)
Danielle L Mead, Narrative Competence and Executive Functioning in Young Children with Varying Degrees of Bilingualism (2015)
Deepti Gupta, Cultural Differences in Maternal Emotion Socialization of Anxiety and Anger in Young Children and Links with Temperament (2012)
Lindsey Hutchison, Relations between Executive Functioning, Second Language Fluency, and Externalizing Behavior Problems in Early Childhood (2012)
Jessica Johnson De Feyter, School Readiness, Early Achievement, and the Role of English Language Proficiency for Children in Low-Income Immigrant Families (2011)
Louis Manfra, The Effects of Speech Awareness and Speech Instructions on Young Children's Self-Talk and Cognitive Self-Regulation During a Dimensional Change Counting Task (2006)
Amy Madigan, Implications of Interparental Conflict for Children?s Self-Control and the Mediating Role of Parenting Practices (2005)
Michael Feder, Mental Health and Academic Skills of Sierra Leonean Children from Refugee Families (2005)
Angela Willson-Quayle, The Effects of Child-Centered, Teacher-Directed, and Scaffolded Instruction on Low-Income, Latino Preschoolers' Task Performance, Motivation, and Private Speech (2001)