Education Commons^™

Feasibility Study Of Assessing The Supply And Demand For Educators In Maine, Amy F. Johnson, Lisa Morris

Maine Education Policy Research Institute

Like most states, Maine is facing staffing shortages. Recent Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) studies have documented--both quantitatively and qualitatively--some of the challenges that schools face in filling teacher positions. In this report the authors focus on the supply of educators and assess the feasibility of using administrative data from the certification system to identify shortage areas. Specifically, they combine certification and staff data to quantify the number of certificate holders who are working in their endorsement area, working in education outside of their endorsement area, or not working in Maine's education sector (i.e. potentially available for hire) to …

A Longitudinal Examination Of Bedtime Routines And Sleep In Toddlers, Amanda Prokasky

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Ample research has examined the impacts of sufficient and high-quality sleep on children’s health, development, and well-being (Chen, Beydoun, & Wang, 2008; Gregory & Sadeh, 2012; Touchette et al., 2009), yet less research has focused on the factors that contribute to sufficient and high-quality sleep in early childhood. The bedtime routine is one environmental influence on children’s sleep that has received little attention in the literature base and therefore is the focus of the current study.

In a sample of 399 30-month old toddlers studied over the course of one year, three aims were investigated: the within-age consistency of the …

Denis Diderot: A Secular Hero, Ben Scott-Brandt

Honors Projects

My Honors Senior Project is a biography of Denis Diderot in the form of a children's song. MY understanding of Diderot's life is based on Andrew Curran's book, Diderot and the Art of Thinking Freely.

Songs help us memorize and retain information about the world, and singing songs together strengthens cultural and religious connections. Secular (nonreligious) people need songs, too. Diderot was a philosopher who didn't believe in God. He was an editor of L'Encyclopédie, one of the first encyclopedias, and he snuck in articles that challenged how people think. This was an important moment -- knowledge about the world …

Longitudinal And Geographic Trends In Family Engagement During The Pre-Kindergarten To Kindergarten Transition, Susan M. Sheridan, Natalie A. Koziol, Amanda Witte, Iheoma Iruka, Lisa Knoche

Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools: Faculty Publications

The transition to kindergarten is foundational for children’s future school performance and families’ relationships with the educational system. Despite its well-documented benefits, few studies have explored family engagement across the pre- Kindergarten (pre-K) to kindergarten transition nor considered the role of geographic context during this period. This study examined trajectories of family engagement across the pre-K to kindergarten transition, and identified whether engagement differs for families in rural versus urban settings. Participants were 248 parents of children who participated in publicly funded pre-K programs and transitioned 1 year later into kindergarten. Home-based involvement increased from pre-K through kindergarten. School-based involvement …

Julian Is A Mermaid, Shannon M. Blake

Diverse Families Bookshelf Lesson Plans and Activities

No abstract provided.

Winter Holidays Around The World, Christopher Castro

Diverse Families Bookshelf Lesson Plans and Activities

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Number Writing In Early Math Readiness, Giselle Hernandez

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand how number writing in a class of low-income, pre-kindergarten children (N = 15) developed over the course of a school year, and to see what role that development played in their overall math readiness. This study used a mixed-methods approach. The target class was explicitly taught number writing as part of an early math intervention. Scores on a number writing inventory, and two math readiness assessments (Number Knowledge assessment, State of Florida VPK Assessment) were compared at the end of the year, both within the intervention group, and with a matched …

Who Counts As A Writer? Examining Child, Teacher, And Parent Perceptions Of Writing, Anna H. Hall, Kelley M. White, Ying Guo, Andrea Emerson

Publications

The current study used a mixed method design with 245 preschool children, 255 teachers, and 156 parents. Researchers interviewed children and surveyed teachers and parents about their perceptions of preschool children’s writing abilities and developmental writing stages. The results of the study showed that each group defined writing differently and parents were less likely to have positive perceptions about preschool children’s writing abilities than children and teachers. Correlation analysis demonstrated that teacher and parent perceptions of children’s writing abilities were not related to children’s own perceptions of their writing abilities in this study. This study illuminates that alignment of home …

Preschool Interactive Writing Instruction: Inviting Emergent Writers To Share The Pen, Anna H. Hall

Publications

No abstract provided.

Nebline, November/December 2019

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

CONTENTS

4-H Horse Program Grows Youth for Life

Thanksgiving Food Safety

Recipe of the Month

Successful Farmer Series Starts Jan. 10

Produce Safety Workshop, Nov. 19

Pesticide Applicator Trainings

Upcoming Green Industry Conferences

A New Can of Worms: Asian Jumping Worms

Use Caution to Avoid Deer-Vehicle Collisions

Reuse Your Fresh Cut Christmas Tree for Wildlife

Gifts For The Gardener

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

High-Quality Child Care Depends on Effective Family Engagement

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Beverlee Keller

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Dave Hattan

4-H Video Companion Animal Showmanship Contest Results

Outgoing 4-H Council Members

2019 …

Quality-Focused Interventions In Early Childhood Education And Care (Ecec) In Economically Developing Countries, Jen Jackson, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz

Monitoring Learning

Quality-focused early childhood education and care (ECEC) interventions are aimed at improving the quality of an existing intervention, service or program. These studies are of particular interest in the current global ECEC context as the emphasis on early childhood services shifts from access and participation to quality. Quality encompasses many aspects of an ECEC program, including structural dimensions and process dimensions. Structural dimensions cover infrastructure and resources, training for personnel and adult-child ratios. Process dimensions cover adult-child interactions, and opportunities for play and exploration. The 20 quality-focused interventions in ECEC identified for this review (of a total of 109 studies; …

Integrated Interventions In Early Childhood Education And Care (Ecec) In Economically Developing Countries, Jen Jackson, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz

Monitoring Learning

Integrated interventions combine multiple services or supports across different agencies in health, social welfare, employment services and education. Such interventions are typically larger in scale than those in other categories (e.g. parent- or child focused ECEC interventions), requiring collaboration or coordination of multiple service providers within the community. Integrated interventions are regarded as the most effective way to address young children’s learning and development and break inter-generational cycles of poverty. Four integrated interventions in ECEC were identified for this review (of a total of 109 studies) which required studies to examine links to children’s development outcomes, resulting in available evidence …

Enhancing Pedagogy Through Acue Certification, Janelle Espling

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

As instructors, there is an incredible responsibility to deliver content that is true to the standards of which the institution requires. But not only is it necessary to deliver content, it is necessary to deliver content in a way that promotes student learning, promotes student success, and an engages higher levels of thinking. The Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) Course in Effective teaching practices provides instructors evidence based strategies that do just that. As the reflections display, applying these strategies achieves the University goal to support students towards learning, success, and higher levels of thinking.

The Guardian Interviews Maryam Ahranjani: When Kids Are Threats: The Assessments Unfairly Targeting Students With Disabilities, Maryam Ahranjani, Ike Swetlitz

Faculty Scholarship

His story should motivate district officials to re-evaluate their use of threat assessments, said Maryam Ahranjani, a law professor at the University of New Mexico. As currently practiced, she said, the assessment process can unfairly ensnare many students. “It’s treating them as if they are criminals without them actually engaging in criminal activity.”

Learning Practice Guide, Jen Jackson, Kate Noble, Jeanne Marie Iorio, Dan Cloney, Pru Mitchell

Early Childhood Education

The first section of this Learning Practice Guide reminds early childhood professionals of the theory and pedagogy that underpins day-to-day practice, and helps them find ways to recognise children’s confidence and involvement in learning as a key component of their professional practice. The second section describes eight scenarios to prompt professional reflection, and illustrate ways in which early childhood professionals can improve their practice in relation to the VEYLDF Learning and Development Outcome: Children are confident and involved learners.

Girl Empowerment Club, Tori Pedersen, Murphy Glen

Honors Expanded Learning Clubs

Girl Empowerment Club teaches girls about self-reflection and communicating effectively in hope of inspiring confidence. The goal of the club is to encourage girls to strengthen their interpersonal skills while learning more about themselves.

Geo-Baloo: Teaching Geometry Through Physical Activities, Mi Sun Park, Young Rae Kim, Eunhye Kwon

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Quick And Easy Notes: Practical Strategies For Busy Teachers, C. C. Bates, Stephanie Madison Schenck, Hayley J. Hoover

Publications

Teachers’ knowledge of each child helps them to plan appropriately challenging environments and activities that are tailored to the children’s strengths and needs. Assessing children regularly is essential to build that individualized knowledge—and to identify children who may benefit from more specialized supports. This article offers practical tips for you to engage in systematic, observation-based assessment by keeping anecdotal records on each child.

Nebline, October 2019

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

CONTENTS

Groundwater Protection: It’s Up to Everyone

The Nutritional Power of Pumpkins

Recipe of the Month

Sulfur Deficiency in Corn

Planting Garlic in the Fall Vegetable Garden

Composting Demonstrations

I Spy a Spider: Common Spiders Around the Home

Invasive Species: American Bullfrog

Plant Spring Bulbs for Pollinators

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Become a Master Gardener

Chatting With Babies Helps Brain Development

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Kelsey Ebke

4-H Golf Tournament Fundraiser, Sept. 29

4-H Specialty Clubs Invite New Members

4-H Announcements for 4-H'ers and Volunteers

State Fair 4-H Top Results

Lancaster County 4-H Quilt of Valor …

Hello, My Name Is Octicorn, Victoria Glaubitz

Diverse Families Bookshelf Lesson Plans and Activities

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Early Technology Use On The Development Of Young Children, Kara E. Avis

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

With technology becoming a prevalent part of daily life, early childhood experts, teachers, and parents have concerns as to what is appropriate for young children to do and use. Research shows both benefits and potential risks associated with technology use. Benefits can include enhanced creativity and collaboration with peers and adults, literacy achievement gains, language and vocabulary development, and opportunities for independence. These benefits generally occur in purposeful situations with developmentally appropriate educational content alongside adult guidance and scaffolding. Risks include health factors, cognitive and behavioral challenges, displacement of traditional developmental activities, and fewer personal interactions. These risks are more …

The Use Of Learning Centers In The Kindergarten Classroom, Debra J. Hamand

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review discusses the necessity of learning centers in the kindergarten curriculum. The review first looks at pioneers in the field of education and how they feel children learn best. Learning centers is defined and tells why it should be in the kindergarten classroom and the benefits it offers. The review will discuss the legislation of why some people feel that play-based learning should be taken away from the school system and schools should only focus on academics. Today with high stakes testing and meeting state standards there is no time for learning centers. There are many challenges that …

Preschool Students Learning From Play Based Learning And Small Group Instruction, Molly Nicholson

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to use two different types or learning and see which one is more effective for preschool students. It seeks to answer this question: Do preschool students learn more effectively from small group instruction or from play-based learning? Preschool is where learning really begins, it is important to have a solid foundation for an educational career, this foundation is built in the preschool setting. Students learn in a variety of ways, hopefully this study helps determine the most effective way for the majority of the students to learn. Play-based learning is a relatively newer concept …

The Prevalence And Importance Of Ethnic Diversity In Children’S Literature, Rose Schewe

Senior Honors Theses

Despite the complicated past of ethnic censorship, ethnic diversity has a prominent role in children’s literature published in the United States because diversity is accurately representative of the culture in which today’s young readers live. Children’s literature has advanced in terms of ethnic diversity in recent decades, but obstacles that prevent the stories of various minority groups from being told continue to exist. In order for all children to feel properly included in the literary world, children must be given the opportunity to see both people who are different from them as well as people who bear similarities to themselves …

Language Nests On The Move: The Case Of Võro Pre-Primary Education In Estonia, Kara D. Brown, Mariko Faster

Faculty Publications

This article considers the circuitous route of knowledge exchange from South (New Zealand)-to North (Finland)-to regional South (Estonia) by examining the development of Võro language nests (keelepesä) in Estonia. Language nests reflect the global nature of educational knowledge exchange as well as the importance of networks of languageresearchers and activists in this policy inspiration. Estonia is a fascinating case for understanding the international spread and local development of the language-nest approach in a post-Socialist context. The authors draw on concepts of policy borrowing and diffusion and the “grammar of schooling” to explore the spread of the language nest approach and …

Informing Joyality 4 Kids: Ecopsychology Education To Support Upper Primary Children’S Well-Being Through Environmental And Social Crisis, Cambry Baker

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Responding to climate change and the state of the world demands psychological resilience and a transformative shift towards sustainable behavior. Children inheriting our uncertain future require psychological support and tools of well-being to fuel emotionally sustainable activism. In this paper I investigate how best to support upper primary aged children through environmental and social issues with Joyality 4 Kids, an educational ecopsychology program.

During November of 2019 I completed the Joyality Program processes independently, then conducted two focus group interviews with five individuals experienced in the Joyality Program and/or environmental education to develop the processes for an eight-hour Joyality 4 …

Youth Design The Future Of Transportation For Their Community, Christian Wandeler, Steven Hart, Felipe Mercado

Mineta Transportation Institute

The complexity of a globalized world, accelerating technological advances, and rapid change challenge educational systems. Around the world the call is to develop 21st century skills with a focus on career readiness, ability for lifelong learning, and collaboration skills. The development of the foundational elements of civic engagement (civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions) of children and youth is also a dominant concern for educators and policymakers. Unfortunately, not all youth have the same opportunities to develop civic self-efficacy. However, the civic empowerment engagement gap can be closed by providing underserved students with interactive and authentic civic experiences.

We strove to …

Increasing Family And Caregiver Engagement In Benton Harbor Area Schools, Susan V. Piazza, Patricia A. Edwards

Academic Leadership Academy

Increasing Family and Caregiver Engagement in Benton Harbor Area Schools

Nebline, September 2019

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

CONTENTS

Read for Resilience Program Helps Young Children Cope After a Disaster

Breakfast — Don’t Leave Home Without It!

Recipe of the Month

Grazing Calves on Annual Forages

Sheet Composting Requires No Turning

Composting Demonstrations

Prepared, Not Scared. Be Ready for Disasters

Plant Asters for Fall Color

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

The Lowdown on Lyme Disease

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Brenda Nepper

4-H Teen Council Invites New Members

Support 4-H by Dining at Chipotle on O Street, Sept. 16

New Horticulture 4-H Club Meeting, Sept. 19

4-H Golf Tournament Fundraiser, Sept. 29

Interested in Joining 4-H? …

Measurement Of Young Children's Learning For Program Evaluation, Jen Jackson, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Toby Carslake, Petra Lietz

Monitoring Learning

The global commitment to early learning has been expressed in the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals Agenda (SDG) (United Nations, 2016) and access to support for early learning is considered a human right for all children, whether provided by the family, community, or institutional programs (UNESCO, 2013). Inadequate cognitive stimulation has been identified as one of the key psychosocial risk factors associated with poor child development – a factor that is modifiable, with the right interventions (Walker et al., 2007). Thus, insights into how early learning supports may be delivered effectively in various contexts are essential. To explore the …