A Program Evaluation Of Prekindergarten Program In One School District, Alicia Eubank

Dissertations

I explored the potential impact of position and salary change on prekindergarten teachers in a public-school district in a southern state. I provided an educational, economic, political and moral/ethical analysis in partial support of this change for the district.

The current policy in the district is that the school year prekindergarten teaching positions are considered non-instructional. However, the summer prekindergarten program teachers are certified teachers as per state requirements. The new policy will make all prekindergarten teaching positions require state certification. This change would give them the financial pay and benefits included with the position change and keep them in …

How Prepared Are Educators To Work With Students Of Color, Ja're Thorn

Dissertations

From what I have experienced, there has been a lack of preparation when it comes to preparing educators to work with students of color. This research aimed to explore the importance of early childhood teachers’ cultural preparation programs when it comes to working effectively with students of color. Most of the time, teachers teach to the common core standards set in place by the state. They also implement a curriculum that is considered “best practices” for students instead of paying attention to and considering the individual student’s specific culture, family, and community values and ways of life before planning (Spies, …

Exploring Attitudes Of Four Groups Of Stakeholders Toward Family Childcare And Recommending Best Practices To Promote Positive Experiences, Yvonne S. Williams

Dissertations

This research aimed to increase the awareness of licensed family childcare programs and use the viewpoints of four stakeholder groups to construct recommended best practices. These best practices are crucial for supporting effective business practices and providing high-quality services to their stakeholders. Online surveys and virtual interviews were used to acquire the stakeholders' perspectives. The collected data revealed three principal thematic codes: family childcare provider, family childcare business, and family childcare environment. Within these three codes, the family childcare program's areas of improvement, inconsistencies, and strengths were identified and evaluated to construct recommended professional and business best practices. Some of …

An Evaluation Of One School's Reading Program To Support Struggling Readers Through The Use Of Data, Gabrielle Jones

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of one school’s reading intervention program, and its impact on struggling readers reading performance. Participants in this study included administrators, Grades 3 through 5instructional staff that directly impact student learning in reading through reading instruction. I collected survey data and analyzed it to determine teachers’ ability to instruct struggling readers with high expectations for student learning. As a result, this evaluation exhibit teachers require more quality planning time to prepare effective reading intervention lessons that includes strategies attained from strategically designed professional development structured to increase students’ reading ability. …

Music, Our Human Superpower, Kristin Lems

Faculty Publications

Research about music pervades every discipline because music touches every area of life. Studies revealing the salutary effects of music can be found not only in music educator research, but in research in psychology, speech and hearing, child development, neuroscience, and increasingly, health and wellness, aging, rehabilitation and recovery. Since my focus is especially in the areas of language and literacy, I research the positive effects of music on reading, writing, and learning languages - and of this, there is no shortage. In this brief Academia article, I share what I’d like to call an “homage-with-references” to our great Superpower, …

The Relationship Among Children Born With A Congenital Heart Defect, Effects Of General Anesthesia, And Special Academic Needs, Lorilynn Bowie

Dissertations

Abstract

I initiated this study due to experience in the public education system in one state in the United States. I noted a lack of understanding among educators on how to meet the educational needs of children born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) who had undergone general anesthesia related to their CHD. A lack of communication between the medical sector and the educational world led to extensive delays in children receiving the educational support they needed to be successful academically. There were two primary exploratory questions that drove my study: 1.) Is there a relationship between children born with …

Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of The Development And Implementation Of A Comprehensive School Safety Plan, Rachina Holman Heron

Dissertations

Abstract The problem addressed within this qualitative study involved exploring the limited research regarding kindergarten through fifth grade teachers’ perceptions of the implementation of the school’s Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP). The purpose of this study was to explore six kindergarten through fifth grade teachers’ perspectives of their school’s safety plan. First, the study described how elementary teachers perceived the professional development or training received in preparation for implementing their school’s safety plan. Second, the study explored six elementary teachers’ perceptions of their ability to implement their school’s safety plan using semi-structured interviews. Finally, areas where elementary teachers perceive they …

All About The American Flap, Kristin Lems

Faculty Publications

In this column, I am going to talk about the American flap, a phonological feature of the American English dialect. Those of us with backgrounds in ESL/EFL learn about this in our master’s programs, but I have found that even teachers who have taken a course in linguistics may not be aware of the flap and its important implications for listening, reading, and spelling in English (Lems, Miller, & Soro, 2017)

The Lived Experiences Of Parenting Children With Food Allergies: A Phenomenological Study, Anne Zavell

Dissertations

This phenomenological study focuses on five mothers' experiences of the phenomenon of living with a diagnosed food allergy in the family. Attention is given to the contexts or situations that have typically influenced or affected their experiences, including the impact of the diagnoses, travel and restaurants, friendships, sibling relationships, and anxiety. There is a major emphasis on these mothers' experiences advocating for the needs of their children in schools, including their strategies, concerns, and frustrations. Policies related to food allergies are reviewed from the contemporary and historical perspectives, with recommendations for policy change. The lived experiences of food allergy mothers …

Linguistic Interactions Of Spanish Speaking Mexican American Families, Adelfio J. Garcia

Dissertations

This study explored the bilingual linguistic interactions in Mexican families and their impact on children’s language and literacy development. This qualitative study gathered data using different methods, namely, interviews, direct observations, participant observation, and physical artifacts to examine parents’ perceptions of their own educational path in comparison to their children’s educational path in an American school system, together with their daily linguistic interactions in various social contexts, and the features, themes and roles of linguistic interactions participants. Study results assisted in gaining deeper understanding of daily conversations happening in different social contexts and their impact on the language and literacy …

National Principals' Survey On Early Childhood Instructional Leadership, Michael B. Abel, Teri N. Talan, Kelly D. Pollitt, Laura Bornfreund

McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership Publications

The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University, and New America partnered to study early childhood instructional leadership in schools. The National Principals’ Survey on Early Childhood Instructional Leadership was conducted in 2016 with the NAESP membership. This environmental scan collected basic descriptive data about the roles within schools and districts that contribute to instructional leadership and teacher supervision in preK classrooms. The survey was designed to examine the distribution of leadership functions; the influence of elementary principals on supporting children transitioning to kindergarten; classroom activities in preK and …

Reframing Lesson Plans: The Foundation For Improving Instruction, Carletta M. Noland

Dissertations

This dissertation is a policy advocacy document that boldly states that it is our moral imperative to change the current educational landscape for the students attending Milwaukee Public Schools. In advocating for such a change, it is strongly suggested that the way to accomplish this challenging task is to mandate a stronger instructional foundation by leveraging the power of thoughtful lesson planning and design. Through its own merit, public and professional opinions and research findings, a viable argument is crafted to eliminate the current policy that marginalizes the planning process by suggesting through its current language, that the planning process …

School Readiness Of First Grade Charter School Students: An Evaluation Of An Early Childhood Program, Dr Shandowlyon L. Hendricks-Williams

Dissertations

This program evaluation studied the effectiveness of an early childhood program as it relates to school readiness. The early childhood program of a charter school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin had been operating for over thirty without an evaluation of its effectiveness. To examine the effectiveness of the early childhood program, seventy-two students were evaluated using a teacher-developed First Grade Readiness Checklist; the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Test and Success for All (SFA) Assessment. School readiness, as a multifaceted construct, included five domains: academic, behavioral, emotional, social and self-help-skills.

The results of the survey indicate that the early childhood program …

A Study Of Child Nature: From The Kindergarten Standpoint, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

Preface

These talks for mothers and teachers were given before my classes in Chicago and elsewhere. They are now published at the earnest request of the members of those classes, and are in nearly the same form as when given, which accounts for the number of anecdotes illustrating different points, as well as for the frequency of personal reminiscence. Fully aware of their many defects, but knowing well that "Charity covereth a multitude of sins," I give them with a loving heart to the mothers of America. I hop that the thought underlying them may be as helpful to others …

The Unseen Side Of Child Life: For The Guardians Of Young Children, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

Table of Contents

Introduction

Processional

Visitors Form the Outside World

Mastering the Machine

The Invisible Bridge

The Child's Art World

Recessional

Present Day Tendencies

How Are We Educating Our Young Girls?, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

From the Introduction to When Children Err: A Book for Young Mothers, by Elizabeth Harrison

Harrison discusses the way in which past educational thought, as pointed out by Herbert Spencer, does not prepare individuals for motherhood, to which she describes the importance and necessity to do so.

When Children Err: A Book For Young Mothers, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

Table of Contents: The Introduction, The Problem, Who Sets the Standards?, How Wrong Standards are Set Up, Danger of Vague and Varying Standards, When Standards Differ, The Highest Standard, The Growth of Standards, The Discipline of Nature, The Discipline of the Inner Life, The Discipline of the Social World, Value of Confession, Various Forms of Discipline, Arbitrary, or Impulsive Punishment, Retributive, or Revengeful Punishment, Protective, or Legal Punishment, Educative, or Wise Punishment, How to Avoid the Need of Punishment, The Answer Which Time Has Given

The Montessori Method And The Kindergarden, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

Report commissioned in 1914 by the U.S. Bureau of Education on a study of Dr. Maria Montessori's schools in Italy, by Miss Elizabeth Harrison. Describes Maria Montessori's contribution to the education of young children and compares her methods with that of the Froebelian Kindergarten method.

Offero, The Giant: A Christmas-Eve Story, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

This children's story tells the tale of Offero, the Giant, "the tallest and strongest man" in the world, who sets out to find the greatest ruler on Earth. While on his journey, he learns of Jesus Christ.

Kindergarten Journal, Vol.7 No.2, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

Includes a report of the meeting of the International Kindergarten Union, which took place in Cincinnati, Ohio. Also includes essays by Elizabeth Harrison, "Regarding Personality" and "Vacation Days", and an essay by Clara Belle Baker, former Director of the Baker Demonstration School, " How the Violets Came: A Fable".

The Kindergarten Journal, Vol.6 No.4 1910-1911, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

Includes the editorial, "Kindergarten Festivals", by Elizabeth Harrison on page 151 which describes the festivals that she believes are appropriate to celebrate in the Kindergarten setting, including: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hero Day, Easter, and the children's birthdays.

Two Children Of The Foothills, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

Preface:

If this record of a happy year spent with two children will help to make some other woman study more earnestly Froebel's great book I shall be satisfied. To any in whose heart it may awaken this impulse I would recommend Mr. Denton J. Snider's "Mother's-Play-Songs", and Miss Susan E. Blow's "Letters to a Mother" from both of which books I have been permitted to quote freely. I wish also to acknowledge my obligations to D. Appleton and Company for their courtesy in allowing me avail myself of the illustrations from their "Mottos and Commentaries of Froebel's Mother-Play-Book", which …

How Shall We Best Conserve Our Nation's Moral Forces, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

"What are the moral resources of a nation? Is not the greatest of these character? Say what we will, deep down in the heart of each and everyone of us we know that material prosperity is not the highest form of success..."

-Elizabeth Harrison

The Kindergarten Journal, Summer 1910, Elizabeth Harrison, Edna Dean Baker, J.N. Crouse

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

Includes the essay, "The Value of Character", by Elizabeth Harrison (page 28), "Personal Mention" (page 20) and "Alumnae Report" (page 29) by Edna Dean Baker, and "Extension" (page 25) by J.N. Crouse, co-principal of the Chicago Kindergarten College.

Journal editors: Mrs. Todd Lunsford and Mrs. Florence Capron

The Kindergarten Journal, Vol.1 No.3, Elizabeth Harrison, J.N. Crouse

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

Autumn 1910 issue of the quarterly journal. Includes Elizabeth Harrison's report on the 14th annual meeting of the National Congress of Mothers (page 95), an editorial by Elizabeth Harrison titled "The Kindergarten" (page 105) and an editorial titled "The Futurity of College" by Mrs. J.N. Crouse, co-principal of the Chicago Kindergarten College.

Journal editors: Mrs. Todd Lunsford, Mrs. Florence Capron

Misunderstood Children: Sketches Taken From Life, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

Book Contents: Sammie's Prayer, The Boy Who Hated School, Little Mary, The Twins, For Father's Amusement, A Sunday Morning Diversion, A Geography Lesson, The Sand-Pile, A Shop Scene, Jack and the Alley Boys, The Boy and the Scarlet Coat, Katie MacMahon, A Starved Soul, Daughters of Men, Herbert at His Grandmother's, Gertrude's Story, Miss Eleanor's Garden

The Stone Cutter: A Japanese Legend, Elizabeth Harrison, Francis M. Arnold

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

A retelling of a traditional Japanese tale in which a discontented stonecutter is never satisfied although his every wish is granted by Buddha. At last, through experience, Hashnu learns the lesson Buddha has been teaching.

How Little Cedric Became A Knight, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

This children's tale tells the story of Cedric, a little boy who wishes to become a knight by being kind, noble, and brave.

Some Silent Teachers, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

So kind and sympathetic a reception has been given my " Study of Child-Nature", wherein I treat of the value of understanding and wisely training the INHERETED INSTINCTS of the children, that I have ventured in this book to put forth some suggestions concerning the use of ENVIRONMENT in education. I hope to treat SELF-ACTIVITY and its importance in a third volume, thus completing the trilogy, the outline of which is given in the introduction to this. Thanking a generous public for its past interest, I make no other apology for putting it before the book.

- Elizabeth Harrison

Some Evolutions In Kindergarten Work, Elizabeth Harrison

Elizabeth Harrison’s Writings

In this address delivered to the International Kindergarten Union at Pittsburgh, PA, Harrison discusses the expansion of Kindergarten thought and examines some previous evolutions of the field, which include: mother-play books, self-expression through play (particularly by way of rhythmic use of the body as a means of obtaining self-control), Froebel Gifts, and Occupations. Includes sequences for selected Gifts.

Originally published in Kindergarten Review, November 1903