Education Commons^™

A Snapshot Of Ece Apprenticeship Programs, Emily Sharrock, Annie Schaeffing, Lily Rosenthal, Thelma Wong

Bank Street Education Center

This publication offers a closer look at the key features of existing apprenticeship programs across the United States—such as the diversity and range of approaches to credentials, partnership models, funding, and how programs deliver quality mentoring and/or coaching support—to reimagine how program quality can be strengthened to deepen learning for participants.

Opportunities For Reflective Practice In Early Childhood Apprenticeships, Emily Sharrock, Courtney Parkerson

Bank Street Education Center

This resource offers insights about the components, purpose, costs and related implementation considerations needed to design a system of high-quality job-embedded support in residency or apprenticeship programs. It is intended for early childhood leaders to facilitate the design or enhancement of this critical investment for our early childhood workforce.

Six Stories: An Examination Of What It Means To Be Asian American, Gillian Sherman

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The author, who herself identifies as Asian American, engages in a personal exploration of her own and others’ experiences of being Asian in America.Through a review of the literature of documented stereotypes of Asian Americans as well as interviews the author conducted with five women who identify as Asian-American, an examination of what it means to be Asian American is presented. Futher, consideration of the impact of international and interracial adoption experiences on the identity development of adoptees from East Asian countries is explored through two of the interviewees’ experiences who were adopted as well the author’s own experience of …

Career Pathways And Wage Ladders: A Key Opportunity For Improving Quality, Courtney Parkerson, Annie Schaeffing, Emily Sharrock

Bank Street Education Center

To leverage the possible opportunity the Build Back Better Act presents, this policy brief closely examines the potential of career pathways and wage ladders to serve as the foundation for transformative change for the early care and education workforce.

Raising A Coconspirator: A Letter To My Daughter, Abby C. Emerson

Occasional Paper Series

In this letter to her daughter, the author utilizes a journey map to anticipate some of the decisions and actions she will have to make and take in order to raise her as an antiracist co-conspirator. As a white parent to a white child, the author explores necessary moves towards racial literacy, rethinking obedience, and revisiting concepts of independence. She explores the way in which her parenting must be envisioned differently given this current COVID moment amidst the movement for Black lives.

Five Domains For Transforming Teacher Preparation, Charlotte Wells, Karen Demoss, Divya Mansukhani, Zach Paull

Prepared to Teach

This report describes the process of establishing the current Prepared To Teach theory of change, which supports national communities of practice in five domains identified by the Network's learning agenda in the 2019-2020 school year: mindset shifts, educator roles, labor market alignment, school improvement, and deeper learning. Read how these five domains are explored through existing residency partnership programs, how individual programs both solidified and strengthened existing partnerships, and important insights into how to expand and share the benefits partnerships can reap through their work together. Finally, explore how the domains center the need for systemic changes built upon the …

Don’T Be Fooled, Trauma Is A Systemic Problem: Trauma As A Case Of Weaponized Educational Innovation, Debi Khasnabis, Simona Goldin

Occasional Paper Series

We examine the dangers and affordances of trauma-informed practice, focusing specifically on how this approach can be misused to cause harm. Further, we elaborate how teacher educators can support teachers in developing systemically trauma-informed teaching practice. We analyze and share detailed educational designs showing how counter story can support educators to recognize and contend with racist interpretations of trauma-informed practice. These lenses are frequently used to injure, blame and pathologize, in particular, poor children and families of color.

The Adverse Effects Of Stereotyping And Bias On Health In Low Socioeconomic Communities, Stephanie Jurado

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Studies have shown that low socioeconomic status negatively affects health due to factors such as unstable access to secure environments, full-coverage healthcare, and quality of education. Members of these communities face further health adversities when confronting healthcare staff who are blind to these challenges, and more, that they experience. Several studies examined in this paper looked specifically at the intersects of low socioeconomic status and how they negatively affected the healthcare experience of individuals of these communities. Others demonstrate how having healthcare staff be knowledgeable of these adverse effects can lead to positive changes in the health of these community …

The Other 17 Hours: Valuing Out-Of-School Time

Occasional Paper Series

No abstract provided.

A Study Of Diversity And Social Capital In The Field Of Child Life, Madalyn L. Marshall

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Certified Child Life Specialists are professionals with a background in child development who traditionally provide psychosocial support to children and families in a pediatric healthcare environment (Pearson, 2005). According to the last job analysis done in 2013, 92% of child life specialists identify as White and Non-Hispanic (438 out of 476 respondents). Compared to an ever-diversifying patient population, the field of child life can be considered homogenous in terms of racial representation. Considering the racial homogeneity of the field and the potential impact of implicit biases, increasing the diversity of child life specialists would be beneficial to the development of …

Breaking Burnout: How Daily Mindfulness Can Break The Cycle Of Clinician Burnout And Restore Passion Within The Pediatric Treatment Environment., Gretchen Blackmer

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Caregiver burnout is a common condition that impacts clinicians, patients, and institutions, across all healthcare service lines. Caregivers who serve patients and families directly, including Child Life Specialists, have been found to hold a greater risk of burnout, due to the increased stress and potential for vicarious trauma that exists in the daily responsibilities this position demands (Moody, 2014). Clinicians just entering the Child Life profession, as well as those with only a few short years in the field, have been identified as being especially susceptible to experiencing burnout (Kemper).

Despite the common nature of burnout, complex and long-held cultural …

Teens In Queens: Engaging Teens Living In Queens, New York Through Museum Partnerships, Emily Gross

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The teen program presented in this document was inspired by my own experiences living and attending school in Queens, New York. This program is designed as a museum partnership between the New York Hall of Science, the Queens Museum, and the Queens County Farm Museum, for the benefit of middle school adolescents living or attending school in Queens, New York. This year long program exposes teens to local museums, connecting three different content areas (STEM, art, and agriculture) in museum settings. During the program, teens will engage with their community on a deeper level, learn through skill based activities, explore …

Boundary Crossing: An Examination Of The Cooperative Efforts Between A School And Museum, Katie Goldman

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This study examines a school-museum partnership between, a public school in Lower Manhattan, and a historical society located in New York City. Utilizing the theoretical framework of Activity Theory and the concept of Boundary Crossing, this research examines the school-museum partnership between P.S. 1994 and the historical society. The partnership between these two institutions has existed for the past six years, which situates it as an example of a long-term, successful collaboration between two organizations. In pursuit of understanding the establishment and implementation of this school-museum partnership, data was collected, examined and analyzed. This case study seeks to identify specific …

Integrating A Farm Study Into A Mixed Age Classroom, Rachel Kanegis

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper, Integrating A Farm Study Into A Mixed Age Classroom, explores the impact and benefits of integrating a farm study into a classroom. It reports on the course and the results of how students responded to the farm study over one full school year. In addition, it shows how the integrated farm study could be incorporated into the core academic topics such as reading, writing, math, social studies, and science. In fact, this paper proves how students become more motivated and engaged to learn in the core academic topics through their focus on the farm study. The class that …

“Are Staff Bias’ Affecting The Way Pediatric Patients Develop And Cope Within The Hospital Setting?”, Mary Lauren Upchurch

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Gender stereotypes are pervasive in our culture – ingrained by long-standing biases (both conscious and unconscious) (Higgins, 2018). The way boys and girls begin to understand and mitigate their world are often related to the gender stereotyping that society has constructed. However, stereotypical expectations not only reflect existing differences, but also impact the way boys and girls interpret themselves and are treated by others. This paper will focus on the way gender stereotyping of hospitalized pediatric patients may impact coping, treatment, and overall care. The author has chosen to examine language especially as it relates to gender specific analogies, incentives …

Scaffolding Resilience: Child Life Work With Immigrant And Refugee Children In The Hospital Setting, Elise Hebel

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Immigrant and refugee children experience and cope with significant traumatic experiences in their countries of origin, in host countries, and during their immigrant or refugee journey, impacting their development and ability to cope with stress. Child life specialists who encounter immigrant and refugee children and families in the healthcare setting have an ethical and professional duty to advocate for the rights of these vulnerable children and families as well as approach clinical work from a strengths-based, culturally competent, patient and family centered, trauma sensitive perspective. This paper endeavors to guide child life work with immigrant and refugee children in the …

A Case For Child Life Specialists To Be Trauma-Informed, Kathleen Romano

Graduate Student Independent Studies

According to The National Child Traumatic Stress Network [NCTSN] (2003), “trauma occurs when a child experiences an intense event that threatens or causes harm to his or her emotional and physical well-being”. Roughly one in four children will experience a traumatic event before the age of sixteen. Due to the prevalence of traumatic events, it is necessary for healthcare professionals to know and understand the implications these experiences may have for children and their families. Child life specialists, who are a part of the interdisciplinary team in hospitals, provide a unique perspective with their knowledge of child development and coping. …

A Best Practice Guide For Teaching Artists: The Planning And Implementation Of Arts-Integrated Partnerships With Classroom Teachers, Lauren Patricia Ehrhart

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This Integrative Master's Project is a guide for Teaching Artists to use when planning and implementing arts-integrated partnerships with classroom teachers. This paper discusses the process of creating five original resources based on best practices of experienced arts-integration professionals. The resources are the product of ten interviews with experienced teaching artists and administrators of cultural organizations, who employ teaching artists in interdisciplinary school partnerships. These resources are in the form of worksheets, spreadsheets and charts and aim to help guide-teaching artists in the creation of successful collaborations with classroom teachers.

Children’S Rights: Why The United States Should Ratify The United Nations Convention On The Rights Of The Child, Alexandra Gardiner

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This thesis examines children’s rights in America and specifically addresses why the United States has yet to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, otherwise known as the UNCRC. After presenting the history of children’s rights in America, this project examines the controversy over conflicting interpretations of children’s rights as defined by the UNCRC and the subsequent issues that have impeded its ratification in the United States. This thesis argues for the United States to ratify the UNCRC so that more changes can be made to protect the best interests of children in America.

Play As A Social Justice Issue In Early Childhood Education, Britt Kroll

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Play is a vital part of the early childhood experience to develop in cognitive and social-emotional realms. Schools are taking away an important tool for children to process new information and build skills needed for lifelong problem-solving by allowing less time for play in early childhood classrooms. This research combines data gathered to show the unique benefits of play in both cognitive and social-emotional areas, as well as qualitative data collected in a play-based and a non-play-based classroom.

The research defends the importance of play-based learning in early childhood and equips teachers with rationale to use play as a tool …

"Brace Yourself": Motor Disabilities In Children's Literature, Jillian Bober

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This thesis presents the writing and sharing of an original work “Brace Yourself” with a group of second grade children including clinical and legal background as well as review of selected children’s literature with similar themes. The study incorporates samples of student responses to the story and discussion of curricular themes related to inclusion and school values.

Urban Gardening Grows Relationships: The Importance Of Urban Gardening To The Self And The Earth, Ashley King

Graduate Student Independent Studies

There are many texts for young readers that focus on gardening and the pleasant experiences it can bring. However, there is a distinct lack of texts that address urban gardening specifically as well as the reasons why gardening, in and outside of cities, is so important. This independent study had a purpose of providing a book for young readers that will engage them in a celebration of gardening and the environment around them. The text of the book follows a young girl who gardens not only to build relationships with her peers, but also to take care of and appreciate …

A Study Of Story Stones In Informal Learning Environments, Nina Berch

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper aims to provide context for the use of an open-ended tool called Story Stones for engaging young students in creative discussion. Story Stones are a collection of palm-sized rocks with transposed images attached. Student ages within this discussion range between two and seven years old, accompanied by adult caregivers in the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling in Harlem, New York and Not Just Art childhood enrichment center in Oyster Bay, New York. The method of observation and analysis consisted of presenting Story Stones in an open-ended, hands-on invitation to visitors of the museum and enrichment …

The Invisible Tool Kit : On-The-Go Techniques For Child Life Specialists, Vanessa Galan

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This Integrative Master's Project, On-the-Go Techniques for Child Life Specialists by Vanessa Galan, reviews literature that explains the stressors patients and their families face during hospitalization. It provides supporting information outlining tools that a child life specialist has available to them at all times. These tools offer support, distraction, and coping strategies when time or resources do not allow for alternate diversions. These tools include complementary techniques such as deep breathing, empathic responses, guided imagery, humor/laughter, I spy, magic glove, one voice, songs, positions of comfort, and Reiki. It reviews how these tools provide support for many hospitalized children, and …

The Samurai In Medieval Japan: A Teacher Resource & Curriculum Companion Based On The Japanese Collection At The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, Barbara Anderson

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This resource guide utilizes the fascination with the samurai and their honor code system, known as bushido, to examine the eastern feudal system, and the artistic and cultural traditions of Medieval Japan. The six provided lessons in this resource support a museum visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Mary Griggs Burke Collection of Japanese Art and the Arms and Armor Collection. They are directed to build upon each other to provide students with a meaningful sequence of experiences and attempts to address a diverse body of learners through variance of activities and the integration of academic areas such as …

A Tale Of Two Brothers : A Retelling Of A Jewish Folktale For Young Children, Meredith A. Glass

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Contains an original retelling of a Russian Jewish Folktale for K-1 readers. Curriculum applications, children's responses, and discussions of uses of folklore are included.