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Articles 1 - 30 of 32
Full-Text Articles in Education
Professionalism In Early Childhood Education, Kimberly R. Thai
Professionalism In Early Childhood Education, Kimberly R. Thai
Master's Theses
This grounded theory analysis uses participant interviews and document analysis to further understand the lived experiences of teachers and leaders in Early Child Education. The thesis was set out to explore the following research questions: How do ECE leaders and teachers understand teacher professionalism? What is the role of whiteness and gender in teacher professionalism? and What is the relationship between the ideas of professionalism and the local context in ECE? The study finds that insiders have strong notions of professional conduct but that exploring professionalism was a site of contention for the participants. Two responses to issues of professionalism …
An Exploration Of The Nature Of Social Interactions Between Preschool Students With Diverse Social-Emotional Skills During Engineering Activities, Gurupriya Ramanathan
An Exploration Of The Nature Of Social Interactions Between Preschool Students With Diverse Social-Emotional Skills During Engineering Activities, Gurupriya Ramanathan
Boise State University Theses and Dissertations
Peer interactions are a significant part of school experiences and influence children’s adjustment to school, however preschool students with and at-risk for disabilities are found to display a unique trajectory of social development, often requiring intentional instruction in social skills. A variety of interventions have been designed to support these students; however, they target foundational skills such as inviting peers to play and taking turns with materials, leaving a gap in the research on more complex social skills such as collaboration and joint problem-solving. The engineering design process (EDP) is a cyclical method that students follow to collectively build a …
Preschool Teachers' Lived Experiences Embracing Challenges In Preparing Students For Kindergarten: A Phenomenological Study, Rhodora A. Alonzo
Preschool Teachers' Lived Experiences Embracing Challenges In Preparing Students For Kindergarten: A Phenomenological Study, Rhodora A. Alonzo
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology was to describe pre-school teachers’ lived experiences embracing challenges in preparing students for kindergarten at a public school district in Mid-Atlantic State. The theory that guides this study was Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory keying in on the zone of proximal development (ZPD), which represents the amount of learning possible by a student, given the proper instructional conditions. The research questions include, “What do pre-school teachers perceive as challenges to preparing students for kindergarten?” “What are teachers’ perceptions about the importance of alignment between the pre-school and kindergarten programs?” “What are markers of pre-school students that …
Technology To Increase Peer Interactions In Preschool, Angela Mclean
Technology To Increase Peer Interactions In Preschool, Angela Mclean
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Adding technology to the preschool classroom without interfering with social interactions is a dilemma for educators. Peer interactions are an important developmental goal in preschool age students. Increased pressure to include technology in education at earlier ages is often viewed as a hindrance to social interactions in play-based curriculum, with many educators feeling unprepared in the methods to incorporate technology. The goal of this literature review is to analyze current research to discover methods that can increase social interactions among peers with the addition of technology tools in the preschool classroom. This review looked at forty-seven studies of social interactions …
Implementing Effective Inclusion In Prekindergarten, Jennifer L. Wenke
Implementing Effective Inclusion In Prekindergarten, Jennifer L. Wenke
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This literature review will act as a guide for implementing quality inclusion effectively in preschool classrooms. The inclusion of children with special needs in education is of concern to educators worldwide. "Inclusive education involves the transformation of the education system-legislation and policy, systems for financing, administration, design, delivery, and monitoring of the education and the way schools are organized" (Zabeli & Gjelaj, 2020, p. 3). This literature review examines the variables predicting overall quality, curriculum, training, tools for communication and engagement, teacher views, and peer interaction pertaining to inclusion in prekindergarten classrooms. Two themes were constant in the research: training …
The Benefit Of Inclusion In Early Childhood Classrooms, Taylor Webb
The Benefit Of Inclusion In Early Childhood Classrooms, Taylor Webb
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this literature review is to demonstrate the benefits of inclusion in preschool classrooms and encourage educators to embrace this practice. According to the experts, inclusion provides social and academic benefits along with learning what preservice teachers know about inclusion. The reviewed research suggests when inclusion is incorporated in preschool classroom settings, it benefits all children. The conclusion of this review includes recommendations of developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood settings and how it can be used to make inclusive preschool classrooms a place for all students to learn and grow.
How Adding Social Emotional Learning Impacts Preschool Student's Ability To Manage Their Behavior, Pamela Niemeyer
How Adding Social Emotional Learning Impacts Preschool Student's Ability To Manage Their Behavior, Pamela Niemeyer
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research was inspired by the researcher's own classroom observations of students' behaviors, interactions, and emotional reactions throughout the day in preschool. Having students who have behaviors that may get out of control, the researcher wondered if a whole class social emotional instruction would provide them with strategies make a difference in all student's ability to manage their emotions. The participants in this study included 20 preschool students, 3- to 5-year-old. This study took place over a 4-week period where social emotional lessons were presented as whole groups and small groups. During this time, the teacher was intentional in …
Implementing Positive Guidance Strategies To Reduce Challenging Behavior In Preschool Classrooms, Margaret Weber
Implementing Positive Guidance Strategies To Reduce Challenging Behavior In Preschool Classrooms, Margaret Weber
Graduate Teacher Education
Preschool teachers are looking for more positive classroom support to handle disruptive behaviors in the classroom such as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Carter ,Van Norman, Tredwell (2011). Conscious Discipline Bailey (2014), and Trauma-Informed Practices Erdman, Colker, Winter (2020). Carter, Van Norman and, Tredwell (2010), discussed how there has been a shift from using punitive discipline practices to incorporating positive guidance strategies in early childhood education classrooms. Clearly defined expectations and teaching the expectations positively guide the child’s social-emotional, cognitive, and physical growth. Researchers have shown that using positive guidance strategies such as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Conscious …
Poverty In Schools: The Impact Of Poverty On School Readiness For Kindergarteners, Emily Inglett
Poverty In Schools: The Impact Of Poverty On School Readiness For Kindergarteners, Emily Inglett
Counselor Education Capstones
Experiencing poverty in childhood has lasting impacts on a child. Poverty can have a negative impact on a child’s development academically, cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally. The present literature review aims to explore research that has looked into what it means to live in poverty, what lasting impacts living in poverty have on children, and what that means for a child’s school readiness when entering kindergarten. It will also discuss some interventions that a school counselor could implement in schools to support a child who lives in poverty and their family.
The Effects Of Professional Development On Collective Teacher Efficacy, Rachel Cordova
The Effects Of Professional Development On Collective Teacher Efficacy, Rachel Cordova
Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers
This action research study aims to determine the effect of control-based group games on self-controlled behavior in a Montessori primary classroom. The study took place over a period of four weeks and included 17 participants ages 35 months to 6 years. A control-based group game, such as Red Light/Green Light or This action research examined the effects of professional development on collective teacher efficacy in a primary Montessori setting. The focus group comprised four participants, three lead teachers, and a site supervisor. The methodology consisted of four one-hour professional development sessions including quantitative and qualitative data collection, initial and final …
Preschool Children's Development In Number, Geometry, And Executive Function: A Cross-Lagged Examination, Brionne G. Neilson
Preschool Children's Development In Number, Geometry, And Executive Function: A Cross-Lagged Examination, Brionne G. Neilson
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
Children develop rapidly during early childhood, and this includes their mathematics and executive function (EF) skills. Past research has focused on connections between early mathematics and EF, but more work was needed to fully understand these relations. In particular, past studies have generally used numeracy-based measures to assess early mathematics, although professional guidelines indicate a more comprehensive construct that includes geometry. The research herein addresses some of the gaps of previous work as it examines unique connections between early number, geometry, and EF. One hundred eighteen preschool children from urban and rural communities, being an average age of 53 months …
The Mind Matters: Yoga And Mindfulness In Preschool And K-12 Schools, Anna E. Hall
The Mind Matters: Yoga And Mindfulness In Preschool And K-12 Schools, Anna E. Hall
Honors Theses
This study uses a systematic literature review to examine the efficacy of preschool and K-12 school based yoga and mindfulness programs. A collection of 47 sources were examined to compare and contrast results and determine best practices. The results of the literature review are divided into three primary categories: implementation methods, student outcomes, and teacher and student opinion. The results suggest that individual and whole school implementation methods are the most effective. The results also suggest that there are positive student outcomes in regards to classroom behavior, child executive functioning, and anxiety. Teacher and student opinion on these programs are …
The Lack Of Environmental Awareness In Preschool Curriculum, Micaela Padgett
The Lack Of Environmental Awareness In Preschool Curriculum, Micaela Padgett
Capstone Projects and Master's Theses
This paper attempts to bring attention to the lack of environmental awareness in preschool curriculum.
Increasing Social-Emotional Development Skills In Preschoolers, Skyler Thao
Increasing Social-Emotional Development Skills In Preschoolers, Skyler Thao
Capstone Projects and Master's Theses
Many preschool children have not yet developed skills of emotional regulation, and often, emotional regulation is not being taught in their classrooms. When children struggle with regulating their emotions, they are more likely to be underprepared for Kindergarten, have their long term mental health be affected, and have conflict with their peers. To help address the lack of emotional regulation skills taught in preschool classrooms, I created a two-day lesson for the preschoolers at the Military Monterey Road Child Development Center in Seaside, California.
Response To Intervention In Early Childhood Education, Kendyl Young Hinson
Response To Intervention In Early Childhood Education, Kendyl Young Hinson
Masters Theses & Specialist Projects
The purpose of this study was to review literature on Response to Intervention (RTI) at the early childhood level. RTI has become increasingly prevalent within K-12 settings. Less research exists for the expansion within early childhood settings. A systematic review of literature was conducted and all available literature on RTI in early childhood education since 2004 was identified and reviewed. Articles were sorted into three broad categories for review: (a) combined, (b) academics, and (c) social emotional behaviors. The review indicated the different behaviors recommended to be examined within the early childhood setting, types of assessment methods used, and interventions …
Everybody Watched And Watched: Illustrations For A Preschool Journal, Sylvie Spencer Ackroyd
Everybody Watched And Watched: Illustrations For A Preschool Journal, Sylvie Spencer Ackroyd
WWU Honors College Senior Projects
This is the beginning of illustrating excerpts from a journal I dictated at age three into a children’s book. Stories told by a child seemed like interesting material for a children’s book, which was something I have wanted to try for a while. What parts of the experience should be emphasized? How do the entries become a story apart from my memories? How can the images enhance the text? A thumbnail mock-up with several paintings.
Ready Or Not For K5: A Study On Early Childhood Interventions Within Special Education And General Education Setting, Paulette Mizzell
Ready Or Not For K5: A Study On Early Childhood Interventions Within Special Education And General Education Setting, Paulette Mizzell
Theses and Dissertations
This action research study describes how using the Enhanced Alphabet Knowledge model affects preschool students' readiness for Kindergarten. The theoretical framework that supported this study was based on Cindy Jones', Sarah Clark's, and D. Ray Reutzel's Enhanced Alphabet Knowledge Method (2013). This study used quantitative data to further indicate the impact and importance of early intervention classrooms. The participants of this study included eight students from one preschool intervention class. Data collection instruments included pre-and post- phonological awareness literacy screening scores and a teacher questionnaire. Results of this study indicated that the majority of student participants experienced an increase in …
Brain Breaks Improve Student Behavior And Focus, Meghan M. Barker
Brain Breaks Improve Student Behavior And Focus, Meghan M. Barker
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research project was to determine the impact of brain breaks, or physical activity breaks, when implemented as a transition to learning centers in the preschool classroom. Learning centers consist of small group time, one-on-one time with the teacher, and whole group time where important preschool state standards are taught. The study was conducted over five weeks in two preschool classrooms. One classroom was designated as the control group, and the other classroom as the treatment group. Data was collected to determine if brain breaks had an impact on student focus and behavior. After five weeks …
Outdoor Classroom/Natural Playground Space School Improvement Project, Holly Carlson
Outdoor Classroom/Natural Playground Space School Improvement Project, Holly Carlson
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Allowing students to have increased outside playtime in nature positively impacts the students physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development. This school improvement project establishes a plan for creating an additional outside play space and outdoor classroom to increase play time while learning in nature.
Maintaining A Relational Classroom While Implementing Ts Gold, Leslie K. Gustafson
Maintaining A Relational Classroom While Implementing Ts Gold, Leslie K. Gustafson
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Teaching Strategies GOLD is an authentic assessment tool. It is used in many preschool classrooms to observe student development in their daily routine. Teaching Strategies GOLD is an effective means of assessing student development. One of the challenges when implementing Teaching Strategies GOLD is its comprehensiveness. The extensiveness of the assessment has been found to be very time consuming for educators to implement. This has raised the question, “How does an educator maintain a relational classroom while implementing Teaching Strategies GOLD?” The purpose of this paper to research the value of preschool and the use of authentic assessment. It will …
Explicit Literacy Instruction Focused On Letter Sounds Vs. Letter Names And Student Educational Growth, Maria O'Dell
Explicit Literacy Instruction Focused On Letter Sounds Vs. Letter Names And Student Educational Growth, Maria O'Dell
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research was to investigate the effects of explicit literacy instruction focused on letter sounds and letter names to determine student academic growth. This study was conducted in the researcher’s early childhood class with a group of 20 preschool aged students. Research was conducted over the course of five weeks with students meeting with the researcher a minimum of two times each week. Data was collected using a literacy assessment with sections on letter sounds, uppercase letter names, and lowercase letter names. The researcher concluded that student growth was observed in the control and treatment groups, …
Teaching Early Literacy Skills In Preschool And Future Kindergarten Success, Amanda Wehrhan
Teaching Early Literacy Skills In Preschool And Future Kindergarten Success, Amanda Wehrhan
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This literature review examines the importance and the effect of literacy on Kindergarten readiness and future school success for early childhood education, specifically on preschool students. Early Childhood Educators are feeling the pressure now more than ever to have their young students prepared to enter Kindergarten. In recent years there has been a shift away from a play-based classroom to more of a focus on academics. In this literature review, various research studies are examined to determine whether or not the real focus of the preschool curriculum should be play or literacy or both.
Increasing Family Engagement In A Preschool Program, Meghan Reiman
Increasing Family Engagement In A Preschool Program, Meghan Reiman
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This school improvement plan was developed to increase family engagement within a preschool program in a public school district. Research has shown that family engagement can positively impact children's development. Parents and teachers share responsibility in creating a strong, trusting partnership with the common goal of supporting the child's growth and development. Existing research on family engagement contributed to the improvement plan by highlighting the use of technology as a means of engaging families. The three main components of this improvement plan include creating two-way communication with families, involving families in the process of setting goals for their child, and …
The Impact Of Utilizing Learning Centers To Promote Stem Development In The Early Childhood Classroom, Crystal M. Riniker
The Impact Of Utilizing Learning Centers To Promote Stem Development In The Early Childhood Classroom, Crystal M. Riniker
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This literature review explores the research on incorporating STEM in the preschool classroom, in particular, learning centers. Research from the past decade shows developing the four areas of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM) in the early years is beneficial for students’ science abilities in the later grades. Studies from this review shine a light on teacher attitudes about science, the classroom environment, and approaches to learning and how they influence students’ learning of STEM in preschool.
Eating Smart And Moving More For Head Start: A Pilot Study, Virginia C. Stage, L Suzanne Goodell, Susan Chase, Stephanie Mcdonald, Archana V. Hegde, Jocelyn Bayles, Lorelei Jones
Eating Smart And Moving More For Head Start: A Pilot Study, Virginia C. Stage, L Suzanne Goodell, Susan Chase, Stephanie Mcdonald, Archana V. Hegde, Jocelyn Bayles, Lorelei Jones
The Journal of Extension
Our study examined the relationship between improved personal health behaviors of Head Start teachers’ and the promotion of positive health behaviors in their classroom. Thirty-three Head Start teachers across 7 centers received six 30-minute nutrition education lessons. Dietary intake, physical activity, and self-efficacy for promoting positive health behaviors in the classroom were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Significant improvements were observed for dietary intake and physical activity. Self-efficacy for promoting health behaviors in the classroom did not significantly improve. Additional education is needed to improve health promotion practices. Lessons learned contributed to program refinement. Implications for Extension are discussed.
The Tasting Party Assessment: Can Educators Reliably Evaluate Preschoolers’ Willingness To Try New Foods In Group Settings?, Laura L. Bellows, Savannah Hobbs, Susan L. Johnson
The Tasting Party Assessment: Can Educators Reliably Evaluate Preschoolers’ Willingness To Try New Foods In Group Settings?, Laura L. Bellows, Savannah Hobbs, Susan L. Johnson
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
Food neophobia, defined as an unwillingness to consume novel and unfamiliar foods is common in young children. Assessment of neophobia or willingness to try new foods can be a challenge with this audience. With the increase in nutrition interventions focused on the young child, valid and reliable measures to assess willingness to try new foods that can be administered in groups by classroom teachers and Extension educators are needed. The Food Friends: Fun with New Foods (FWNF) program aims to increase children’s willingness to try new foods in childcare settings. The Tasting Party assessment was developed as the primary tool …
Best Practices For Preschool Music Education: Supporting Music‑Making Throughout The Day, Jentry Stoneman Barrett, Rachel E. Schachter, Danni Gilbert, Mathew Fuerst
Best Practices For Preschool Music Education: Supporting Music‑Making Throughout The Day, Jentry Stoneman Barrett, Rachel E. Schachter, Danni Gilbert, Mathew Fuerst
Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications
Active engagement in music has numerous academic and social benefits for young children and music-making is included in many early childhood standards and preschool curricula. The purpose of this article is to provide quality resources for classroom teachers to use in providing music-making activities for young children, ages 3–5. Although teachers may use music in their classrooms, we provide resources and suggestions for more intentional and extended integration of music-making. Specifically, we identify best practices for preschool music education based on key standards and research as well as with common music pedagogies. We then turn to concrete examples of how …
Clarifying Coaching: A Mixed Methods Analysis Of A Math Content-Focused Model And Its Impact On Teachers' Practice, Content Knowledge, And Dispositions, Lauren A. Solarski
Clarifying Coaching: A Mixed Methods Analysis Of A Math Content-Focused Model And Its Impact On Teachers' Practice, Content Knowledge, And Dispositions, Lauren A. Solarski
Dissertations
Coaching is increasingly becoming required or recommended as a form of teacher professional development, but the education field has only begun to define the practice and understand its features, especially in regard to its potential to improve math teaching in early childhood contexts. Using mixed methods and a Whole Teacher Approach theoretical framework, this study examined a math content-focused coaching model and its impact on teachers' math content knowledge, teaching practice, and dispositions including attitudes, beliefs, and confidence. Participants included 141 lead and assistant teachers and 5 coaches working in 27 Head Start centers in Chicago. Teachers at centers randomly …
Environmental Education Program For Preschoolers, Kaela Gaylord
Environmental Education Program For Preschoolers, Kaela Gaylord
Honors Program Theses
The present study looked at the effects of a three-week environmental education program on preschoolers aged from three to five years old. Attitudes about the environment were measured using a questionnaire adapted from The Children’s Attitudes Towards the Environment - Preschool Version (Diamond & Musser, 1999), and knowledge was measured with an additional five questions about specific facts. Nine children from two different schools, Community School and Lab School, received the intervention of the environmental education program, and 15 children from both schools were in the control group. The main goal of this study was to see if participation in …
A Comparison Between Preschool Teachers’ Read-Aloud Techniques With Fictional And Informational Picture Books In Small Groups, Ariel Robinson
A Comparison Between Preschool Teachers’ Read-Aloud Techniques With Fictional And Informational Picture Books In Small Groups, Ariel Robinson
Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts
Relatively little is known about preschool teachers’ read-aloud techniques with informational picture books. The purpose of this investigation was to identify similarities and differences between preschool teachers’ read-aloud techniques with fictional stories, which are commonly read in preschool, and informational texts. Instrumental case study and purposive sampling were employed to investigate the reading techniques of two White female teachers in one preschool classroom as they read in small groups with children two-and-a-half to five years old. In terms of similarities across genres, teachers made personal connections, prompted children to interpret pictures, used multimodal instruction, and differentiated instruction. In terms of …