Early Childhood Education Commons^™

Developmentally-Appropriate Practice In The Classroom, Rayna Kailynn Prothro

Theses Digitization Project

Early childhood research literature has shown that develpmentally-appropriate practice (DAP) has a multitude of positive effects on young children's development including emotional, social, cognitive, and neurological benefits. When DAP is practiced by teachers, children are engaged in low stress learning activities, their social development is supported, and their classroom envirornment supports their cognitive and brain development. DAP provides an environment that supports all children academically.

Beatrice The Butterfly Visits The New York Public Library, Gail Goldspiel

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This original work of children's literature tells the story of Beatrice, a young butterfly who explores the 42nd Street New York Public Library with a class. Intended for children in grades K-3, this book serves as a first introduction to the library and can be read by parents, teachers, and librarians.

Places Of Purpose, Purposeful Places: An Exploration Of The Physical Environment Of Primary Level Classrooms, Shannon Britton Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The physical environment of the classroom impacts teachers and students. In many settings teachers are given some autonomy but little guidance in the establishment of the physical environment of the classroom. Relatively few studies examine issues related to the totality of the physical environment of the classroom. This study is intended to provide a bridge between multiple disciplines and classroom application by describing and interpreting the intentions and decision making process of three teachers in the establishment of the physical environment of their classrooms.

The five questions that guided this study focused on intentions of the teacher related to the …

An Exploratory Case Study Of Upper Elementary And Middle Level Science Instruction Impacting Traditionally Underserved Students, Lucinda Howe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This is an exploratory case study looking at the practices in one Colorado K-8 school that had students performing at or above the 75th percentile on the eighth grade Science Colorado Assessment of Student Progress (CSAP) in 2009. This study attempted to answer the question: What are the instructional choices, classroom environments, interventions, and school practices in place in one K-8 school that is supporting traditionally underserved populations of students in the learning of science? This school appears to be meeting the needs of their traditionally underserved students as evidenced by the percent of students in these populations at this …

Using A Theory-Based Model For Professional Development: Implementing National Common Core Curriculum, Elbert Davis

Educational Foundations and Technology

Nationally, states are searching for the most effective model for integrating the National Common Core Curriculum (NCCC) at the local level. This article describes the training methods and learning model used to address this challenge in two low performing school districts in West Virginia. Pre and post data are presented which validate the effectiveness of the model in improving teacher content knowledge and teaching. Lessons learned and recommendations for school/district administrators charged with implementing the NCCC are also provided.

Postcolonial Entanglements: Unruling Stories, Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw

Education Publications

In this article, I use Donna Haraway's philosophy to think about postcolonial encounters between different species. I follow entangled stories of the deer/settler-child figure to trouble colonialisms and untangle the histories and trajectories that we inhabit with other species through colonial histories. I shy away from generalizations and instead grapple with complexities that ordinary stories bring as I attempt to engage in nonhegemonic versions of childhood studies.

Giftedness In The Early Elementary Classroom: History, Theory, And Practice, Sonia Von Gutfeld

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Abstract Teacher training programs in general education often overlook questions of giftedness. This essay draws upon primary and secondary source material to trace the evolution of the term and illuminate the current plurality of definitions. It also explores acceleration and ability-grouping, two practices available to support the needs of children who might be identified as gifted in inclusive school environments. An analysis of research finds that these practices can offer benefits to both the intellectual and the social-emotional development of these young children. Ability-grouping raises valid concerns about equity of educational opportunity, and teachers must be careful to implement this …

Risk And Opportunity Revisited: Afterschool Education In The Age Of No Child Left Behind, Tal Bar-Zemer

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Looks at the history and trajectory of out of school programs in America in order to provide a context for understanding how this field can continue to develop in an era when it is being increasingly co-opted into the prep and test school reform strategy.

Child Language In The Early Years, Maire Mhic Mhathuna

Books/Book chapters

This chapter describes how children acquire their first language in the early years. Some children also acquire a second language in early years setting and the processes and adult supports that assist them are described. These include dynamic scaffolding and environmental supports. The main theories of first and second language acquisition are reviewed and the importance of supportive facilitation by nurturing adults is emphasised.

Examining Associations Between Classroom Environment And Processes And Early Mathematics Performance From Pre-Kindergarten To Kindergarten., Victoria J. Molfese, Todd Brown, Jill L. Adelson, Jennifer Beswick, Jill Jacobi-Vessels, Lana Thomas, Melissa Ferguson, Brittany Culver

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

One benefit of the No Child Left Behind legislation (2001) has been the increasing attention on the importance of the skills learned in the pre-kindergarten period for later academic achievement. There is a growing awareness that mathematics skills in kindergarten and beyond are influenced by the formal and informal mathematics skills acquired in the pre-kindergarten classroom. In recent years, a body of research has emerged pointing to the contributions to children’s learning from pre-kindergarten program quality as indexed by structure and process elements in the classroom. Results from this study point to three major findings. First, the growth of mathematics …

Culturally Responsive Professional Development For Latinas In Family Child Care: A Dissertation, Jody Figuerido

Educational Studies Dissertations

Latina Family Child Care (FCC) Educators provide early education and care (EEC) for children in their homes. High quality EEC programs, including the FCC setting, help children form a firm foundation for future learning, resulting in positive outcomes. In order to provide this level of programming, educators must participate in specialized training related to early childhood education. Unfortunately, the literature provides limited guidance regarding professional development that meets the needs of the diverse adult learner in the field of early childhood education. The focus of this qualitative study is to articulate the elements of culturally responsive professional development for the …

12 Museum Theorists At Play, Marian Howard, Lauren Appel, Nicole Ferrin, David Vining, Katherine Hillman, Marissa Corwin, Berry Stein, Nicole Keller, William Elliston, David Bowles, Tiffany Reedy, Kathryn Eliza Harris, Liat Olenick

All Faculty and Staff Papers and Presentations

Introduction by Lauren Appel
1. Learning by Do-weyan, by Marian Howard, with Nicole Ferrin
2: Dewey Defines Himself and Education, by David Vining
3. Benjamin Ives Gilman: Arts in People’s Lives, by Katherine Hillman
4. John Cotton Dana: The Social Construction of Museums, by Marissa Corwin
5. Piaget in the Art Museum: Constructing Knowledge Through Active Engagement, by Berry Stein
6. Lev Vygotsky: The Social Aspects of Learning, by Nicole Keller
7. Paulo Freire: Literacy, Democracy, and Context, by Nicole Keller
8. Maxine Greene: Aesthetic Education, by Lauren Appel
9. Howard Gardner and Multiple Intelligence Theory: A Practical Application of …

Individual And Family Correlates Of High And Low Achievement Among Children In A Head Start Program, Millah Musungu

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Preschool children living in poverty are at risk for not attaining the required pre-academic and social-emotional skills that predict successful transition to kindergarten. The present study investigated individual and family correlates that were hypothesized to predict and classify children in high, average, and low achievement groups in a Head Start Program. The study was based on analyses of archival data from 745 children who attended the Schenectady Community Action Program (SCAP) Head Start during the period encompassing the 2005-2010 academic years. The study used a combination of binary logistic regression analysis, independent-samples t-test, and qualitative survey results to address research …

Teacher Reflective Function And Its Connection To Observed Teacher-Child Interactions In Head Start Classrooms, Katharine Emerson-Hoss

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The primary purpose of this study was to identify reflective function in Head Start teachers. Reflective function (RF) is a measure of a cognitive-emotional capacity that has been measured through interviews with parents and is linked to the parent's ability to create physical and psychological safety for his/her child (Slade, 2005). This study is the first to apply this measure to teacher interviews. Secondly, this study investigated whether a teacher's RF was related to their interactions with children as measured by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS, Pianta, La Paro, & Hamre, 2008). This qualitative multiple case study investigated archival …

Exploring Growth Trajectories Of Problem Behavior In Young Children, Bethany Lynn Mccaffrey

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Given the negative outcomes associated with problem behavior and the heightened risk for children with disabilities to display problematic behavior, the current study implemented hierarchical linear modeling to explore the growth trajectories of problem behavior in a nationally representative sample of preschool children with disabilities. Results indicated child and contextual risk factors were associated with varying levels of problem behavior at 5.5-years-old. Further, cross-level interactions between age and disability classification and age and gender were found to be significant, indicating variations in the trajectories of problem behavior from 3- to 8-years-old can partially be explained by child disability and gender.

Is Early Childhood Care And Education A Good Investment For Egypt? Estimates Of Educational Impacts, Costs, And Benefits, Caroline Krafft

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This brief examines Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in Egypt. Findings suggest that expansion of ECCE is a good investment. Providing kindergarten to all Egyptian children, and particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, could be an important step toward greater equality, efficiency, and attainment in the education system.

Nebline, January 2012

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: UNL Food Processing Center Provides Valuable Assistance to Food Manufacturers

Farm Views

Urban Agriculture

Food & Fitness

Home & Family Living

Horticulture

Environmental Focus

4-H & Youth

Community Focus

Extension Calendar

Nutrition Education Program

Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs

and other extension news and events

2011 Annual Report Special Pullout Section

Using Positive Behavior Instructional Support (Pbis) In Early Childhood, Megan Merkel

Graduate Research Papers

Challenging behaviors in early childhood education are becoming recognized as a serious barrier to social-emotional development and an indication of severe maladjustment in school and adult life. Educational professionals have been seeking to define, elaborate, and improve on existing knowledge related to the prevention and resolution of young children's challenging behaviors. The current literature review was conducted to describe the relationship between children's challenging behavior and implementing Positive Behavior Instructional Support (PBIS) and Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) in early childhood classrooms and programs. In addition, this review presents conclusions, recommendations, suggested educational policies, and needed future research.

Peer Coaching In Early Childhood, Michelle Silvera

Graduate Research Papers

Researchers have reached a consensus that early childhood educators should have sufficient knowledge and skills in child development and early childhood education issues. This is because the quality and success of programs designed for early childhood education lie in the qualifications of the teacher in charge of such programs. These requirements are especially true for vulnerable and disadvantaged children. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the early childhood educators to provide the children and their families with rich and meaningful educational experiences because they are often held accountable for the outcome of the children. This literature review demonstrates that one way …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Skills Needed For Children's Entry Into Kindergarten, Jessica Blohm

Graduate Research Papers

Kindergarten readiness is an ever-increasing topic in the field of early education among educators. Research has indicated that children learn better if parents, preschool and kindergarten teachers' expectations are aligned. The purpose of this project is to understand local preschool and kindergarten teachers' perceptions of skills needed for children's entry into kindergarten. Teachers from two school districts and local preschools and daycares will be surveyed using the local Head Start Kindergarten Readiness Goals. Information gained will potentially lead to modifications in curriculum and learning goals for children, aid in professional development practices for teachers, and better prepare children in the …