Artizein Editorial Team: Movements And Transitions, Barbara Bickel

Artizein: Arts and Teaching Journal

Editorial overview of movements and transitions taking place with the Artizein editorial team.

About The Cover Art: Pulsing Renewal, Darlene St. Georges

Artizein: Arts and Teaching Journal

“Pulsing Renewal,” featured on the cover of this issue, is part of River’s Invocations, a creation-centred inquiry exploring River's ecologies, relationality, and creation. The painting was chosen for its close affinity with the issue theme, The Pulse of Arts-Centred Research. The visual language of Pulsing Renewal—its movement, rhythm, and emergence—echoes the vitality, responsiveness, and ongoing renewal evident across the articles, artworks, and conversations assembled in this volume. The work is presented here as a thematic point of entry into the diverse inquiries that follow.

Full Issue_Artizein Arts And Teaching Journal, Darlene St. Georges, Barbara Bickel

Artizein: Arts and Teaching Journal

Full Issue

Engaging Immigrant Families Of Children With Disabilities: Recommendations For Practitioners, Robai N. Werunga, John William Mckenna, Rocio Rosales

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Family involvement is essential for positive school outcomes. Yet research suggests that family engagement for students with disabilities may be marked by conflict. Furthermore, creating an environment that promotes active engagement for immigrant families may be challenging. In this paper, we synthesize existing research, legal guidance, and community-engaged insights to present four practice-oriented recommendations for educators and practitioners working with immigrant families of children with disabilities. Grounded in Hans and Love’s stages of immigrant family engagement, these recommendations aim to support meaningful and culturally responsive participation in special education processes.

The Effectiveness Of The Minecraft Application In Developing Creative Skills In Preschool Children, Leena A. Alfarani Prof., Shahad A. Alharbi

International Journal for Research in Education

This research aims to identify the impact of Minecraft on developing the creative skills of pre-school children. We know games assist students to acquire skills and insight in different ways, that is why the researcher suggested using Minecraft in the activity period of the house’s unit. The current study relied on the quasi-experimental approach, to see how Minecraft has influenced the creative skills of children, by using the note card tool and evaluating the finished products of the houses by using the product evaluation card; this research sample included 23 pre-school children from a kindergarten in Jeddah city.

This study …

Emotion-Focused Teaching And Preschool Children's Social, Emotional, And Self-Regulatory Development, Brielle Emily Petit

Dissertations and Theses

Contributing to the literature on supportive mechanisms for children's development of social, emotional, and self-regulatory competencies, the current study examines the contributions of emotion-focused teaching in preschool classrooms. Emotion-focused teaching is a framework used within preschool classrooms that encompasses three domains of teaching that support children's development of emotion skills—how teachers display their own emotions or emotion-related behaviors and actions (modeling), the ways they respond to children's emotional expressions (responding), and how instruction is used to inform children about emotions and related processes (instructing). More frequent emotion-focused teaching has been shown to be a …

Cross-Cultural Differences Among Children And Youth With Special Health Care Needs: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Of Chinese, Spanish, And English-Speaking Families, Kathleen Mcgrath, Miriam Franco, Amy Morales-Lara, Karen Bonuck Phd, Joanne Siegel

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

One in five U.S. children has a special health care need, with prevalence rates rising each year. Children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) from immigrant and/or non-English speaking families face heightened barriers to care, unmet health needs, and worsened health outcomes. This mixed-methods study explores cross-cultural similarities and differences among English-, Spanish-, and Chinese-speaking families of CYSHCN across four key domains – (1) the diagnostic process, (2) access to essential services, (3) community integration, and (4) social supports. As part of a statewide, New York State Department of Health funded initiative implemented across three University Centers for …

The Record, Issue 3, Bank Street College Of Education. Archives

The Record

The third quarterly newsletter from the Bank Street Archives

Lesson Plan: Sr. Levadura (Mr. Yeast), Kali Elise Rye

World Languages and Cultures

This project addresses critical microbiology misconceptions concerning microbes and fermentation. Alongside Nuestra Ciencia’s lesson development team, this activity was researched and tested to demonstrate ideal fermentation conditions for yeast. In addition to the hands-on experiment, this project also required an interactive worksheet to be completed alongside the activity. With feedback from undergraduate students, researchers, and professors, the content was shaped to create an engaging, easily comprehensible activity that introduces microbiological concepts to students. As it has progressed, the Sr. Levadura (Mr. Yeast) activity has been implemented in two quarters of SCM 302 (Learn by Doing Lab) where over 400 elementary …

Leading With Emotional Intelligence: Strengthening Leadership Effectiveness In Early Childhood Education, Christy L. Martin

Dissertations

This study examined the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in leadership effectiveness within early childhood education settings. Leadership in these contexts involves navigating complex relationships, staff stress, and organizational demands, yet leadership preparation often emphasizes technical skills over emotional competencies. The study explored how EI influences leadership effectiveness and how reflective practices support leadership development. Guided by the question How does emotional intelligence impact leadership effectiveness?, the study used a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected through an EI Inventory of Practices self-assessment measuring four EI domains, and qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews. Findings suggest emotionally intelligent …

Unfreezing Language: A Decolonial Reframing Of Translanguaging Pedagogies In English As A New Language & Dual Language Bilingual Education Settings, Cristian R. Solorza

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This qualitative multi-case study examines how elementary teachers in English as a New Language (ENL) and Dual Language Bilingual Education (DLBE) settings conceptualize, implement, and reflect upon translanguaging pedagogies, with particular attention to translanguaging rings as tools for language differentiation. Grounded in a rearticulation of language as a dynamic, socially, politically, and historically constructed subject and object, this study challenges monoglossic ideologies that position named languages as bounded systems at the center of language education. Instead, it centers students’ lived, embodied, and agentive language practices as foundational to language learning and to their participation as knowledge producers in ENL and …

The Impact Of Reliable Backup Childcare Services On Work-Life Balance And Stress Levels Among Working Parents, Christiana Arhin

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between access to reliable backup childcare services, work-life balance, and stress levels among working parents. Building on Arhin’s (2025) research, this study seeks to address limitations in sample diversity and incorporate qualitative methods to gain deeper insight into these variables. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study will examine how access to backup childcare services influences work-life balance and stress levels, with a focus on capturing both quantitative trends and qualitative perspectives of working parents. By exploring these relationships, the study aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the role …

Voices Of The Young: Exploring Child Agency In Heritage Language Socialization In Chinese American Families, Yiyang Guan

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation investigates how young children in Chinese‑heritage families participate in heritage language development and maintenance (HLDM) in everyday family life. It asks four questions: what agentic behaviors young children display in heritage language socialization (HLS) and family language policy (FLP) co-construction; how they conceptualize language ideologies; what attitudes they hold toward HLDM; and whether differences in agency, ideologies, and attitudes relate to socioeconomic background.

Using a qualitative multiple‑case design, the dissertation focuses on seven families in the San Francisco Bay Area. Data includes parent and child interviews, child language portraits, child audio diaries, parent‑recorded natural conversations, and family background …

"It's Such A Natural Fit": Integrating Reggio Emilia And Head Start For Emergent Multilinguals, Christina Bohr

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Early childhood education classrooms reflect the increasing cultural and linguistic diversity of the United States where many children are raised speaking more than one language. Teachers in the early education field play a critical role in supporting children’s development of language and identity. Head Start, who serves a large population of emergent multilinguals (mls), plays an essential role in offering learning environments that foster language development in both English and their home language, among many other critical skills. The Reggio Emilia philosophy is a child-centered and community-oriented approach that promotes children’s independence, exploration, and intellectual development, and is frequently integrated …

Talk To Me: Exploring The Sociocultural Ecology Of Home Language And Literacy Practices Of Families In India, Surbhi Puri

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Existing research highlights the role of home language and literacy environments (HLLE) in shaping early language and literacy development, yet few studies have examined the practices of multilingual families in India. While home environments offer rich learning opportunities, broader sociocultural and policy contexts influence how families support literacy and language development. Families’ insights into home language use, literacy routines, and cultural practices remain underexplored in early childhood education research.

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the HLLE of preschool-aged children in India and examine how families support early language and literacy development within multilingual home …

Soft Space/Strong Support, Keqian Li

Masters Theses

Children with early developmental challenges such as anxiety disorders, ADHD, autism, and sensory regulation difficulties often navigate environments that are not designed to support their emotional, cognitive, and sensory needs. In many educational and community spaces, inclusion is treated as an add-on or a specialized accommodation rather than as a fundamental design principle.

This thesis argues that inclusion should be the standard, not the exception, and that interior architecture can function as an early intervention tool that actively supports children’s development. This project examines how spatial design can influence emotional regulation and social interaction for children with early developmental challenges. …

Why Theory Matters In Infant And Toddler Practice: Unpacking Pikler, Gerber, Gesell, Piaget, & Vygotsky, Derrick Toups

Spark! Innovations in Early Childhood Education: A Research-to-Practice Journal for Educators

This article is intended to help infant and toddler educators deepen the why behind the what and how of their daily interactions by unpacking and connecting the seminal early childhood theories of Pikler, Gerber, Gesell, Piaget, and Vygotsky, what they look like in the classroom, and why they benefit children.

Building Early Reading Foundations In Prekindergarten: Preparing Students For Kindergarten, Denise Rueter, Laura K. Simmons, Cynthia Dicarlo

Spark! Innovations in Early Childhood Education: A Research-to-Practice Journal for Educators

Preparing children for the transition to kindergarten literacy instruction requires intentional support of foundational early reading skills in prekindergarten classrooms. At the same time, early childhood educators must balance explicit instruction with developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) that emphasize play, exploration, and child-centered learning. This article describes instructional practices that support the development of emergent reading skills, particularly letter recognition and phoneme identification, within prekindergarten settings. Drawing on research in early literacy development, the article outlines a small-group instructional routine that includes shared storybook reading with print referencing, phonemic awareness activities, and multi-sensory, play-based practice opportunities. Examples of center-based activities that …

Building The Foundation For Stem In Toddler Classrooms: Practical Strategies For Novice Teachers, Melissa L. Johnson

Spark! Innovations in Early Childhood Education: A Research-to-Practice Journal for Educators

Young children are natural explorers, and even in the toddler years, they demonstrate the inquiry behaviors foundational to later science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning. However, early STEM experiences are often underutilized in toddler classrooms, primarily due to misconceptions about children's capabilities and a lack of developmentally appropriate resources. This article, written for novice educators, offers practical strategies and examples to help integrate STEM into toddler classrooms. Drawing on current research, national standards, and classroom-based implementation strategies, this piece outlines how to create engaging environments that support toddlers' curiosity and emerging STEM thinking across science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Yoga And Young Children, Jayapriya Ranganathan, Cynthia F Dicarlo

Spark! Innovations in Early Childhood Education: A Research-to-Practice Journal for Educators

Abstract:

This article examines the role of yoga as an effective pedagogical tool to support social-emotional learning (SEL) and physical development in early childhood education settings. Grounded in current understandings of mindfulness and executive functioning, the integration of yoga practices—such as breathing exercises, meditation, and developmentally appropriate postures—can promote self-regulation, attention, and emotional resilience in young children. Drawing on classroom-based observations from a toddler program, the article outlines practical strategies for incorporating yoga into daily routines, emphasizing accessibility, consistency, and engagement through imaginative play and storytelling. The findings suggest that regular yoga practice fosters a calm, focused learning environment and …