Pre-Elementary, Early Childhood, Kindergarten Teacher Education Commons^™

Profiles Of Well-Being Among Early Childhood Educators, Amy M. Roberts, Alexandra Daro, Kathleen C. Gallagher

Buffet Early Childhood Institute Reports and Publications

Research Findings: This study used a person-centered data analytic approach to identify distinct subgroups of early childhood educators (n= 133) based on their responses to multiple indicators of well-being (psychological, financial, and health indicators). Various fit indices established a two-class solution. Specifically, one group was characterized by more positive well-being and the other by less positive well-being. Subgroup differences were the greatest for indicators of psychological well-being, including self-care and self-compassion. In addition, educators with less than a bachelor’s degree, working as assistant teachers, receiving less pay, with more adverse childhood experiences, were overrepresented in the less positive …

Exploring The Perspectives Of Infant/Toddler-Pk4 Teachers On Attaining An Associate Degree In Early Childhood Education, Isabel Lainez Furutan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractResearchers have found young children’s academic skills and life outcomes are correlated to teachers’ postsecondary education. Despite this, 60% of infant/toddler-PK4 teachers who work in center-based settings in the District of Columbia do not have postsecondary education beyond the high school level. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of infant/toddler-PK4 teachers from the District of Columbia working in center-based settings on the challenges of attaining an associate degree in early childhood education and the support needed throughout the process. Guided by Lewin’s three-step model of change theory, the perspectives of 12 participants with a …

Head Start Teachers’ Perspectives On The Implementation Of Head Start Program Performance Standard 1302.17, Leslie Shumate Floyd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Federal Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) were revised in 2016 to strengthen and improve the quality of all Head Start (HS) programs. The problem addressed in this basic qualitative study is that teachers in a local urban HS program in the southwestern region of Virginia have decreased levels of job satisfaction and cannot support the social-emotional development of their students due to difficulty implementing the standard HSPPS 1302.17. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate the perspectives of HS teachers regarding their job satisfaction while supporting the implementation of HSPPS 1302.17. Lacey’s theory of social strategies …

Parents’ And Teachers’ Perspectives On Quality Communication In A Head Start Program, Danielle Racquel Bryant-Mathurin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractResearchers have suggested that active communication between teachers and parents is positively associated with student success in school, specifically in terms of student attendance, performance, and behavior. The problem that inspired this basic qualitative study was the quality of parent-teacher communication in Head Start programs that serve low socioeconomic status (SES) students. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to examine the quality of parent-teacher communication in a Head Start program that serves low SES students in the northeastern United States and explore how quality of parent-teacher communication might be improved. Ecological systems theory and the communication component of …

Staff Perspectives On Parent Withdrawal From Maternal, Infant, And Early Childhood Home Visiting Programs, Dr. Laquetta Delores Peoples

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was investigated through this study was the high withdrawal rates of families that enroll in MIECHV programs. Examining this issue provided data that will be shared with MIECHV programs to identify potential strategies to reduce high withdrawals. This basic qualitative study with semistructured interviews examined MIECHV staffs’ perspectives on the reasons for high withdrawals. The purpose of this study was to examine MIECHV program staff members’ perspectives on the reasons for the high withdrawal. The study was guided by Mowder’s parent development theory (PDT) and examined parenting as a continual process whereby parents constantly adjusted their parenting …

Preservice Elementary Teachers Conceptions And Self-Efficacy For Integrated Stem, Deepika Menon, Deef A. A. Shorman, Derek Cox, Amanda Thomas

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

Educational reform efforts have emphasized preparing highly competent and confident preservice teachers to deliver effective K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) instruction. Self-efficacy is a key variable that influences motivation and performance, and therefore it is necessary to support the development of preservice teachers’ integrated STEM teaching self-efficacy. This mixed-methods study investigates how preservice elementary teachers’ integrated STEM teaching self-efficacy is shaped during their participation in a newly redesigned STEM semester consisting of three concurrent methods courses (science and engineering, mathematics, and technology methods courses). The quantitative data sources included the Self-efficacy for Teaching Integrated STEM instrument administered as …

Project Intersect Integrated Stem Badge Facilitator’S Guide, Terrie Galanti, Raven Robinson-Wilson

STEM Integration

This guide supports STEM teacher educators who would like to offer the 8-week Project InTERSECT Integrated STEM badge course (15 hours) to a small group of elementary pre-service or practicing teachers.

The facilitator’s guide describes the structure of the Canvas course, editable text for weekly announcements, and suggested feedback statements to support weekly activity completion and reflection.

Strengthening The Academic Progress Of Students Within Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support, Leslie Dial

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Leadership in education is thinking, communicating, and modeling to maximize student growth and achievement. This quantitative research study explored how leadership can strengthen the academic progress of students within Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). When implementation of MTSS is guided by adaptive school leadership, educators will be prepared, communication will occur, interventions will be established, and data will be evaluated. Adaptive leaders who build efficacy will ensure fidelity and continuous improvement of student achievement.

Survey research was conducted to analyze the operational level of MTSS regarding the domains of Leadership, Building Capacity for Instruction, Communication and Collaboration, Data-Based Problem-Solving, Tiered …

Helpful Entry Level Skills Checklist, Beth S. Rous

Educational Leadership Studies Faculty Publications

The Helpful Entry Level Skills Checklist is a practice-oriented tool designed to support early childhood transition planning by helping families, teachers, and program staff identify skills that may assist children as they enter or move across early childhood classroom settings. The checklist organizes entry-level skills across five domains: classroom rules, work skills, communication skills, social/behavioral skills, and self-management skills. The tool allows users to document whether a child demonstrates selected skills, identify target skills for instruction or support, and add comments across multiple dates. This fourth edition updates and preserves a resource originally developed through Project STEPS and subsequent outreach …

K–2 Educators’ Perspectives Regarding The Resources Needed To Identify Students At-Risk For Dyslexia In A Southeastern State Local School, Cherryann Bianca James

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Dyslexia, a complex disorder affecting children's learning, is often misdiagnosed. When children with dyslexia are identified, teachers often lack the skills and resources to support them. This study was conducted because of a Southeastern state's dyslexia mandate, which requires early education teachers to have the knowledge to identify students at risk for dyslexia. This was a qualitative study, in which data were collected through in-depth interviews with educators working in grades K–2 in the local school district. Purposive sampling was used to select participants who are K–2 educators, have experience working with K–2 students, and were willing to offer their …

Primary Teacher Experiences With Kinesthetic And Tactile Learning In Virtual Settings, Audrey Lorraine Bryant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The primary grade levels traditionally consist of highly kinesthetic and tactile activities supporting learning and student engagement. During the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers urgently transitioned these learning activities to virtual settings. However, research shows a need for more literature on primary teacher experiences and their move toward innovative learning activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to explore primary teacher experiences with kinesthetics and tactile activities in virtual settings. The combined conceptual framework of the study were Dewey’s theories on active learning and Siemens’ theory on the changing curriculum and learning in virtual settings. Eight primary teachers …

Journey “Box” Assignment Description, David Wolff

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

The Journey “Box” allows preservice teachers to explore and share their own historical narrative as they different aspects of their own family’s journey to America. The Journey “Box” first asks preservice teachers to explore themes by reading children’s literature and then positions preservice teachers as interviewers as they seek out different facets of their family’s historical narrative from members of their family. Preservice teachers then use their experience with a Journey “Box” to design an inquiry that could be used in their field experience. The Journey “Box” integrates social studies standards and best practices with ELA standards.

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives On Their Responses To Children’S Challenging Behaviors, Dr. Sharon Denise Scallion

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe problem that was the focus of this study was the high rate of suspensions and expulsions of preschool children enrolled in independently funded childcare centers in Texas, and the lack of understanding of preschool teachers’ response to children’s challenging behavior. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore preschool teachers’ perspective on how they handle children’s challenging behaviors, and what inclines teachers toward suspending or expelling children from independently funded childcare centers. Liu’s theory of children’s externalizing behavior provided the conceptual framework for the study. Ten preschool teachers from urban, independently funded childcare centers in Texas were …

Professional Development Needs Of Early Childhood Educators Teaching Children With Challenging Behaviors, Latashia L. Kelly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEarly childhood educators have struggled to teach children with challenging behaviors, which can lead to suspension and expulsion. Although early childhood educators have limited professional development training in challenging behaviors, they are often not equipped to teach children with challenging behaviors. There is little research on how early childhood educators perceive their current training regarding teaching children with challenging behaviors. Exploring early childhood educators’ perceptions can determine what they need to teach children with challenging behaviors for a thriving classroom environment. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to better understand educators’ perceptions regarding the type of professional development …

Teachers' Perspectives Of Implementing Language Modeling In Pre-Kindergarten Classrooms, Gena R. Puckett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teachers’ language modeling skills are important for children’s language development and school readiness. However, 34% of pre-kindergarten (pre-K) classrooms score in the low range on the language modeling dimension of the CLassroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) observation tool within the instructional support domain in a southern state. For this basic qualitative study, the purpose and research questions explored pre-K teachers’ perspectives on the challenges of implementing language modeling and the type of support they need to improve language modeling skills in a southern state. The conceptual framework that guided the study was Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, specifically the concepts of the …

Student With Twice-Exceptionalities Iep Meeting Assignment Description, David Wolff

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

General education teachers should remember that all students are general education students, first. We need to be prepared to work with students of all abilities in our classrooms. As general education teachers, we have an active role on a child’s IEP team and an active role during the IEP meeting. This assignment asked preservice teachers to develop a script of what they would say at an IEP meeting of one character from four different novels that would be considered a child with twice-exceptionalities.

Creating A Gifted-Friendly Classroom, David Wolff

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

The goal of undergraduate teacher preparation programs is to equip future teachers to work with all learners. Gifted and talented learners are likely found in every classroom regardless of where they reside. According to Rinn et al. (2022), Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Nebraska do not require undergraduate teacher candidates to take university coursework on gifted education. The goal of this presentation is to provide a general overview of gifted education specific to Kansas. This presentation aims to address myths and misconceptions about gifted education and gifted learners, characteristics of gifted learners, a basic overview of a general identification process, …

Fall 2022 Project Intersect Learning Showcase Program, Jamey Burns

Project InTERSECT Materials

This program highlights the inquiry presentations of our Inservice and Preservice teachers. The teachers came together to celebrate their STEM+C learning and share lessons learned from implementation. This showcase was a partnership between University of North Florida and Duval County Public Schools.

Summary Of Effects: Impact Of Intersect On Student Math Achievement And Teacher Perceptions, Natalie Wright

STEM Research

This summary of project evaluation findings was presented to the InTERSECT team and DCPS leaders in February 2023 as a supplement to the Year 2 Summative Evaluation Report. The evaluation examined effects of Project InTERSECT on Cohorts 1 and 2, including student mathematics achievement and teacher perceptions. The project has had significant impacts on students’ mathematics achievement. Compared to a business-as-usual group (which was matched to the treatment group based on pretest scores, demographics, and grade level), students in Project InTERSECT classrooms performed significantly higher on iReady Math assessments. Treatment effects were particularly large for kindergarten (Hedges’ g = .34) …

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives On Professional Development Activities, Gordia A. Ross

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEarly childhood teachers are an essential part of the education system in the United States, and professional development is a key means of ensuring that they have the required skills and education to meet the developmental needs of their young students. Although researchers have examined the professional development of kindergarten to Grade 12 teachers, they have not adequately explored early childhood practitioners' perspectives of professional development activities that support implementation of best practices. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood educators' perspectives of professional development activities, using Knowles’s adult learning theory(andragogy) as the theoretical framework. …