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Full-Text Articles in Education

Understanding Preschool Teachers' Perceptions Of Challenging Behavior: "It's Exhausting", Elizabeth Stapleton May 2024

Understanding Preschool Teachers' Perceptions Of Challenging Behavior: "It's Exhausting", Elizabeth Stapleton

Educational Studies Dissertations

Child maltreatment is a widespread issue across the United States, directly impacting young children’s learning and behavior. Yet, variability found in early education pre-service training does not include focus on this topic. Early education teachers often experience low wages, long work hours, and a lack of support to meet the needs of young children. This mixed methods study sought to understand preschool teachers’ perceptions of challenging behavior in their classrooms and the impact challenging behavior has on relationships within the classroom community. Quantitative data was collected from 30 preschool teachers using the Student-Teacher Relationship Short Form and frequency ratings of …


The Importance Of Nutrition Education In Early Childhood, Alexi Larios May 2024

The Importance Of Nutrition Education In Early Childhood, Alexi Larios

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project aimed to highlight the importance of nutrition education in early childhood. I chose this topic because studies have shown a steady increase over the years in children’s diet-related illnesses (Baker & Bjerregaard, 2023). Many factors have contributed to this increase such as media and marketing. Companies use their marketing strategies to target the interests of children and persuade them to desire their unhealthy products (Taillie et al., 2019). This strategy leads to children purchasing and consuming processed foods, high in sugar and empty calories. Another important component in childhood nutrition is socioeconomic status. People from lower socioeconomic …


Developing Communication Skills In Preschool Children, Michelle Ayala May 2024

Developing Communication Skills In Preschool Children, Michelle Ayala

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The language and communication development of a preschooler was the main topic of this capstone project. To help and get children ready for kindergarten, these abilities are necessary. It has been shown that preschoolers who have difficulty developing their communication skills will probably face difficulties as they move through their education.


Improving Parental Engagement For Kindergarten Readiness: An Improvement Science Study, Sarah Johnson May 2024

Improving Parental Engagement For Kindergarten Readiness: An Improvement Science Study, Sarah Johnson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Every child deserves the opportunity to come to school ready to learn with the skills needed to take on the content in kindergarten. Students, who are not ready for kindergarten, have a higher chance of needing additional support services with academics and behavior (Fitzpatrick et al., 2020). In Kentucky, less than 50% of the kindergarten students were considered kindergarten ready based on the 2022 Kindergarten Readiness data (Kentucky Department of Education, 2023). In the district where this study took place, 43% of students were determined to be kindergarten ready (Kentucky Department of Education, 2023). Knowing the implications and long term …


Using An Interoception-Based Curriculum For Social-Emotional Learning In Preschool To Increase Emotional Regulation, Montana Applegate Apr 2024

Using An Interoception-Based Curriculum For Social-Emotional Learning In Preschool To Increase Emotional Regulation, Montana Applegate

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This paper presents a school improvement plan aimed at implementing and integrated interoception-based curriculum for social-emotional learning (SEL) in preschool classrooms, with the goal of fostering emotional regulation skills among young children. Drawing on recent research emphasizing the significance of SEL from early childhood through adolescence, this plan addresses the need for explicit teaching of emotional awareness and regulation in preschool settings. The proposed curriculum integrates interoception-based activities to enhance children’s ability to recognize and respond to internal bodily sensations and emotions. Through a review of relevant literature and personal classroom experience, this paper explores the foundations and practical implications …


Acquisition And Retention Of Vocabulary Using Simplified Picture Word Inductive Model, Kodie Davis Apr 2024

Acquisition And Retention Of Vocabulary Using Simplified Picture Word Inductive Model, Kodie Davis

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research was guided by the researcher’s interest in finding ways to use picture word inductive model (PWIM) to encourage more vocabulary retention in preschool. The research was conducted using two versions of a similar PWIM poster. Group A used a simplified PWIM poster with limited items on the poster while Group B was exposed to a typical PWIM poster with more items to identify. Both groups used the words they identified in their posters for the 4-week study. Participants were monitored weekly using assessments such as visual identification and word identification to check for retention. Research was done …


Alphabet Instruction In A Preschool Setting: Individualized Or Large Group?, Kristen Guarino Apr 2024

Alphabet Instruction In A Preschool Setting: Individualized Or Large Group?, Kristen Guarino

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine if individualized instruction is more effective than large group instruction during alphabet instruction. The researcher is a preschool teacher in their 11th year of teaching, who used their 21 students as participants. The study consisted of two separate groups of students. One group received individualized instruction (treatment) whereas the other group received large group instruction (control). Pre-test data was conducted before the two-week instruction period for both groups. For the treatment group, data was used to individualize and guide instruction. Post-test data was then collected to show the amount of …


Using Small Groups To Support Mathematics Learning In Preschool, Katelyn Bradfield Apr 2024

Using Small Groups To Support Mathematics Learning In Preschool, Katelyn Bradfield

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to gather data on the use of small group learning as a setting for increasing number sense skills for preschool students. The researcher met with a classroom of preschool students over the course of 6 weeks, one week for pre-assessment, four weeks for playing math games in the small group setting, and one week for post-assessment, to implement the intervention. The quantitative research gathered was analyzed to determine whether the addition of small group math time was impactful in increasing student number sense in the areas of 1:1 counting and numeral identification. …


Implementation Of A Mental Health Consultation Program At An Early Childhood Education, Diana Buffington Apr 2024

Implementation Of A Mental Health Consultation Program At An Early Childhood Education, Diana Buffington

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Research shows that young children experiencing social emotional difficulties in early childhood can have a lasting impact on later functioning in school and through their adult lives. Additionally, research has suggested that mental health intervention in young children can significantly help children navigate these challenges. With these research findings in mind, this school improvement plan was created to deliver early childhood mental health consultation to an early childhood program serving at-risk children in the Bay Area of California. This plan is comprised of a prevention-oriented approach that strengthens the capacity of school staff to prevent, identify, treat, and reduce the …


How Important Is Parental Involvement And Engagement In Preschool, Emilee M. Dixon Jan 2024

How Important Is Parental Involvement And Engagement In Preschool, Emilee M. Dixon

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this study was to evaluate preschool classrooms’ parental engagement throughout the school year. Specifically, the study aims to assess if parents felt they received information to support their child's development, if the school offered engagement opportunities, and if the parents believed that engagement impacted their child. Research studies have shown or indicated that parental engagement is a key component to a child’s success. This study highlights the importance of parental involvement and engagement for children in preschool. The study involves reviewing a survey to gain a better understanding of when, how, and why parental involvement and engagement …