Education Commons^™

Play As A Social Justice Issue In Early Childhood Education, Britt Kroll

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Play is a vital part of the early childhood experience to develop in cognitive and social-emotional realms. Schools are taking away an important tool for children to process new information and build skills needed for lifelong problem-solving by allowing less time for play in early childhood classrooms. This research combines data gathered to show the unique benefits of play in both cognitive and social-emotional areas, as well as qualitative data collected in a play-based and a non-play-based classroom.

The research defends the importance of play-based learning in early childhood and equips teachers with rationale to use play as a tool …

Integrating English And Social Studies Through The Lens Of Tokugawa Japan: An 8 Week Curriculum For Sixth Grade, Mollie Sandberg

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The following curriculum is intended for sixth grade students in a general education, integrated English and social studies classroom. This curriculum is based on the foundational ideas of child-development, concept-based, constructivist learning, and the integration of the language arts and social studies curricula as a way to deepen students’ engagement with the curricular material. Through these central pillars the curriculum immerses students in a historical era while allowing them to develop their own understanding of the past and create connections to the world in which they live. The aim of this curriculum is for students to explore the world of …

Bringing Families In: An Examination Of Family Programs At The Museum Of Chinese In America And Other Cultural And Historical Museums In New York City, Dianne Choie

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This independent study includes family program survey research and planning processes completed during my Master of Science in Museum Education fieldwork at the Museum of Chinese in America in New York City in the spring of 2017. This information is compared to data gathered from surveys with ten other cultural and historical museums and with the Cool Culture community program. This study also includes a literature review of studies and theories concerning child development and family learning in museums. With information from all these resources assembled, analyses of strengths, challenges, and potential areas for growth are outlined for family programs …

A Study Of Story Stones In Informal Learning Environments, Nina Berch

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper aims to provide context for the use of an open-ended tool called Story Stones for engaging young students in creative discussion. Story Stones are a collection of palm-sized rocks with transposed images attached. Student ages within this discussion range between two and seven years old, accompanied by adult caregivers in the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling in Harlem, New York and Not Just Art childhood enrichment center in Oyster Bay, New York. The method of observation and analysis consisted of presenting Story Stones in an open-ended, hands-on invitation to visitors of the museum and enrichment …

A Retro Development In Education: Evaluating The Feasibility Of Integrating Place-Based Education Into Mississippi Curriculum Standards, Colby K. Mcclain

Honors Theses

This thesis evaluates the feasibility of integrating place-based environmental education activities from Think Green, Take Action: Books and Activities for Kids into the Mississippi Department of Education’s (MDE) Frameworks for Science and Social Studies for K-5. As children develop and experience the world, their ability to understand and interpret the surrounding environments expand; however, Mississippi schools are not focused on experiential environmental education, even though experiencing and understanding the surrounding environment is vital in fostering eagerness to learn. Due to a growing disconnect between humans and the natural world, this thesis examined 37 place- and environment-based activities for children, sixteen …

Female Superiority In Social Cognition: Can Pretend Play Help The Boys Catch Up?, Maria Weiss

Scripps Senior Theses

The effect of pretend play on 150 (~ 75 girls; 75 boys; M=3 yro) preschool children’s social cognition will be assessed through a semester long intervention study. Research has reported a trend of female superiority in empathy and ToM and a likelihood of young girls to engage in pretend play more frequently and to a higher degree than young boys. Previous research has also found a relationship between play and social cognition, as through the act of imagination, one is able to thoroughly take on the perspectives of someone other than the self. This study attempts to show a …

Bayou: An Original Book For Children, Taylor Hodges

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Bayou is an original picture book for children between the ages of four and six years old. Bayou is a sweet, fun-loving young cheetah. There is just one thing very different about him: he likes to take his time. He moves very slowly and enjoys playing checkers and doing puzzles. He moves so slowly that his best friend is actually a turtle. Bayou’s two older brothers do not understand how a cheetah, an animal born to be fast, can live life always moving so slowly. One day, his brothers are running around extremely fast and carelessly as usual, and they …

The Museum Of Small Things: Original Poems And Rationale, Domonique Williams

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This independent study consists of an original children's collection of poems and an accompanying rationale. In addition to the poems, this study includes an examination of child development theories, the benefits of inquiry based teaching and learning, and makes a case for the value of family, museum, and school relationships.

My Backpack : A Children's Book About Separation, Susan B. Bloch

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This thesis opens with a copy of "My Backpack," a fictional book based on actual events to be read to children between the ages of three and four years prior to their entry to preschool and as a support during the separation process during the first weeks and months of school. The author then continues with an explanation of the genesis of the book, a developmental section incorporating theorists' views on separation for children ages 3 and 4, children's reactions and responses to the book, and a review of other valuable books on separation.

Advocating For The Development Of The Whole Child: How Public Urban Preschool Teachers Overcome The Pressure Of More Academics In Their Classrooms, Grizel Lopez

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

Preschool teachers must overcome the pressure to become more academic in lieu of a whole child development curriculum approach in order to preserve developmentally appropriate practices and shape well-adjusted future citizens of society. In order to achieve this, it is important to give a voice to preschool teachers to better understand their struggle and to find effective resolutions. This is only possible through a qualitative case study that employs observations, interviews, and a focus group with an inductive analysis approach to the data. The development of the whole child will only be attainable through national policies that are supported by …

The Role Of Emotional Support Consistency And Child Risk Factors In Predicting Pre-K Cognitive And Social-Emotional Development, Amy Lynn Cannell-Cordier

Dissertations and Theses

The quality of children's daily experiences in preschool classrooms is predictive of their school readiness and later achievement (Duncan et al., 2007; La Paro & Pianta, 2000). One particularly important aspect of these experiences is the quality of emotional support provided by teachers and peers in the classroom (Hamre & Pianta, 2005; Howes et al., 2008; Mashburn, 2008; National Center on Quality Teaching and Learning, 2012). Traditionally, emotional support quality has been calculated as the average of ratings taken across the school year and is meant to represent children's average daily experience, without regard to any variability which exists within …

Romps, Riots, And Revels In The Land Of Make-Believe : Imaginative Play As A Prerequisite For Social And Emotional Development In Early Childhood Through Adolescence, Shoshana Balk

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper explores the impact of imaginative play on child development, as well as its educational benefits when incorporated into the learning environment.

Lev Vygotsky Speaks: Early Childhood Curricula, Dakota L. Gagliardi

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Early childhood curricula have become a major source of conversation in recent decades. The desire for growth and reform in the education field has contributed to changing tides in the classroom, leading to more child-centered approaches that are believed critical in the acquisition of holistic development. Two such curricula that have received recent attention are Reggio Emilia and Tools of the Mind, both of which stem from the foundational beliefs of Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky. It is the aim of this paper to analyze both Reggio Emilia and Tools of the Mind in terms of how they compare to Vygotsky’s …

Designing Social Stories For The Brooklyn Children's Museum, Brigid Tuschen

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The author found that there was a significant amount of recent research done on how best to use social stories in the classroom and none in a museum setting, which led her to research and write two social stories for the Brooklyn Children's Museum.

Case Study Of Parental Involvement For Enhanced Kindergarten Students' Development In Low Socioeconomic Households, Robyn Tresnak

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Evidence suggests that parents in low socioeconomic households may have unaddressed educational needs about their children's development. The purpose of this case study was to discover innovative ways parents in a low socioeconomic community engaged in activities with their young children to influence academic and social development. Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory of human development and Epstein's parental involvement model, the family process model, and the family strength model were used to build the conceptual framework. Parents and educators were asked to describe parent-engagement opportunities that were provided within the kindergarten classroom. Data were collected using a focus group with 13 educators …

The Influence Of The Maternal Infant Health Outreach Program On Child Development: Through The Eyes Of Moms And Home Visitors, Debra L. Lockwood

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

MIHOW, the Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker Program, is a parent-to-parent home visitation program that aims to enhance early childhood development in economically disadvantaged and geographically isolated families with children from birth to three. This qualitative case study conducted in two rural Appalachian counties examined the perceptions and experiences of moms and home visitors regarding the influence MIHOW has on child development. Findings were interpreted in relation to extant literature on the prevention of developmental delays. Five themes emerged from the data. The first theme related to the developmental checklists and screening materials and moms’ understanding of how the checklists …

Picture Books As Art : The Presence Of Children's Book Illustrations In Museums And An Analysis Of Children-Visitor Interactions At The Eric Carle Museum Of Picture Book Art, Jennifer Cusworth

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper analyzes the presence of children's picture book illustrations in cultural settings, particularly the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts and the New York Public Library in New York City, and determines how children interact with these spaces.

Case For Foreign Language In The Elementary School, Mary Beth Pollema

Master of Education Program Theses

Our students are learning and growing in a rapidly changing world that is far more globally interconnected and culturally diverse than we had envisioned at the close of the 20th century. As we are now well into the 21st century, research and test scores consistently reveal that U.S. students are not prepared to take their place as the servant-leaders of their time where opportunities for active participation require the ability to compete, cooperate, and communicate cross-culturally.

Research shows that language is acquired best when instruction is initiated in early childhood and sustained over an articulated number of years. Since the …

Quality Of Care From A Parent’S Point Of View: An Examination Of An Early Childhood Education Center Located At A Community College, Jennifer Brown

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to understand parents’ views about child care and the variables that influence their decision to place their children in 5-star child-care facilities. Child care of any kind is often the first group experience children have outside the home. The first 5 years are the most important years in a child’s educational life; it sets the educational foundation for the rest of the child’s life.

The quantitative portion of this study consisted of four research questions, which assessed several sets of relationships and issues: (a) the relationship between demographic data and quality of care; (b) the …

Working On Social And Emotional Issues By Bringing Theater And Improvisation Into The Early Childhood Classroom, Mark Penina

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This study addresses the need for a social-emotional curriculum through theater techniques and improvisation to help children develop confidence, interpersonal skills, and emotional intelligence. Includes history of theater and improvisation, review of programs in the field, and an original curriculum for an early childhood/pre-kindergarten setting as well as field-based reflections and a list of suggested resources for integrating social and emotional wellness into the early childhood setting.

A Study & Original Material On Peer Relationships & Concepts Of Friendship In Very Young Children, Maia A. Cannon

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Explores theory, observation, and practice dealing with friendship issues among three to four year old preschoolers. It sketches a portrait of the age group using general developmental and socio-cultural theories, and concludes that social emotional adjustment and relationships are crucial to young children's development. Also includes an original picture book by the author.

Nonverbal Learning Disability (Nld) : A Case Study, Dory J. Weiss

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper describes Mary, a fourteen-year-old girl living with nonverbal learning disability (NLD). This case study focuses not only on the daily life of this individual, but also examines the research in the field that speaks to various aspects of the challenges faced by these individuals.

Supporting The Development Of Executive Functioning Skills In Sixth Grade Students, Anne Davidson Anderson

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This integrative master's project explores how teachers can support the development of executive functioning skills in sixth grade students at the particular school where the author is a learning specialist (though many of the findings and recommendations can be generalized to other settings).

Disability In Hiding : The Effects Of Trauma In Early Childhood And The Implications For Classroom Teachers, Dana Baker

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Seeks to define trauma within the context of early childhood and describe in depth the interrelated neurobiological, behavioral, and psychopathological effects of experienced trauma.

Fostering Global Citizens In The Infant And Toddler Classroom For The Cultivation Of A Culture Of Humanism, Stefanie Horton

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The purpose of this study is to examine meaningful philosophies and practices of education and care that may contribute to the fostering of youth who respect and value the dignity of all life.

Educating Towards Democracy In Infant/Toddler Classrooms : The Example Of The Bank Street Family Center, Kristina A. Satchell

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This project hopes to shed light on the possibilities and importance of including the youngest citizens of the country (children aged zero-three), their families and their teachers in the discourse and practices of democratic classrooms.

Sounds In The Neighborhood : A Curriculum For Six And Seven Year Olds, Rachel Rubinow

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This study of the sounds in the neighborhood comes from a larger neighborhood study within the first grade class. Students will have the opportunity to gain more information about the neighborhood by solely listening to the sounds and making sense of these sounds.

Pass The Roles Please, Dana Christy Klopping

Theses Digitization Project

This thesis project is a study of the process and development of a Career Development Creative Drama unit for first grade students which any teacher can reapply in their own classroom. The goal of this project was to create and polish a program which teachers may use in the classroom to benefit their students. This interactive and creative platform enhanced a career development program for early education students.

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.

Exploring The Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scales-Revised (Ecers-R) Evaluation On Preschool Children's Pre-Academic Progress, Jennifer L. Fundus

Student Work

The purpose of this study was to determine the physical, social, cognitive, and language outcomes of targeted Title I preschool students participating in programs not meeting and programs meeting Nebraska Department of Education, Early Childhood Evaluation Rating Scales-Revised (ECERS-R) requirements. As more requirements are being required for preschools to require, the exploration of the effectiveness of these requirements needs to be explored.