Early Childhood Education Commons^™

Persistent Reading Deficiencies In Early Education, William Steven Reed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigated early reading teachers’ perceptions of the instructional practices they use to identify early elementary student reading proficiency, including unique challenges they face when addressing the development of early reading skills. The researcher investigated eight first and second grade teacher classrooms during the 2023–2024 school year through collective interviews, observations, and related school data. The researcher performed a qualitative analysis of the collected data to reveal varying themes that support recommendations to reduce persistent reading problems among early elementary students. Using purposeful sampling to select licensed, experienced participants, the insights of eight early elementary reading teachers …

Shifting The Paradigm: Empowering School Social Workers As Leaders In Family Engagement Policy And Practices In K-12 Education, Amber Onkst

DSW Capstone Projects

This capstone examined the school social worker’s role in family engagement in K–12 education. It consists of three products that collectively review the current literature, conceptualize a gap in practice, and provide a tangible application to school social work in Kentucky. The first product, the systematic literature review, critically examines literature related to the school social worker’s role in family engagement policy and practices to inform an understanding of increasing engagement at the macro level. A narrative review was conducted to assess common themes. There was substantially limited research regarding this topic, showcasing a knowledge gap. The literature primarily revealed …

A Qualitative Study Of Iranian Efl Teachers’ Perceptions Of A Digital Diversified Education, Seyed Mohammad Reza Marvasti Zadeh, Azizollah Dabaghi Varnosfadrani Advarnosfadrani, Mohammad Amiryousefi

The Qualitative Report

Because Iran is a country of learners of diverse languages, socio-economic classes, genders, and ages, digital diversified education seems appropriate to address needs in English language education. However, there is a notable gap in research on teachers’ perceptions about this type of education. To fill this gap, this study aimed to investigate the perspectives of Iranian teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) regarding a diverse digital education. Data were collected via an open-ended survey with 30 EFL teachers, both male and female, who were selected through convenience sampling. Analysis revealed several key themes, including the utilization of diverse …

Teachers’ Attitudes Toward The Educational Inclusion Of Children With Disabilities In Omani Kindergartens, Laila Z. Al Salmi, Ibrahim A. Al Qaryouti

International Journal for Research in Education

This study investigated the attitudes of female teachers (N = 169) toward the educational inclusion of children in kindergarten within the Sultanate of Oman. A Digital survey was conducted to gather insights into the teachers’ perspectives across two domains: the learning environment (LE) and the Impact of Early Inclusion in Kindergarten (IEIK). The results indicate that teachers demonstrate strong support for the inclusion of children with disabilities in kindergarten, underscoring the importance of establishing a conducive learning environment. This includes recommendations for increasing the number of teachers, modifying school infrastructure, and adapting curricula to accommodate the diverse abilities of …

The Experiences Of Men As A Gender Minority In Early Childhood Workplaces, Julian Laferla

Graduate Teacher Education

Men comprise a small percentage of the early childhood education and care workforce worldwide. Men represent only three percent of the preschool workforce in the United States (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, 2023). A review of the literature revealed challenges men commonly face as a gender minority in a female-dominated field. These challenges include the transgression of traditional beliefs about masculinity, structural barriers like low pay and poor working conditions, and workplace challenges like exclusion, double standards, gatekeeping, and suspicion of sexual threat. Research showed that men can contribute to the field through pedagogic practices that support …

Acknowledgments, Matthew T. Wappett Ph.D.

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Dialogic Reading Intervention On Language And Literacy Development Of Young Dual Language Learners, Ekta Ghosh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is a pressing need for research on early language intervention for dual language learners (DLLs) at risk of developmental delays, especially young children who are non-Spanish speakers. Despite the projection that 62% of the nation's children will be children of color by 2050, there is a significant research gap in this area (Lin et al., 2023). This study aims to fill this gap and recommend effective early language interventions for DLLs. The present study uses a single-case design to determine the impact of Dialogic Reading on vocabulary and alphabetical knowledge of preschoolers aged 36 to 60 months in English …

Special Education Preschool Teachers’ Perspectives, Attitudes, And Self-Efficacy Towards Inclusive Education, Mieke Kramer Tavares

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perspectives of special education preschool teachers in California regarding the inclusion of children with disabilities in general education preschool classrooms. Furthermore, the study examined the self-evaluation of these teachers regarding their abilities to support children with disabilities in general education classrooms. Last, the study aimed to identify additional factors that impact the attitudes of teachers towards including children with disabilities in general education preschool classrooms.

Methodology: A mixed methods nonexperimental descriptive, sequential, convergent research design was employed. Data collection tools included surveys (quantitative) and interviews (qualitative). In Phase 1, dependent …

Analysis Of Policy Implementation: Improving Reading Proficiency Outcomes For All Students, Mariela Magro-Malo

Education Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the implementation and impact of reading improvement initiatives mandated by Texas House Bill 3 (2019) within a Texas school district. By applying improvement science principles, the study employs a mixed-methods embedded research design to evaluate the alignment of district practices with the Science of Reading and assess the effectiveness of systemic approaches in enhancing student reading outcomes. The research identifies statistically significant improvements in reading achievement, particularly in kindergarten, following the adoption of a phonics curriculum and mandated reading assessment tools. However, the findings also reveal challenges, notably the disconnect between policy understanding and practical implementation among …

The Applications And Implications Of A (Re)Humanizing Praxis For Early Childhood Educational Contexts, Kristopher M. Tetzlaff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dehumanizing preschool policies and practices and a lack of access to affordable, (re)humanizing early childhood educative experiences threatens to exacerbate the opportunity gap and deleterious preschool-to-prison pipeline. The purpose of this study was threefold; foremost, it aspired to elevate the role and power of critical resource pedagogies in individual and collective liberation. Second, it aimed to identify vital pedagogical and programmatic assets that advance the pursuit of mutual humanization in early childhood educational settings. Third, it sought to discern and address the pedagogical and programmatic limitations and systemic barriers that otherwise impede access to high quality early childhood programming. In …

Growing Together: Cultivating The Social-Emotional Effects Of Art Education Through Trauma-Informed Pedagogy, Kaitlyn Lawrence

Masters Theses

In many societies, the process of art is recognized as a healing and transformative practice. In recent years, it has been emerging in tandem with social emotional practices and procedures in American education. However, it is also a fact that social emotional learning (SEL) does not account for all students due to its inability to account for the needs of all students in the classroom. SEL alone aims to teach healthy development and emotional management skills, but fails to account for students with varying experiences. While there are those who can and do integrate the skills from the Social Emotional …

Overlay: Language Uncovered, Cecelia A. Moseley

LSU Master's Theses

Overlay: Language Uncovered presents a series of installations that address my experience navigating learning challenges during my formative years, and strategies I have developed for thriving within those educational settings. This body of work represents three years of introspection and research, leading to a deeper acknowledgement and understanding of the obstacles I faced in learning. The installations feature large-scale sculptures made from a range of materials including, vinyl, styrofoam, acrylic, paper, silk screen mesh, metal and light. The immersive and vibrant colors within these installations invite viewers to playfully explore and interact with language, all rooted in my personal experiences …

Implementing Student-To-Teacher Feedback: Analyzing The Effectiveness Of Feedback In A Pull-Out Special Education Classroom, Aubrie Hutson

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This qualitative case study focused on special education pull-out teachers’ and their students’ perceptions of student-to-teacher feedback forms and how the feedback forms influence their teaching and student learning. The researcher used four data collection methods including feedback forms, interviews, observational notes, and surveys. The patterns and themes found within the data collected were analyzed to determine the study’s findings. The major findings revealed that students who are given the opportunity to openly express their needs through a feedback form felt that the tool helped them to communicate their feelings to their teacher. The students found that expressing their needs …

Reconceptualizing Quality Early Care And Education With Equity At The Center, Mark Nagasawa, Cristina Medellin-Paz

Straus Center for Young Children & Families

Issue 51 of the Bank Street Occasional Papers Series is a response to Gunilla Dahlberg, Peter Moss, and Alan Pence’s 25-year interrogation of the concept of quality in early childhood education (ECE) (Dahlberg et al., 1999, 2013, 2023). Their groundbreaking work has called early childhood educators to question deeply held assumptions about the universality of childhood and how these shape the standardization of practices in early childhood settings around the world. They have argued that the homogenization of ECE practices is a factoryization of early childhood that undermines cultural pluralism and the field’s equity aspirations. This raises an imperative to …

School Readiness Social Questions And Generalization To Net Using Aac Devices For Early Childhood Students With Autism, Madison Leighr

Curriculum and Instruction Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study’s purpose was to provide intervention support with communication for participants on the autism spectrum between the ages of four and five years old before entering kindergarten using a handheld speech-generating device (SGD). With a multiple-baseline across-subjects approach, participants gained the skills to communicate their knowledge on kindergarten readiness questions whether verbally or through the assistance of a handheld speech-generating device (SGD) exposed to them during the intervention. This single-subject research study done during my internship taught school-readiness social questions to preschool students with autism with generalization to the natural environment teaching (NET). Using the natural environment teaching method …

Voices From The Inside: Enhancing Co-Teaching Experiences Through Student Perspectives At 'Small University', Nina Cruz

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

For this Capstone Project, the researchers investigated how students in the credential program at ‘Small University’ on the coast of California viewed their co- teaching credential experience and what they think could be done to improve it. An evidence based argument is offered that co-teaching be improved to be more equitable for students. Considerations of the issue should include the perspectives of credential program students. Expected benefits included an opportunity for participants to reflect on the co-teaching credential program at “Small University” and provide concrete suggestions for improvement that may be translated into action. Three themes emerged from an analysis …

Helping Early Readers With Dyslexia, Jessica Kathleen Klooster

Masters Projects

Dyslexia is a common learning disability that is difficult for educators to understand. Misconceptions and misinformation have led to teachers and schools lacking in identification, resources, and support that can be provided to children with dyslexia – specifically young children. This project examines the research of the adverse effects of dyslexia, lack of teacher knowledge regarding dyslexia, the identification of young children who may have dyslexia, and the best intervention practices for these children. In general, many teachers hold misconceptions about dyslexia, which prevents children who have the disability from receiving early intervention. The purpose of this project was to …

Assessing Higher Order Thinking In The New Jersey Social Studies Standards For Grades K-8 By Using Artificial Intelligence (Ai), Connie Sanchez

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

New Jersey consistently ranks as one of the top-performing states in the country when it comes to education. Most recently, it was ranked third in the nation. A look at the state standards in any subject shows the state works diligently to vertically align standards while also challenging students in order to better prepare them for the future and to be able to live in a global society. It is evident in looking at the New Jersey Department of Education’s standards that the planning they do is performed with an eye toward the future. The social studies standards are no …

“Not A Stereotype”: A Teacher Framework For Evaluating Disability Representation In Children’S Picture Books, H. Emily Hayden, Angela M.T. Prince

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Researchers and educators have explored representations of people with marginalized identities in children’s picturebooks for over 30 years. Disability has not been widely acknowledged as a marginalized identity nor explored as an aspect of diversity prevalent in classrooms. In the United States, over seven million students are identified with a disability, and most will spend the majority of their school day in general education classrooms. Like other diverse students, they may not see their identities mirrored in classroom literature. Picturebooks featuring main characters with a disability are rare, and some still foreground medical models, limiting individuals with narrow, ableist notions …

A Problem Solving Assessment Model For Remediating Academic Deficits, Tyler-Curtis C. Elliott, Kevin M. Ayres

Empowering Educators Conference

Even the best academic interventions may need to be adapted to meet the idiosyncratic needs of the student. We will present 6 common “causes” of an academic failure (based on operant conditioning), assessment methods used to identify the cause, and how teachers can use this information to make instructional adaptations.

Your Story, Your Life, Your Learning: Autobiography Reveals Basis For Supporting Personalized, Holistic Pedagogy, Michael Maser

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Each person ongoingly experiences the world uniquely through vital processes shaping their subjectivity, personhood and sense of self. Learning, an innate characteristic or modality of each human life, of living, likewise arises subjectively or idiosyncratically. In this paper, a phenomenological lens is applied to auto/biographical excerpts concerned with various learning experiences to help reveal essential, subjective characteristics of emergent learning. The insights help establish a basis for challenging the primacy of objectivist learning evaluations. The insights also confirm the importance of personalizing learning as a pedagogical gesture nurturing and enfranchising student learning in significant ways beyond conventional educational approaches …

Making Ai Work: Tools For Schools And Classrooms, Scott Matz, Tracy Driehaus

Education Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

Fish In A Tree Book Study Assignment Description, David Wolff

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

Individuals lead storied lives, and everyone has a story to tell. Our stories can be shared orally and documented in print. Often, learners are exposed to stories through novels and other trade books. Teacher educators may benefit from using the stories in novels and trade books as case studies in preservice teacher preparation course. This assignment description outlines how to use the novel, Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, as a case study to contextualize and understand the lived story of an individual living and learning with dyslexia. Through the novel, preservice teachers experience the dilemmas faced and …

Learning Curve: Designing An Inclusive Early Childhood Learning Center, Sarah Alrumayh

Theses and Dissertations

This research centers on the improvement of early childhood education environments in hopes to reduce the disparities in outcomes among children aged 2-6, widely known as "the achievement gap." It sheds light on designing an inclusive, child-centered school for students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) and speech or language impairments (SLI). Drawing on the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), it underscores the benefits of integrating students with special education needs into mainstream education, thereby fostering inclusive learning environments. (IDEA, 1975).

The research question probes how to create a nurturing and adaptable school environment tailored to the diverse needs of …

A Quest For Gender Equity: Exploring The Existing Positioning Of Children And Teachers In An Early Childhood Classroom In Karachi Pakistan, Nasima Shakeel, Dilshad Ashraf

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals, children are recognized as active change agents in the global development agenda (The Lancet, 2022). Research has established that engaging young children has the potential to promote gender equity and reduce other inequities in society (UN Women 2020). Despite this, limited research has been conducted on gender equity issues in education and early childhood education particularly in Pakistan (Pardhan & Pelletier, 2016). In response to this gap, collaborative action research was conducted to explore the possibilities of creating a gender-equitable learning environment in an early childhood classroom in Karachi Pakistan. This paper presents …

Child Language And Happiness Behaviors: Evaluating The Effects Of Caregiver Coaching, Ashlen Grubbs

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

Caregivers of young children who have or are at risk for disabilities may struggle supporting their child’s language development. This study used a tailored rapid coaching intervention to teach a caregiver different naturalistic language interventions that can be used with their child during play. Evidence-based naturalistic skills for increasing child communication were chosen to teach the caregiver based on baseline levels of skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored RCI (training and coaching) with caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. Like other studies, this study involved evaluating child-level communication but extended child measures …

Advancing Strength-Based Inclusive Mental Health Research In Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Luther Kalb, Joan B. Beasley

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Acknowledgments, Matt Wappett

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Combining The Concrete Representational Abstract Framework And Video Modeling To Increase Basic Addition Skills Among First Grade Students, Sara Ebner

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

Proficiency in mathematics is fundamental for academic success and is linked to numerous skills that are essential for success in the real-world. Despite its importance, many students struggle with math, leading to nationwide declines in math proficiency. This decline highlights the need for effective interventions that are accessible, able to be individualized, and feasible for implementation across settings. In the present study, a single case multiple probe across participants design was used to assess the efficacy of a concrete-representational-abstract (CRA) framework with video modeling intervention on the basic addition problem-solving accuracy of three first-grade students. Results show that participants’ accuracy …

Preservice Preparation Practices To Increase Family-Professional Collaboration: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review, Chelsea Pansé-Barone, Janet Vanlone, Annie George-Puskar, Lisa Ziegler

Faculty Journal Articles

Due to the important impact family-professional collaboration has on child outcomes for infants, toddlers, children, and students with disabilities, research in special education preservice personnel preparation has evaluated the impact of higher education programs and curricula geared towards improving preservice educators’ knowledge and practices regarding family-professional collaboration in inclusive settings. The resulting qualitative and quantitative literature has provided the field with insights as to instructional strategies faculty have implemented to better prepare preservice special educators to collaborate with families. The purpose of this mixed-methods systematic review was to identify and synthesize the current state of knowledge behind these instructional strategies …