Early Childhood Education Commons^™

The Effects Of Early Identification And Intervention On Reading Scores At The Kindergarten Level, Cara Milby

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that reading fluently is the key to success: academically, economically, socially, as well as to a healthier lifestyle (Forrest, 2018; Wanzek et al., 2018). While research has shown that Response to Intervention (RTI) is a positive instructional program that will increase primary students’ academic abilities at grades 1 and 2 (Richards et al., 2007), there is a need for more research regarding RTI with kindergarten students. This quasi-experimental quantitative research study examined if early identification and intensive intervention through the addition of Response to Intervention (RTI) at the kindergarten level will lead to increased reading scores and better …

Predicting Language Performance From Narrative Language Samples, Kimberly A. Murphy, Alisha P. Springle, Mollee J. Sultani, Autumn Mcilraith, Language And Reading Research Consortium (Larrc)

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

Purpose: Analysis of narrative language samples is a recommended clinical practice in the assessment of children’s language skills, but we know little about how results from such analyses relate to overall oral language ability across the early school years. We examined the relations between language sample metrics from a short narrative retell, collected in kindergarten, and an oral language factor in grades kindergarten through 3. Our specific questions were to determine the extent to which metrics from narrative language sample analysis are concurrently related to language in kindergarten and predict language through Grade 3. Method: Participants were a sample …

To What Extent Are At-Risk Preschoolers Effectively Prepared For Kindergarten?, Eliza Santos Lopez

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent Kinder Hearts School’s at-risk preschoolers are effectively prepared with readiness skills for kindergarten academic success. Based on schoolwide assessments, program mandates, and policy changes, an evaluation of this specific program in a Midwest school could determine whether the instructional model used was indeed effective. This study consisted of analyzing data from three student categories: children who attended private preschool programming, children who attended the school’s at-risk program, and children who had no schooling. The data collected was used to determine professional development needed, grant funding allocation, and program delivery …

A Balancing Act: Analyzing The Effects Of Embedded Versus Isolated Self-Regulation Breathing Techniques On Inattention And Phonemic Segmentation Skill Acquisition In Kindergartners, Kimberly A. Atkinson

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Using a mixed-methods convergent design within an Improvement Science framework, this Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice analyzed the effects of embedding self-regulation breathing techniques into the phonemic segmentation lesson versus conducting the techniques prior to the lesson or not at all. The project was conducted across two elementary schools, using six kindergarten educators and classes. The research began with a pre-assessment, followed by two days of applying or withholding the intervention across three groups (no intervention, isolated intervention, embedded intervention), and concluded with a post-assessment. The researcher conducted the academic lessons while the educators conducted inattention behavioral observations. After each …

School Entry Age And School Readiness., Robin Berry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, there was a change in School Entry Age (SEA) legislation. This dissertation analyzed the relationship between SEA and school readiness after the enactment of the new legislation. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to control for student demographics to ascertain the relationship between SEA and school readiness. Findings were as follows: older students scored significantly lower than younger students on the BRIGANCE Kindergarten Screen (BKS), students who had exposure to private child care outside of the home fared much better than students who were kept at home the year prior to kindergarten, and female students …

Pre-Kindergarten And Kindergarten Teachers' Perceptions Of The Student Growth Portfolio Model In Tennessee, Amanda Pickens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this quantitative study was to discover perceptions of pre-K and kindergarten teachers within public schools in Tennessee regarding the appropriateness of the student growth portfolio model. This study explored teachers’ perceptions of the appropriateness of the math standards, English language arts standards, and the scoring guide included within the SGPM. A quantitative survey was used to understand pre-K and kindergarten teachers’ perceptions of the appropriateness of the 2017-2018 student growth portfolio model. There were 16 pre-K teachers and 51 kindergarten teachers who participated in the survey. Single sample t-tests were used to analyze responses. Research indicated that …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of A Mindfulness-Based Social Emotional Learning Program On Kindergarteners’ Risk For Social, Academic, And Emotional Problems, Molly Alvin

Doctoral Dissertations

This intervention study explored the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based social emotional learning program, Calmer Choice, on kindergarten students’ risk for social, academic, and emotional problems. The study used a quasi-experimental design with two measures collected as pretests and posttests for students in an intervention group and students in a wait-list control group. Kindergarten teachers completed the Social Academic Emotional Behavior Rating Scale (SAEBRS; Kilgus & von der Embse, 2014) and the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment-mini (DESSA-mini; Naglieri, LeBuffe & Shapiro, 2014) for each student at these two time points. The intervention, Calmer Choice, consisted of 16 lessons taught twice a …

What Happens When The Seesaw App Is Used In A Kindergarten Classroom?, Alison Ryan

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Parent-teacher relationships can make or break a student’s academic career. It is possible that taking advantage of parents’ media-connectedness to form positive relationships may be more effective than more traditional methods like hand-written notes, phone calls, or emails. In this study the researcher sought to understand what happens in a kindergarten classroom when one technology in particular was used facilitate communication: Seesaw (a digital portfolio app used to post pictures and videos of children as well as communicate with parents using its private messaging feature). Data was collected through parent surveys, observations, and interviews of parents, students, and teachers. Analysis …

Interview And Focus Groups Analysis Of Decreased Composite Benchmark Scores On Dynamic Indicators Of Basic Early Literacy Skills Dibels From Kindergarten To First Grade Students, Loreen Flanary

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

School districts in the state of Utah are required to use Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skills (DIBELS) as an assessment of reading ability for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The Logan City School District (LCSD) kindergarten end of year (EOY) Composite DIBELS data have been strong over the past 5 years with over 90% of students scoring at benchmark. In comparison, in each of those 5 years, first grade beginning of year (BOY) data drops considerably. LCSD is concerned with this trend because it is larger than the state trend of 13-14%, the trend is increasing, and this …

Examining The Impact Of Pre-K And Kindergarten Classroom Alignment On School Readiness Outcomes, Margaret Deane Franko

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored children’s experiences of instructional alignment from prekindergarten to kindergarten and analyzed the impact of those alignment experiences on children’s school readiness outcomes. The study answered the following overarching research question: Does the alignment of children’s learning experiences between prekindergarten and kindergarten impact school readiness outcomes? Three sub-questions drove the research design: (1) How do children’s prekindergarten and kindergarten learning experiences align; (2) To what extent does the alignment of early learning experiences predict children’s school readiness outcomes; and (3) Does the quality of prekindergarten classroom teacher interactions moderate the impact of any PK-K alignment effects? Using cluster …

The Effect Of Preschool Attendance On The First Grade Readiness Skills Of Kindergarten Students, Mary Dell Fish

The Corinthian

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of attending preschool on the first grade readiness skills of kindergarten students at Jasper County Primary School (JCPS ). Preschool was defined as a structured education program that serves children under school age. The Georgia Kindergarten Assessment ProgramRevised ( GKAP-R)( 1996) was used to determine academic achievement.

Transition From Preschool To Kindergarten: A Description Of Area Preschools For West Valley Kindergarten Teachers, Susan Graham

All Graduate Projects

Old and new definitions are given for readiness. Concerns about kindergarten readiness testing and current practices for those children identified unready for school are addressed. New strategies for success in the early years of education are discussed with a particular emphasis on easing the student transition between preschool and kindergarten through awareness of local area preschool programs.

Promoting Phonological Awareness For Primary Grade Students Through Read-Aloud Book Activities: A Teacher's Guide, Mary Sue Warrington

All Graduate Projects

This project investigated phonological awareness as it relates to beginning literacy acquisition. The literature review provided a rational and guidelines for phonological awareness instruction. A manual containing a sequence of research supported activities based on read-aloud books for facilitating acquisition of phonoiogica! awareness with primary grade students was created. Many of the activities were field tested with a class of 14 kindergarten students in the last quarter of the school year.

Identifying Phonological Awareness ?Outcomes In A Personal Setting, Julie A. Taylor

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to create a procedures guide containing research-supported lessons that facilitate the acquisition of phonological awareness by students in a preschool or kindergarten classroom. An investigation of the related literature revealed aspects of phonological awareness that can be taught to preliterate children before the onset of formal training. The product of this investigation is a guide containing lessons and activities either extracted from or modeled after those field tested in many classrooms.

Using Cross-Age Tutors In Developing Language Skills In Kindergarteners, Jane Wartenbe

All Graduate Projects

This master's project provides a handbook to be used by teachers in planning and implementing a cross-age tutoring program for the purpose of developing language skills in kindergarteners. Included is a summary of research documenting benefits of such programs, featuring information on various program designs and activities and information on a pilot project conducted by the author prior to development of the handbook. The handbook includes: procedures for pairing tutors and tutees, scheduling the time, days, dates and location for tutoring sessions, training of tutors and sample lesson plans for tutors to use with their tutees.

Enhancing Oral Language Experiences In The Pre-Kindergarten Setting, Anna Kearny

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate how an oral language emphasis benefits pre-kindergarten children in preparation for entry into kindergarten. This study investigated the concept of enhancing oral language activities in the classroom. Growth in the cognitive, social, and emotional areas in pre-kindergarten children was noted.

The Pre-First Transition Room Program, Jeffrey Scott Peck

All Master's Theses

The pre-first transition room program was studied. Characteristics, philosophies, testing procedures, and reading programs were described. Twenty schools in Educational Service District 171 were surveyed to determine attitudes and the type of pre-first programs available in the Educational Service District. Twenty pre-first students were observed throughout the 1986-87 school year to determine social, emotional, and academic growth. Results indicated similar immature characteristics were displayed by developmentally young children. Pre-first programs are similar in philosophy, goals, and curriculum design. Pre-first programs can provide developmental activities which meet individual needs of pre-first children.

A Study Of Reading In The Kindergartens Of Washington State, Valara Caroline Minear

All Master's Theses

A study was made to discover the attitudes of kindergarten teachers in the state of Washington toward teaching reading in kindergarten, and the actual practices used to teach reading.

Relationship Between School Success And Physical And Familial Factors Of Kindergarteners, Linda Marie Baker

All Master's Theses

Teachers in elementary schools often assert that they could teach more successfully if no child under six years of age was admitted to first grade. While teaching kindergarten this writer also found many parents of kindergarten age children quite concerned about the "best" age for their child to enter kindergarten. Besides age there seemed to be concern in other areas such as physical size, coordination, and emotional maturity. However, most school districts in Washington set chronological age as the major requirement for school admission. The problem to be investigated in this study was to determine the relationship, if any, between …

A Study To Investigate The Relationships Among Three Tests Which Purport To Measure Perceptual Skills In Kindergarten Children, Carl Rawe Jr.

All Master's Theses

The study was divided into two parts. Part one was concerned with establishing the relationships among the Rutgers Drawing Test, the Metropolitan Readiness Test and the Frostig Test of Visual Perception. Answers were sought to the following questions: 1) How do the tests correlate with one another? 2) What are the shared variances among the tests?

Part two of the study related first grade reading achievement as measured by the Primary Reading Profiles (level one) with the Rutgers and Metropolitan scores. Specifically: 1) Does the study support the work of Williams, who found a correlation of .80 between the Rutgers …

A Comparison Of Reading Readiness Between Kindergarten And Non-Kindergarten Children In The Wenatchee School District, Kenneth Dean Yancey

All Master's Theses

It was the purpose of this study to compare the percentile scores of the Metropolitan Readiness Test of first grade children in Wenatchee School District No. 246 who have had kindergarten with those first grade children in Wenatchee School District No. 246 who have not had kindergarten. The following factors were considered in this study: Chronological age, sex, and total percentile score. This data was taken from the Metropolitan Readiness Tests over a two-year period, 1966-67 and 1967-68.

An Evaluation Of The Kindergarten Program In Chelan, Lois M. Detering

Graduate Student Research Papers

Many significant studies of reading readiness were under way at the direction of private, public, or federal funds, thus focusing attention on kindergarten and pre-kindergarten readiness. Because of this, many parents, teachers, and administrators showed keen interest in the possibilities of educating youngsters at the kindergarten and pre-kindergarten age. It was therefore felt that a study of this kind would be pertinent. Specifically, many persons wanted their five-year-olds to attend kindergarten in Chelan, Washington. This attitude was reflected elsewhere and it was decided to make a study of kindergarten programs and their relationships to the program in Chelan. It was …