Early Childhood Education Commons^™

A Neighborhood Curriculum For Kindergarten And First Grades, Kathy L. Rubin

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper is a curriculum study of a school neighborhood designed for children ages 5 through 7. The goal of this study is to provide an opportunity for students, who at this age are beginning to expand outward from the roots of their homes and families, to understand their next immediate neighborhood (their school). They will have a chance to meet people who work in the neighborhood, learn about how we get around and from where things come. And then, from that vantage point the students can begin to broaden their perspective and view of their world.

This study is …

Naptime And Separation Anxiety : The Use Of A Teacher-Made Book To Help Children Cope In An Infant-Toddler Classroom, Diana Musa

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper presents several theoretical explanations of the emotional reality of young children. Its focus is the influential first relationship between the young child and his caregiver and how his emotional development is shaped within the confines of this relationship. It then examines what meanings the first relationship holds for the child's emotional reality during the toddler stage, defined as roughly 18 months to 3 years of age.

The paper turns then to a discussion of the particular emotional reality of a toddler in the childcare setting. What follows is an argument about the importance of acknowledging and labeling young …

Parent Involvement In Reading: Parent Workshops To Promote Critical Thinking, Rachelle Kristine Skeen

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to create an at-home reading program that would encourage parent participation and promote the development of critical thinking skills necessary for our children. The project implements a program that emphasizes using higher level questioning strategies in order to develop critical thinking skills. The project's focus is on educating and training parents as to the importance of their involvement and the importance of using higher level questioning strategies when they read with their children. Parents are educated and trained during two parent workshops. During these workshops, parents will also be introduced to the Read Together …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Team-Teaching Involving General And Special Education Teachers In Early Childhood Programs, Lesley Janelle Ehlers

Graduate Research Papers

This paper examined the effects of team teaching in early childhood programs. Variations of team teaching were described. Benefits, as well as problems, associated with team teaching were also discussed. Guidelines were presented for educators concerning the successful implementation of team teaching. Conclusions were drawn from the literature and recommendations were made for educators interested in team teaching.

Sistem Pembelajaran Kanak-Kanak Bermultimedia (Sispem), Mohd Khairi@Bakri Shahrul

Student Works (2000-2009)

"Sistem Pembelajaran Kanak-Kanak Bermultimedia (SJSPEM)" adalah pakej pembelajaran bermultimedia untuk kanak-kanak di peringkat tadika dan sekolah rendah. Tujuan pakej ini adalah untuk mewujudkan satu kaedah altematif dalam proses pembelajaran perkataan dan seterusnya dapat memberi kemudahan kepada kanak-kanak. Tujuan lain pakej ini adalah untuk menarik minat kanak-kanak untuk menggunakan komputer dalam proses pembelajaran. Pakej ini akan dibangunkan mengunakan strategi penyelidikan dan pembangunan(R&D), "Macromedw Director" dan akan dioperasikan mengunakan "Window 98 atau Window Millennium". Sebelum sistem ini direka dan dicipta, tinjauan secara terperinci terhadap kewujudan perisian pembelajaran yang lain di pasaran telah dijalankan. Kajian juga dibuat untuk mengetabui bagaimana untuk membuat sistem …

Constructivist Education : Developing A Constructivist Kindergarten Program, Carol J. Menefee

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is a review of literature relative to the importance of using constructivist approaches in the kindergarten program. The primary focus of this paper was to look at the features of a constructivist approach. Advantages and criticisms of constructivism are included. This study also provides guidelines designed to help educators, specifically kindergarten teachers, implement constructivist approaches in their classrooms. The conclusion of this paper offers suggestions and cautions to educators on implementing these guidelines. Recommendations for further research in the area are stated.

Querida Prima, Dear Prima : A Story For Children Seven To Ten Years Old, Stephanie Hermann

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This project is an original bilingual story of two cousins who live in two different countries. The United States and Costa Rica. They bridge their separation by writing letters and emails throughout the story. Through this correspondence they learn about each other and the have more in common in their seemingly distinct worlds than they realize. The text of the book is written in English. The correspondence between the two characters is in English with Spanish translations.

This thesis includes a rationale which explains the need for this book in a world that recognizes the importance of bilingualism and on …

Water In Our Neighborhood A Study Of The Neighborhood With A Focus On Water An Integrated Curriculum For Six And Seven Year Old Children, Simone Graniela

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This unit was developed and created for children as an interdisciplinary study for a New York City public school setting in the Bronx. Through trips, children learn about the goods and services provided as well as the various ways water is used within the neighborhood The curriculum allows for many opportunities for parents to be partners in their children's education which is emphasized throughout the lesson plans provided.

Educational Reading Games, Paula Anna Pina

All Graduate Projects

This project consists of a collection of educational reading games specifically for teachers and reading resource educators to use in the classroom. The games were designed for students in kindergarten and first grade. The games were organized according to the specific reading skills that will be reinforced. The specific skills were phonics, letter identification, and sight vocabulary. The games were collected from a variety of commercially available sources, teacher made games, and other educational resources. Furthermore, the author will discuss the rationale for using educational games in the classroom.

Daily Journal Writing In The Early Childhood Classroom, Kristin Fisher

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to develop a handbook to assist teachers who wish to use daily writing journals as a part of the reading and writing curriculum in a preschool, kindergarten, first, or second grade classroom. The project describes procedures, materials, activities, and routines needed to institute such a program. The Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements and assessment methods are addressed. Variations on the journal format that have been used in other early childhood classrooms are mentioned. Current literature and research on the topics of emergent literacy and journal writing is explored.

The Importance Of Phonemic Awareness In Initial Reading Acquisition And How You Can Support It In Your First Grade Classroom: A Handbook For Educators, Jan Pearson Golob

All Graduate Projects

The significance of phonemic awareness in initial reading acquisition was researched. The research suggests that those children without phonemic awareness will struggle with learning to read. A handbook for educators was created to compliment existing curriculum. This handbook contains songs and activities either extracted from or modeled after those that had already been field tested in many classrooms.

Teacher Tricks A.K.A. Parent Tools: Workshops To Promote Healthy Family Literacy, Timothy A. Martin

All Graduate Projects

Four workshops, supported by research on parent involvement, were developed to help promote family literacy. Each workshop incorporates both parents and students as they are encouraged to read preassigned books together. In addition, each family was given tasks to complete as they read their books. Workshops incorporating helpful tips and suggestions were provided to the families so they could better assist their children with their reading needs.

Basic Needs: A First Grade Curriculum Study, John Heffernan

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The following first grade curriculum study is an investigation of food, shelter and services in the neighborhood surrounding the school. The activities incorporate hands-on research, discussion, and expressive materials to offer opportunities for children to discover the interdependence and relationships that exist in their immediate environment. The three units of food, shelter and community services have specific goals, and they are:

Food -Investigate how markets, stores and restaurants provide food for the neighborhood, where the food comes from and how it gets to Park Slope.

Shelter - Investigate how and where people house themselves in the neighborhood and what are …

Elements Of A First Grade Writing Program, Julie Laree Fry

All Graduate Projects

Literature regarding the early developmental processes of (1) writing, (2) spelling, and (3) phonemic awareness for children between the ages of five and seven were reviewed. The literature stated that all three of these processes develop simultaneously through a series of very specific stages. Writing in kindergarten and first grade needs to be practiced daily and treated like a free activity without restriction of copious spelling rules. It was further regarded that spelling should be considered a life long evolving skill that should not stifle the early writer. A program to guide teachers as they help first grade children to …

The Use Of Multiple Intelligences In Designing Curriculum For An Early Childhood Classroom, Dawn Osterhaus

Graduate Research Papers

Early childhood curriculum implementation is not yet well represented in the literature pertaining to multiple intelligences. For purposes of this project, the literature pertaining to early childhood classrooms where the seven multiple intelligences were implemented was reviewed, and a preschool implementing the seven multiple intelligences has been written. This curriculum makes a difference in how the authors' lesson plans are designed and classroom activities are chosen. The resulting curriculum may also make a difference in how other early childhood educators set up their overall curriculum, and provides an easy-to-follow resource guide of potential use when planning individual units and activities.

The Exceptional Educational Needs Child In The Art Room: Teaching Through The Seven Multiple Intelligences, Kathleen M. Hackbarth

Master of Science of Adaptive Education Theses

Inclusion and mainstreaming have left many art teachers unprepared. They have not been trained as adaptive art teachers. There are basic fears among many on how to teach art to special education children. Some art teachers decline a school assignment after finding out they would have an adaptive class with cognitively disabled (CD) or hearing impaired (HI) students. Oftentimes, special needs children are left behind because it takes more time and special training to help them participate in art. The purpose of this study is to gain insight and understanding of the total art experience of students with special needs …

Block Building: Opportunities For Learning, Harriet K. Cuffaro

Books

The learning opportunities available in block building, and the dramatic play accompanying it, are many and varied.

Peds Path: A Journey From Home To The Hospital And Back Home: A Game To Orient Preschool Children To The Hospital Settings, Leslie May

Graduate Student Independent Studies

With all of the cutbacks in the health care system children entering hospitals today have very few planned admissions, with an increasing large number of patients entering the hospital through the emergency room. As a result of this there are many children today who are entering the hospital with absolutely no preparation. This lack of preparation leads children to develop their own ideas and notions about just what the hospital experience will be like. These misconceptions or fears regarding illness or treatment may develop into incredible anxieties which often end up making the hospital experience much more difficult and scary …

The Language/Literacy Connection: Aiding The Dysnomic Reader, Danette Lipten

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This study examines word-finding difficulties in the oral language of children and their impact on literacy learning. It presents suggestions for remediation in both domains, but focuses primarily on aiding the dysnomic reader. Specific strategies are discussed which are applicable to the teaching of normal emergent readers and that can be particularly useful to readers experiencing retrieval problems. A brief case study is presented of a child who is affected by dysnomia, along with a description of the author's work with this child. Appendices include games and sample lessons.

The Effects Of Multiage Grouping On Primary Students, Susan Mooney

Graduate Research Papers

This study analyzes the literature regarding the appropriateness of grouping children in multiage groups. The term multiage groups is defined here as the deliberate assembling of pupils together who are of, at least two or three chronological age groups.

Three issues are discussed in this regard: (1) What are the characteristics of the multiage approach? (2) Why is the multiage grouping approach becoming more popular? (3) What are the standards which would be applied when assigning children to multiage groups?

The history of multiage groups is addressed as well as the characteristics and reasons for the return in popularity of …

An Experimental Design Study On The Effects Of Interaction Between Regular Kindergartners And At-Risk Kindergartners During Learning Center Play On Achievement, Mary Gim Murphy

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Literature-Based Preschool Activities Using A Modified Whole Language Approach, Beverly M. Chandler

All Graduate Projects

A review of the literature revealed higher academic expectations by today's teachers of kindergarten children than in the past. To prepare students more completely to meet these expectations fourteen preschool activities related to children's literature and based on a modified whole language approach were developed. The varied activities were designed to be used by teachers or parents of preschool children in order to better prepare the children to enter kindergarten with an exposure to, basic understanding of, and appreciation of children's literature.

Literature Strands For The Enhancement Of Language In The Early Childhood Classroom, Wendy Sue White

All Graduate Projects

Literature and activities which support and enhance language learning in the early childhood classroom were examined. Seventy-six pieces of literature were selected along with thirty-two supporting activities. These were all described and matched for easy reference by the classroom teacher. A discussion of the importance of literature for the early childhood classroom, particularly that in which Engli~h is taught as a second language, has been included.

Parental Involvement: Using Workshops To Promote Beginning Reading, Dana Krieger Clauson

All Graduate Projects

Four workshops are designed to help parents of young children facilitate beginning reading. These workshops focus on techniques for reading aloud, using predictable materials, using environmental print, and constructing games. The workshops are aimed at parents of kindergarten children. The project includes research which provides a definition, rationale, and practical application of each topic, specific workshop designs, parent handouts, and teacher materials. Implications of the benefits of parent education and recommendations for future workshops are discussed.

Is American Education In Crisis?, St Mary's University

President's Peace Commission - Programs

The President’s Peace Commission existed from 1984 to 2013 at St. Mary's University. The Commission fostered an ethical commitment to participate in the establishment of world peace and social justice.

This program is about the crisis in the American education system in regard to social justice.

The Relationship Of Participation In Head Start And Kindergarten Readiness, Maxine C. Brown

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

An applied project presented to the faculty of the School of Education at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Education Specialist by Maxine C. Brown on August 2, 1990.

A Handbook For Teaching Journal Writing, Kindergarten Through Third Grade, Linda Rae Donofrio

All Graduate Projects

This masters project provided a teachers' manual for use by teachers who want to establish a journal writing program. It was intended for teachers of grades kindergarten through third grade. In addition to the teachers' manual, this project also provided an overview of the literature of journal writing as part of a language arts program. Examples of students' journal entries were also included. The manual itself was prepared for use in a suburban, middle class school district and it contains a step-by-step approach to establishing a journal program.

The Teacher's Role In The Separation-Individuation Process: An Examination Of This Role During Separation In Nursery School, Roberta Altman

Graduate Student Independent Studies

One of the aims of this study is to discover how a pre-school child's personal relationship with her teacher is related to her ability to adjust to school and to learn in the classroom. Theoretical as well as observational material has been used in an attempt to shed light on the nature of teacher, child and parent interaction in the first days of a child's school experience.

Home Interaction Program: Hip, Georgia Sackman

All Graduate Projects

A Home Interaction Program (HIP) was designed and implemented for Title I parents and students. The components of the program included monthly newsletters, libraries, and workshops. It was found that parents of Title I students participated in HIP activities as long as they could be done in the home. The conclusion was reached that if schools want Title I parents to become involved in their child's education learning experiences, programs must be developed to reach into the home.

Reading Problems And Teaching Strategies For Navajo Students, Sarahy Hutchison Almy

Graduate Theses

No abstract is provided.