Early Childhood Education Commons^™

Who Is Telling This Story? : A Study Of An Aesthetic Education Collaboration Between A Classroom Teacher And A Cultural Institution, Katherine Fox

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This study explores the classroom teacher's role in a collaboration between a New York City classroom teacher and Lincoln Center Institute. Aesthetic education, imaginative learning, and collaboration between classroom teachers and teaching artists, the core practices of Lincoln Center Institute's inquiry units, are defined through a review of other established approaches to these concepts. The perspective of a third-grade teacher who participated in an inquiry unit focused on MytholoJazz, a storytelling performance illustrates the purpose, planning, and action that characterize Lincoln Center Institute's programs. Qualitative analysis of the teacher's work, in addition to her own reflection on the process, reveal …

Childhood Mental Illness: Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorder, Vicki Wolffe

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Many children are inflicted with psychosis. The following essay is an investigation of the characteristics of mental illness as it appears in youths. Studies have been conducted as to what mental illness looks like in children. Various treatment options are described. The body of this work has been compiled, predominantly, through the review of literature on the subject matter. Limited observation of a child that has been diagnosed with a severe form of psychotic illness has been noted.

Fueling Small Explosions Of Conversation: A Reading Curriculum For Fourth Grade, Rebecca Blake Eisenberg

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The purpose of this fourth-grade reading curriculum is to teach students to become active readers who can articulate and communicate their thoughts about reading. By communicating about text, readers construct meaning and develop a rich understanding and appreciation of their reading. The curriculum uses the reading workshop framework (Atwell, 1998; Calkins, 2001; Rief, 1992) and the literature circle structure (Daniels, 2002). Process- and content-based mini-lessons provide explicit instruction for literature circle discussions. Comprehension strategy mini-lessons are provided to complement the literature circle instruction and provide support for students as needed.

A Study Of The Relationship Between Visual Art And Verbal Communication, Erica Whisney

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This thesis studied the qualitative and quantitative types of communication children had while engaged in clay and collage art making activities. Thirty-five kindergarteners were used in the study, which was videotaped and analysed. Researchers concluded that during the art making process children communicated frequently and more freely with their peers than during other activities.

Ash Cans & Corn Fed Hares: Book One Of The Ny Explorer's Club, Corinne Flax

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Ash Cans & Corn Fed Hares is a work of semi-historical fiction (set in the present, dealing with facts of the past), which can be used in a classroom or in a home to help students/children forge connections with past and present. The book also helps students find and use some of the research resources available in New York. Ash Cans showcases alternative methods of information gathering in the context of adventure and mystery, while focusing on the importance of individual meaning-making.

Don't Yuck My Yum : A Tasty Alphabet Book, Rebekah Friedman

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Don't Yuck My Yum is an alphabet book that moves the reader through the experience children have when they are gathered in a restaurant for a party where each child orders a food that is somehow ruined. The phrase, "Don't Yuck My Yum", used as a refrain, is the children's angry response to receiving the disappointing plate, meaning, "don't ruin my delicious food." Because it is an alphabet book, there are 26 children, one for each letter, and a child's name that begins with each letter and a corresponding food. The story is punctuated every four stanzas with the refrain, …

Torn Loyalties : The Civil War In New York City And Beyond, Alicia Fessenden

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Presents an interdisciplinary curriculum on the Civil War in New York City and beyond for a fifth grade classroom. The goals of this study are to counter ideas that the Civil War is an historical event that took place far away, and to raise awareness of the myriad resources that are available in New York on this topic. Contains a series of experiential lesson plans.

Art Speaks! Connecting Visual Arts And Language Arts A Program For Fourth-Grade Students In The School District Of Philadelphia, James Stein

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to support a partnership among PMA, Pennsylyania Academy of the Fine Arts, The Barnes Foundation, The Fabric Workshop and Museum, and Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania. These five art institutions collaborated with each other, and with the School District of Philadelphia (SDP), to develop a literacy-based museum visit program called Art Speaks! that is open to all 13,500 fourth-grade students in SDP public schools. The program features a museum visit to one of the five collaborating institutions …

Real Work: A Museum Studies Curriculum For Early Adolescent Learners, M. Lucinda B. Furlong

Graduate Student Independent Studies

A museum studies curriculum for seventh and eighth graders. This curriculum is in the form of a case study and was conducted over a three year period at Montclair Cooperative School with Montclair Art Museum. Through regular visits to the museum students explored the roles of artist, docent, and curator. Students did the following tasks: discussed and made art, created exhibits, wrote interpretive wall labels for exhibitions, and became docents for younger students.

Finding Our Way Back Home: Reintroducing Mythology Into The Lives Of Children, Faith Klavan

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Mythology is present in almost all aspects of modern life. Though many books, movies, video games and advertisements make reference to ancient myths, the myths themselves are no longer readily accessible to children. This thesis provides a rationale for writing a children's book which retells an ancient Greek myth. An outline for the book, entitled Perseus, as well as two sample chapters, are included. The thesis deals with mythology's relevance to the modern child asserting that it can help him/her deal with issues such as step-parents, separation anxiety and the need for individuation. The thesis also discusses the ways in …

Developing A Support Group For Adolescents With Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Using An Outdoor Adventure Educational Modality, Tara Lynch

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This independent study details the group process aspects of creating an outdoor adventure based support group for adolescents living with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). A review of previous outdoor adventure programs is included, followed by a rationale for the new material. The developmental assessment of teens living with IDDM identifies a need for greater self-confidence, increased independence, and social support. To meet this need, a program that includes aspects of team building, personal challenge, and problem-solving has been created.

A Museum-Based Curriculum For Middle School Students In New York City, Nayantara Mhatre

Graduate Student Independent Studies

India Inquiry is a museum-based curriculum designed for middle school students in New York City. The curriculum is organized by the following themes: Geography, Wildlife, Culture and Crafts, and Religion. Within each theme there is one out-of-classroom trip, including three visits to the American Museum of Natural History, and one to the Ganesh Temple in Flushing, Queens. In addition there are seven lessons that compliment and support the organized field trips.

The curriculum was developed to appeal to the social, emotional, and intellectual needs of students emerging from the latency period of late childhood and approaching early adolescence.

India Inquiry …

Making Sense: Reflections On Developing A Social Studies Curriculum For Five- And Six-Year-Olds, Anne Tobias

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper is a reflection on the writing of a social studies curriculum for five and six-year-olds-a study of a neighborhood construction site. It examines the way in which one teacher's commitment to offering children meaningful content evolved into the formulation of her educational philosophy, as influenced by such progressive educators as John Dewey, Lucy Sprague Mitchell, and Caroline Pratt.

Part One of the thesis is divided into three major sections. The first consists of a developmental overview of five- and six-year-olds. The second describes the connections between understandings of basic child development, understandings of a particular group of children, …

A Reflective Look At The Writing Process For Both Children And Adults: A Memoir Study, Jessica Block

Graduate Student Independent Studies

In order to teach the writing process, one must be a writer. This independent study explores the writing process from the inside out. It investigates the writing process from an adult perspective while also examines the writing process that developed for individual student writers within a second grade classroom. Over the course of three months, the students in my second grade classroom and I developed personal memoirs about a "small moment" from our lives. This study includes a comprehensive breakdown of lessons which scaffolded the memoir writing process.

It also includes a strong reflective component which reveals how we all …

Domestic Life In Dutch New Amsterdam A Social Studies Curriculum For Third And Fourth Grade Children, Michael W. Parrish

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This thesis presents a social studies curriculum for third and fourth grade students on the domestic life of New Amsterdam. Beginning with the geography of the region, the study focuses on the role that the environment has on meeting basic human needs of shelter, food and clothing. Based on a framework of objectives and ideas, the study is divided into three major units: shelter, food and clothing. Meeting each basic need required of New Amsterdam residents a vast amount of time and dedication. As children experience this curriculum, they can begin to understand the effort and many layered processes the …

A Family-School Literacy Program For Kindergarten Through Second Grade, Kathleen Wright

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Proposes a kindergarten to grade two family-school literacy program based on a balanced literacy curriculum. This program is designed to be carried out over one academic year. The focus of this study is on the family's role in school and in the home on children's literacy development. Includes descriptions of school and after school literacy events with accompanying materials.

A Social Studies Curriculum For Three And Four Year Olds : A Family Study That Bridges The Gap Between School And Home, Judith M. Gentry

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This independent study outlines a social studies curriculum for three and four year olds, focusing on family. The purpose of this thesis is to provide a framework for teachers when considering how to promote diversity in their classroom and at the same time recognizing cultural identity.

Squeezing In Constructivist Mathematics: A Second Grade Curriculum, Deborah Potvin

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This curriculum consists of a collection of mathematics activities intended to complement a standard second-grade curriculum. The activities within this collection focus on the topics and concepts addressed by a traditional curriculum; however, they allow the students to approach the subject from a slightly different angle. The problems, projects, and games create situations in which students can create their own understanding of numbers.

By providing ready-to-use, well-organized activities designed to promote constructivist learning, this collection aims to make constructivist mathematics accessible to teachers working within a more traditional curriculum. The inspiration for the activities within this curriculum comes from a …

¿CóMo Se Dice En EspañOl? : Language, Self-Expression, And Development Of A Young Bilingual Child, Margaret Blachly

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper addresses three areas of early childhood development and education: a Language development of a native Spanish-speaking child in a dual-language school environment. Guided art experiences as a vehicle for self-expression, language development, and personal self-awareness in a young child. The role of a non-teacher/non-family member in a young child's development of self-awareness and language. The paper presents a case study with related research, analysis, and suggestions for educators. Lauren Rodriguez (pseudonym), currently 7.8 years old, is a Mexican- American girl whose first language is Spanish. She first encountered English at her bilingual preschool, where she began attending school …

Fractions, Decimals, And Percents : A Fifth Grade Curriculum Unit, Jeffrey Li

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This independent study outlines a fifth grade curriculum unit for fractions, decimals, and percents. The unit utilizes a problem-solving approach to lead to deep understanding of fractions and their relations to decimals and percents. The study is influenced by writings by Hiebert, Dewey, Piaget, \/ygotsky, and Fosnot, and uses a lesson planning format created by Hal Melnick. Four explorations drive the unit:

Exploration 1: What is a fraction?

Exploration 2: Going Deeper with Fractions

Exploration 3: Connecting Fractions to Decimals and Percents

Exploration 4: Comparing Fractional Amounts

Bridges To Change: From The Classroom Community To Weeksville An Integrated And Thematic Curriculum, Pamela Jones

Graduate Student Independent Studies

"Bridges to Change" is a curriculum designed for use in a third grade inclusive classroom. This curriculum serves a dual purpose: (1) to provide teachers and students with activities that are designed to build and forge a sense of classroom community and (2) to provide teachers with built-in modifications and adaptations-thereby making the curriculum accessible to students at all levels. A wide array of sources was used in the creation of this curriculum. Understanding by Design and Universal Design for Learning were instrumental in laying the foundation for this work. Understanding by Design's "backwards design" approach was instrumental in the …

Developmentally Appropriate Practice In Childcare For Young Children And Families; A Book Of Photographs And Simple Text, Pamela Wheeler-Civita

Graduate Student Independent Studies

In this Independent Study to fulfill the requirements for my graduate degree at Bank Street College of Education, I am highlighting developmentally appropriate practice in childcare for infants and toddlers. In book format, I will cite aspects of good practice, using both simple text for young children, more in-depth text for adults, and black and white photographs to illustrate these points further. The rationale will cover my own personal history that lead me to believe that The Bank Street Family Center models developmentally appropriate practice. It also includes research to back my claims. All experiences supporting my ideas are solidly …

We Must Be Brave: An Original Story For Children, Cybele Kaufmann

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This project includes an original short chapter book written for 9-12 year olds which is based on the experiences of the author's father and takes place within the context of World War II. The author frames the story within its historical context and describes how she learned about her father's personal history and the time period.

Please Pass The Crackers: Classroom Rules In The Early Childhood Environment And Their Impact On Moral Development, Odette C. Muskin

Graduate Student Independent Studies

One of the major public debates in education today revolves around an area of study called character education. It is a debate that is politically, socially, emotionally and educationally charged. The question facing educators is whether children develop morally from a specific plan of study or from the examples given to them by adults in their environment. In an attempt to answer this question, this study focuses on the early childhood environment. It does so because young children in preschool must begin to formulate conceptions of rights, values and principles as it pertains to social conduct. They must learn to …

A Tree Study Curriculum For Second Grade, Deborah Blankman

Graduate Student Independent Studies

A TREE STUDY: For Second Grade, was designed to give students the opportunity to experience and explore first-hand the life cycle of a particular tree in Central Park. Trees are a natural topic for young students to study. They are part of the basic life cycle here on earth. Children are familiar with them having seen or been around them since birth. In my case, because of my school's close proximity to Central Park, the students had the luxury of being able to basically go out in their own backyard any time they wanted a first hand view of what …

What Makes A Restaurant A Restaurant? A First Grade Community Study, Karl Heist

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Describes an extensive restaurant study that culminates with the children running and operating a working restaurant for two consecutive mornings. Presented with the intension of offering a user-friendly guide for anyone interested in teaching a community study. Although the curriculum focuses on restaurants, it could be tailored to fit other types of businesses.

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 …

The History Of Quiltmaking As A Storytelling Tool And Its Application In The Elementary Classroom, Leona Shapiro

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This study documents the historical use of quiltmaking as a means of artistic expression and as a canvas for storytelling. It shows the use of quiltmaking in the elementary school classroom as a means of creative expression and as a vehicle that allows students to share varied cultures and relate family experiences verbally, in written form and using a cloth palette. The study documents the quiltmaking process and the development of family themes as children are engaged in the exploration of this storytelling tool.

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 …

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 …