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Full-Text Articles in Early Childhood Education
Technology To Increase Peer Interactions In Preschool, Angela Mclean
Technology To Increase Peer Interactions In Preschool, Angela Mclean
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Adding technology to the preschool classroom without interfering with social interactions is a dilemma for educators. Peer interactions are an important developmental goal in preschool age students. Increased pressure to include technology in education at earlier ages is often viewed as a hindrance to social interactions in play-based curriculum, with many educators feeling unprepared in the methods to incorporate technology. The goal of this literature review is to analyze current research to discover methods that can increase social interactions among peers with the addition of technology tools in the preschool classroom. This review looked at forty-seven studies of social interactions …
Implementing Effective Inclusion In Prekindergarten, Jennifer L. Wenke
Implementing Effective Inclusion In Prekindergarten, Jennifer L. Wenke
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This literature review will act as a guide for implementing quality inclusion effectively in preschool classrooms. The inclusion of children with special needs in education is of concern to educators worldwide. "Inclusive education involves the transformation of the education system-legislation and policy, systems for financing, administration, design, delivery, and monitoring of the education and the way schools are organized" (Zabeli & Gjelaj, 2020, p. 3). This literature review examines the variables predicting overall quality, curriculum, training, tools for communication and engagement, teacher views, and peer interaction pertaining to inclusion in prekindergarten classrooms. Two themes were constant in the research: training …
The Benefit Of Inclusion In Early Childhood Classrooms, Taylor Webb
The Benefit Of Inclusion In Early Childhood Classrooms, Taylor Webb
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this literature review is to demonstrate the benefits of inclusion in preschool classrooms and encourage educators to embrace this practice. According to the experts, inclusion provides social and academic benefits along with learning what preservice teachers know about inclusion. The reviewed research suggests when inclusion is incorporated in preschool classroom settings, it benefits all children. The conclusion of this review includes recommendations of developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood settings and how it can be used to make inclusive preschool classrooms a place for all students to learn and grow.
How Adding Social Emotional Learning Impacts Preschool Student's Ability To Manage Their Behavior, Pamela Niemeyer
How Adding Social Emotional Learning Impacts Preschool Student's Ability To Manage Their Behavior, Pamela Niemeyer
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research was inspired by the researcher's own classroom observations of students' behaviors, interactions, and emotional reactions throughout the day in preschool. Having students who have behaviors that may get out of control, the researcher wondered if a whole class social emotional instruction would provide them with strategies make a difference in all student's ability to manage their emotions. The participants in this study included 20 preschool students, 3- to 5-year-old. This study took place over a 4-week period where social emotional lessons were presented as whole groups and small groups. During this time, the teacher was intentional in …
Brain Breaks Improve Student Behavior And Focus, Meghan M. Barker
Brain Breaks Improve Student Behavior And Focus, Meghan M. Barker
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research project was to determine the impact of brain breaks, or physical activity breaks, when implemented as a transition to learning centers in the preschool classroom. Learning centers consist of small group time, one-on-one time with the teacher, and whole group time where important preschool state standards are taught. The study was conducted over five weeks in two preschool classrooms. One classroom was designated as the control group, and the other classroom as the treatment group. Data was collected to determine if brain breaks had an impact on student focus and behavior. After five weeks …
Outdoor Classroom/Natural Playground Space School Improvement Project, Holly Carlson
Outdoor Classroom/Natural Playground Space School Improvement Project, Holly Carlson
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Allowing students to have increased outside playtime in nature positively impacts the students physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development. This school improvement project establishes a plan for creating an additional outside play space and outdoor classroom to increase play time while learning in nature.
Maintaining A Relational Classroom While Implementing Ts Gold, Leslie K. Gustafson
Maintaining A Relational Classroom While Implementing Ts Gold, Leslie K. Gustafson
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Teaching Strategies GOLD is an authentic assessment tool. It is used in many preschool classrooms to observe student development in their daily routine. Teaching Strategies GOLD is an effective means of assessing student development. One of the challenges when implementing Teaching Strategies GOLD is its comprehensiveness. The extensiveness of the assessment has been found to be very time consuming for educators to implement. This has raised the question, “How does an educator maintain a relational classroom while implementing Teaching Strategies GOLD?” The purpose of this paper to research the value of preschool and the use of authentic assessment. It will …
Explicit Literacy Instruction Focused On Letter Sounds Vs. Letter Names And Student Educational Growth, Maria O'Dell
Explicit Literacy Instruction Focused On Letter Sounds Vs. Letter Names And Student Educational Growth, Maria O'Dell
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research was to investigate the effects of explicit literacy instruction focused on letter sounds and letter names to determine student academic growth. This study was conducted in the researcher’s early childhood class with a group of 20 preschool aged students. Research was conducted over the course of five weeks with students meeting with the researcher a minimum of two times each week. Data was collected using a literacy assessment with sections on letter sounds, uppercase letter names, and lowercase letter names. The researcher concluded that student growth was observed in the control and treatment groups, …
Teaching Early Literacy Skills In Preschool And Future Kindergarten Success, Amanda Wehrhan
Teaching Early Literacy Skills In Preschool And Future Kindergarten Success, Amanda Wehrhan
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This literature review examines the importance and the effect of literacy on Kindergarten readiness and future school success for early childhood education, specifically on preschool students. Early Childhood Educators are feeling the pressure now more than ever to have their young students prepared to enter Kindergarten. In recent years there has been a shift away from a play-based classroom to more of a focus on academics. In this literature review, various research studies are examined to determine whether or not the real focus of the preschool curriculum should be play or literacy or both.
Increasing Family Engagement In A Preschool Program, Meghan Reiman
Increasing Family Engagement In A Preschool Program, Meghan Reiman
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This school improvement plan was developed to increase family engagement within a preschool program in a public school district. Research has shown that family engagement can positively impact children's development. Parents and teachers share responsibility in creating a strong, trusting partnership with the common goal of supporting the child's growth and development. Existing research on family engagement contributed to the improvement plan by highlighting the use of technology as a means of engaging families. The three main components of this improvement plan include creating two-way communication with families, involving families in the process of setting goals for their child, and …
The Impact Of Utilizing Learning Centers To Promote Stem Development In The Early Childhood Classroom, Crystal M. Riniker
The Impact Of Utilizing Learning Centers To Promote Stem Development In The Early Childhood Classroom, Crystal M. Riniker
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This literature review explores the research on incorporating STEM in the preschool classroom, in particular, learning centers. Research from the past decade shows developing the four areas of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM) in the early years is beneficial for students’ science abilities in the later grades. Studies from this review shine a light on teacher attitudes about science, the classroom environment, and approaches to learning and how they influence students’ learning of STEM in preschool.