Early Childhood Education Commons^™

The Link Between Play And Literacy Learning In Kindergarten, Rachel Modrow

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

In many schools, children's free play time is being taken away and is replaced with more academic time. When children enter kindergarten, they are five to six years old. These young children need to participate in free play in the classroom to help build their social skills, continue their imagination, and allow them to explore. Children entering kindergarten are beginning their first school experiences by learning basic literacy skills such as reading and writing. This study observed students free play time in a kindergarten classroom to see if students are using literacy skills in their play. If the students show …

Autism: A Teacher's Guide, Kaitlyn Schaps

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Studies have shown that many educators are not prepared to teach children with ASD in their classrooms, as they may not be familiar with the characteristics of these children (Jiar Yeo & Teng, 2020) and do not have the knowledge needed to help them succeed.

In this guide, we discuss the different characteristics of ASD, how they affect a child’s education, how to collaborate with families, and research and evidence based (proven to be effective through research and quality studies) intervention strategies that will assist general education teachers, paraprofessionals, special education teachers, and any other professional in the educational field …

Transition: Early Intervention To Preschool, Kim Thiesse

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) requires all Individualized Family Service (IFSP) plans to address transition. Early Intervention programs must initiate and discuss the transition process from early intervention to school-based services with each family at least 90 days before the child’s third birthday. Transition should be a process of information sharing and planning for each individual family. The transition process can be very stressful for many families because services, service providers, location, and delivery of services change. Preschool is often a family’s first experience with a school environment, successful collaboration and communication through the transition phase enhances the …

Parenting Isn't Easy: Parent Newsletters For Social/Emotional Learning In Early Childhood, Lauryn Meyer

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

Most educators know that it is very important to a child’s overall success to be supported socially and emotionally, especially in Early Childhood. We understand that children do not just act out the way they do because they feel like misbehaving. The challenging behavior is usually the cause of some other sort of reaction the child might not know how to explain or verbalize, for example: feeling tired, hungry, or uncomfortable in a certain situation.

In Early Childhood, educators work closely with parents and caregivers in order to continue the same level of learning at home as well. As …

Trauma Healing With The Neurosequential Model Of Therapy And Bal-A-Vis-X, Becky Johnston

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Stigma related to childhood trauma is shifting with the help of advancements in the understanding of neurobiology and interventions that are proving to be effective for healing. There are immense costs and consequences for survivors of childhood trauma and their loved ones that were not so long ago considered irrelevant and the notion that kids bounce back from adversity was previously popular in the psychological community (Perry & Szalavitz, 2017). The broad strokes of Dr. Bruce Perry’s clinical intervention model, The Neurosequential Model of Therapy (NMT) describes a trauma-sensitive, sequential approach to changing the stress response within mental health counseling. …

Supporting Exceptional Learners Through Evidence-Based Practices In Social Emotional Learning And Academic Settings, Lexia Werner

Honors Projects

My honors project will be purposeful in researching the learning strategies that help all students and comparing and contrasting them to strategies that specifically help learners with learning differences and/or have special education plans. These exceptional learners have specialized accommodations or educational plans tailored towards their learning needs. In other words, I will research the teaching strategies that are used in the classroom environment from a standard general education standpoint and strategies that are used, specifically, with students that obtain learning differences. In addition, I will analyze this information by comparing and contrasting the groups of strategies with one another. …

“I Can’T Calm Myself”: Mindfulness In A Special Education Resource Setting, Paige Schmidt

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

The purpose of this study was to examine how brief mindfulness practices influence students receiving special education in a resource setting that provides one-on-one support outside of the general education classroom. The researcher utilized three to five minutes of breathing exercises, stretches, and discussion every day before beginning instruction. Data was collected through observations, pre- and post-surveys, and post-activity interviews. The constant comparative method was used for analyzing data to find emerging or recurring themes in the data collected. Three major themes emerged from the collected data: social-emotional regulation, making a choice, and the flexibility of mindfulness. Through observations, four …

Incorporating Writer’S Workshop In A Third-Grade Classroom: A Look Into How Students Perceive Themselves As Writers, Peyton Bourland

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This study examined how students perceived themselves as writers and what happened when writer’s workshop was implemented into a third-grade classroom. The researcher collected data through pre- and post-perception surveys, observations, artifacts, and student interviews. Findings showed that self-confidence played a role in how students perceive themselves as writers. An array of emotions was observed during the implementation process and the emotions impacted the students and their desire to write. Mentor texts, share time, graphic organizers, instrumental music, and choice were utilized during the writer's workshop to promote engagement in writing. Students verbalized how these practices assisted them in all …

Movement In Math - Integrating Movement-Based Activities Into Kindergarten Math, Katelyn Belch

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Gross-motor movements have shown promising effects on student academic achievement and engagement especially in kindergarten classrooms. The purpose of this study was to examine what happens when movement-based mathematical activities are introduced into a kindergarten math curriculum and its implications on how kindergarteners engage during math time. Using surveys, observational and reflective data, and semi-structured interviews of students and my cooperating teacher, this study aimed to examine student and teacher perceptions of incorporating movement-activities. When movement activities were introduced into math time, the students were more engaged in math. The movement activities served as form of play-based learning and relied …

Finding Their Chrysanthemum: Linguistic Representation In Children's Literature, Marielena Zajac

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Children in America today struggle with finding themselves in the books they read due to societal expectations. From an early age, children are dictated on the correct way to speak and write in “American,” which can leave children and their home languages feeling unseen and dismissed. To help further the conversation and promotion of linguistic diversity in American society, this capstone analyzes dialectal representation in children’s books, with a heavy focus on attitudinal linguistic principles rather than prescriptive mechanics. The secondary research explores current literature and resources that discuss literacy acquisition in adolescents, trends in dialects in America, and childhood …

The Index Of Phonetic Complexity: At-A-Glance Scoring System, Terminology, Instructions, & Data Forms, Kathy J. Jakielski

Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity

This document is the Index of Phonetic Complexity, the at-a-glance scoring system, terminology, instructions, & data forms to accompany Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity. To see the entire series, visit: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/cgi/siteview.cgi/csdbuildingspeech

Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity is a dual approach to treating and evaluating articulatory complexity in child speech. It has two components: Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity. These two components can be used independently or together. When used together, the speech-language pathologist has a method for selecting goals and targets of varying levels of articulatory difficulty, plus a means for measuring changes in a child’s words, targeted and produced, …

Building Speech Pattern 1: Picture Stimuli, Kathy J. Jakielski

Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity

Building Speech Pattern 1: Picture Stimuli is part 1 of 8 in the picture stimuli to accompany the Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity documents. To see the full series, visit: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/cgi/siteview.cgi/csdbuildingspeech

Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity is a dual approach to treating and evaluating articulatory complexity in child speech. It has two components: Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity. These two components can be used independently or together. When used together, the speech-language pathologist has a method for selecting goals and targets of varying levels of articulatory difficulty, plus a means for measuring changes in a child’s words, targeted and produced, …

Building Speech Pattern 2: Picture Stimuli, Kathy J. Jakielski

Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity

Building Speech Pattern 2: Picture Stimuli is part 2 of 8 in the picture stimuli to accompany the Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity documents. To see the full series, visit: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/cgi/siteview.cgi/csdbuildingspeech

Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity is a dual approach to treating and evaluating articulatory complexity in child speech. It has two components: Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity. These two components can be used independently or together. When used together, the speech-language pathologist has a method for selecting goals and targets of varying levels of articulatory difficulty, plus a means for measuring changes in a child’s words, targeted and produced, …

Building Speech Pattern 6: Picture Stimuli, Kathy J. Jakielski

Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity

Building Speech Pattern 6: Picture Stimuli is part 6 of 8 in the picture stimuli to accompany the Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity documents. To see the full series, visit: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/cgi/siteview.cgi/csdbuildingspeech

Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity is a dual approach to treating and evaluating articulatory complexity in child speech. It has two components: Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity. These two components can be used independently or together. When used together, the speech-language pathologist has a method for selecting goals and targets of varying levels of articulatory difficulty, plus a means for measuring changes in a child’s words, targeted and produced, …

Building Speech And Quantifying Complexity: The Manual, Kathy J. Jakielski

Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity

This document is the manual to accompany Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity. The full series can be viewed here: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/cgi/siteview.cgi/csdbuildingspeech

Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity is a dual approach to treating and evaluating articulatory complexity in child speech. It has two components: Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity. These two components can be used independently or together. When used together, the speech-language pathologist has a method for selecting goals and targets of varying levels of articulatory difficulty, plus a means for measuring changes in a child’s words, targeted and produced, at one point in time or over time.

The Building Speech …

Building Speech Pattern 4: Picture Stimuli, Kathy J. Jakielski

Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity

Building Speech Pattern 4: Picture Stimuli is part 4 of 8 in the picture stimuli to accompany the Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity documents. To see the full series, visit: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/cgi/siteview.cgi/csdbuildingspeech

Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity is a dual approach to treating and evaluating articulatory complexity in child speech. It has two components: Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity. These two components can be used independently or together. When used together, the speech-language pathologist has a method for selecting goals and targets of varying levels of articulatory difficulty, plus a means for measuring changes in a child’s words, targeted and produced, …

Building Speech Pattern 5: Picture Stimuli, Kathy J. Jakielski

Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity

Building Speech Pattern 5: Picture Stimuli is part 5 of 8 in the picture stimuli to accompany the Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity documents. To see the full series, visit: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/cgi/siteview.cgi/csdbuildingspeech

Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity is a dual approach to treating and evaluating articulatory complexity in child speech. It has two components: Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity. These two components can be used independently or together. When used together, the speech-language pathologist has a method for selecting goals and targets of varying levels of articulatory difficulty, plus a means for measuring changes in a child’s words, targeted and produced, …

Building Speech Pattern 7: Picture Stimuli, Kathy J. Jakielski

Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity

Building Speech Pattern 7: Picture Stimuli is part 7 of 8 in the picture stimuli to accompany the Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity documents. To see the full series, visit: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/cgi/siteview.cgi/csdbuildingspeech

Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity is a dual approach to treating and evaluating articulatory complexity in child speech. It has two components: Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity. These two components can be used independently or together. When used together, the speech-language pathologist has a method for selecting goals and targets of varying levels of articulatory difficulty, plus a means for measuring changes in a child’s words, targeted and produced, …

Building Speech Pattern 3: Picture Stimuli, Kathy J. Jakielski

Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity

Building Speech Pattern 3: Picture Stimuli is part 3 of 8 in the picture stimuli to accompany the Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity documents. To see the full series, visit: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/cgi/siteview.cgi/csdbuildingspeech

Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity is a dual approach to treating and evaluating articulatory complexity in child speech. It has two components: Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity. These two components can be used independently or together. When used together, the speech-language pathologist has a method for selecting goals and targets of varying levels of articulatory difficulty, plus a means for measuring changes in a child’s words, targeted and produced, …

Building Speech Pattern 8: Picture Stimuli, Kathy J. Jakielski

Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity

Building Speech Pattern 8: Picture Stimuli is part 8/8 in the picture stimuli to accompany the Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity documents. To see the full series, visit: https://digitalcommons.augustana.edu/cgi/siteview.cgi/csdbuildingspeech

Building Speech & Quantifying Complexity is a dual approach to treating and evaluating articulatory complexity in child speech. It has two components: Building Speech and Quantifying Complexity. These two components can be used independently or together. When used together, the speech-language pathologist has a method for selecting goals and targets of varying levels of articulatory difficulty, plus a means for measuring changes in a child’s words, targeted and produced, at one …

Trauma-Informed Teaching Practices Post-Covid: A Classroom Action Project, Jillian Weemaes

MA TESOL Collection

Out of recognition of experienced trauma, trauma-informed practices have existed in schools and classrooms long before the start of the pandemic and will continue to exist and evolve after. Programs need to evolve due to the changing nature of the pandemic such as the possibility of teachers experiencing trauma alongside their students, and distance learning complicating the ability of students to make connections with peers, teachers, and administrators. Limited literature currently exists in the field showcasing how teachers have changed and updated their practices since the start of the pandemic. The objective of this action research is to add to …

Nebline, May 2022

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Insect and Disease Control for Organic Vegetable Gardeners by Sarah Browning

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

An Egg-cellent Choice!

Recipe of the Month: Sweet Potatoes and Black Bean Hash by Alyssa Havlovic

It’s Time for Private Well Maintenance by Becky Scheurman

Cash Rent Survey

Composting Demonstrations

Monarchs, Migration & Milkweed by Kait Chapman

Getting Outside to Play by Hayley Jackson

4th Graders Learn About “Farm to Fork” at Ag Festival

4-H Clubs Helped at Kiwanis Karnival

Support Local 4-H Youth During “Give to Lincoln Day”

4-H Achievement Celebration

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Rick Waldron

3 Lancaster County …

Morning Meeting And Closing Circles: A Sense Of Community, Positive Learning Environment, And Increased Social Interactions In An Elementary Classroom, Samantha Ryan

Master's Theses

This action research study was implemented over a three-week period in a first-grade classroom, collecting qualitative and quantitative data. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of Morning Meetings and Closing Circles on a sense of community in an elementary classroom. Preliminary findings show an increase in student social interactions, positive learning environment, and a climate of belonging. This presentation will also provide information on Morning Meetings and Closing Circles as an intervention to combat social and emotional competencies lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Collaborative Approach In Education Through Interprofessional Education (Ipe) And Practices (Ipp) Of Classroom Teachers And Speech-Language Pathologists To Develop Professional Identity, Communication Skills, And Goal Sharing, Avery Smith

Rehabilitation, Human Resources and Communication Disorders Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Interprofessional Practices (IPP) between classroom teachers and speech-language pathologists to further develop professional identity, enhance communication skills, and bolster collaborative goal sharing. The study aimed to establish interprofessional relationships between participants, which included two classroom teachers and a speech-language pathologist, as well as determine the effects that the interprofessional practices have on identified students in kindergarten and first-grade achievement. The speech-language pathologist and the classroom teachers were given a survey at the beginning and end of the intervention to gain qualified information providing an understanding …

The Nebraska Covid-19 Early Care And Education Provider Survey Iii: “Holding It Together—And Hanging By A Thread” May 2022, Alexandra Daro, Kathleen C. Gallagher, Kristen M. Cunningham

Buffet Early Childhood Institute Reports and Publications

In February 2022, the Buffett Early Childhood Institute conducted the Nebraska COVID-19 Early Care and Education Survey III, in collaboration with state agencies, University of Nebraska faculty, and organization partners. This third survey examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nebraska’s child care professionals and its implications for practice and policy. Results from the previous surveys, released in April and August 2020, indicated that early care and education professionals in Nebraska, who were already vulnerable prior to the pandemic, have been negatively impacted from the start of the pandemic. The first survey elevated providers’ immediate needs, including funding relief, …

Spelling Intervention Strategies: What Works Best?, Cassidy Mentink

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This capstone project will review the different intervention strategies that were implemented when working with six 2^nd grade students who were identified as at-risk spellers in my clinical practice placement. The capstone project focused on three differentiated instructional strategies: phonetic, tactile, and digital. Of the three strategies, two were implemented by me and the other was already in place by my cooperating teacher. This capstone will look at the phonetic and tactile strategies I chose as interventions. I will discuss how the strategies worked, how each strategy was favored by the students, and what effect it had on the …

Thinkmed: Inspiring The Future Of Stem, One Project At A Time, Steven Trinh, Lauren Dudley

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

ThinkMED is a nonprofit initiative offering a four-week curriculum specifically designed to develop critical thinking and encourage evidence-based decision making. Each week’s content material revolves around the use of a ThinkBOX science kit containing four (4) wet-lab experiments designed to supplement the curriculum. Each experiment is formulated to be inclusive of all California Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) K-5. At the end of each week, students get the opportunity to speak with university professors & scientists from a multitude of subject areas including chemistry, anatomy, computer science, physiology, and bioengineering. ThinkBOXes are donated to children and families who do not …

The Impact Of An Integrated Stem Collaborative Approach On Preservice Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge And Curricular Role Identity For Teaching Science, Qiuju Tian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study investigated the impact of an integrated STEM collaborative approach embedded in a science methods course on early childhood and elementary preservice teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and curricular role identity for teaching science, as well as the potential relationship between these two constructs. Participants were recruited from a group of preservice early childhood and elementary teacher candidates (N = 65) completing an undergraduate teacher education program at a university in the southeastern United States.

Using a mixed-methods design, the preservice teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge and curricular role identity were assessed using concept maps and a curricular …

Early Detection Of Atypical Motor And Neurobehavior Of Infants At Risk Secondary To Opioid Exposure: A Prospective Study, Kara Boynewicz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prenatal opioid exposure has been studied in relation to infants' medical outcomes. However, large gaps exist in the literature supporting early identification of atypical neurobehavior and motor development of infants with prenatal opioid exposure. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether prenatal opioid exposure has a negative influence on a newborn infant’s neurobehavior and motor development to aid in the early identification of potential delays. Using a prospective quasi experimental design, infants motor development using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and neurobehavior using the NICU Neonatal Network Scale (NNNS) was assessed on 58 infants in a …

Developing Emotional Regulation Skills In Students With Disabilities, Alexis Romero

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Some students with developmental and learning disabilities have not yet developed emotional regulation skills. Children who struggle with expressing themselves may have difficulty forming relationships, lack confidence, and display behavioral problems, and for children with developmental disabilities, the effects may be magnified. When children are able to express and regulate their emotions, they can have positive relationships, develop a sense of self, and even learn to be empathetic.