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Full-Text Articles in Early Childhood Education
The Developing Independence Of Toddlers, Maggie Harbaugh
The Developing Independence Of Toddlers, Maggie Harbaugh
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research project was driven by the researcher’s interest in whether three-year-old children exhibited more negative behaviors then two-year-old children. The researcher used two different types of surveys for mothers and teachers to answer. This survey took 5-10 minutes to complete, and they had two weeks to complete it. The research was conducted to see which age of children displayed worse behaviors. The researcher is an assistant director in her 10th year of teaching early childhood students. The findings showed that two-year-olds have more behavior problems then three-year-olds have.
The Benefits Of Parent-Teacher Collaboration On Achievement In The Preschool Classroom, Samantha Frye
The Benefits Of Parent-Teacher Collaboration On Achievement In The Preschool Classroom, Samantha Frye
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research project was conducted to identify a correlation between parent-teacher collaboration and student achievement in the preschool classroom. Baseline data was gathered from the preschool student’s using fall Individual Development and Growth Indicators (IDGI) benchmark scores. Opportunities for parent-teacher collaboration began with monthly newsletters sent out on the classroom webpage, parent-teacher conferences, and signed homework assignments. Parent-teacher engagement was tracked through a tally system. A spreadsheet kept track of the number of communications that parents engaged in, as well as the type of communication. All students were progress monitored within each two week session using the IDGI’s progress …
Preschool Number Of The Day, Christine Shepard
Preschool Number Of The Day, Christine Shepard
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research project was completed by a researcher was interested in the preschool math curriculum. More specifically, in the numbers and how their relationships including one to one counting and producing the amount when given a number in preschool. This researcher has taught preschool for 7 years. The students were able to participate in the study. One class of students did not receive the number of the day lessons, while the other students received the lessons throughout the entire school year. The study was part of our learning standards aligning to the Iowa Early Learning Standards and Gold Teaching …
Preschool Students Learning From Play Based Learning And Small Group Instruction, Molly Nicholson
Preschool Students Learning From Play Based Learning And Small Group Instruction, Molly Nicholson
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this study is to use two different types or learning and see which one is more effective for preschool students. It seeks to answer this question: Do preschool students learn more effectively from small group instruction or from play-based learning? Preschool is where learning really begins, it is important to have a solid foundation for an educational career, this foundation is built in the preschool setting. Students learn in a variety of ways, hopefully this study helps determine the most effective way for the majority of the students to learn. Play-based learning is a relatively newer concept …
Impacts Of Parental Involvement On Early Literacy Skills, Sara Harlan
Impacts Of Parental Involvement On Early Literacy Skills, Sara Harlan
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research was conducted to identify a correlation in high literacy skills with parental involvement and support. Baseline data was gathered from kindergarten student's winter FAST screener scores. Parental involvement began by sending homework for my students to work on with an adult in their home. A spreadsheet was kept tracking which students returned their parent signature sheet weekly and which students did not. All students were progress monitored on letter sounds weekly. The spring FAST screener data was then used to gather ending data. Growth was compared from the winter to spring data with the amount of parental …
Social Stories And Student Behavior In A Kindergarten Classroom, Amy Smith
Social Stories And Student Behavior In A Kindergarten Classroom, Amy Smith
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research was to determine the impact of a whole group social story on the practice and development of self-regulatory skills of kindergarten students. The research setting was a small, rural public school in the Midwest. The participants were 16 five and six-year old students in a general education kindergarten classroom. Qualitative and quantitative data focusing on self-regulatory behaviors was collected through observation during pre and post-intervention times. Kindergarten students participated in four weeks of a whole group social story intervention that occurred between the data collection weeks. This social story focused on positive and appropriate …
The Effects Of The Implementation Of Peer-Mediated Strategies On Student Social-Emotional Growth In Fully Inclusive Preschools, Holland Eggert
The Effects Of The Implementation Of Peer-Mediated Strategies On Student Social-Emotional Growth In Fully Inclusive Preschools, Holland Eggert
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research project was conducted to explore the effects of peer-mediation on social-emotional development and self-regulation in students aged three to five. Throughout the process, the teacher received professional coaching from a LEAP coach from the University of Denver as well as coaching from AEA staff members with background in autism and early intervention. Peer mediated strategies were introduced initially in October of 2018; during the research, the teacher focused solely on one strategy. Prior to the research, two strategies had been implemented and coached to fidelity. Quantitative data was collected from tracking and monitoring logs and researcher behavior …
The Impact Of Technology On Handwriting Instruction In Kindergarten Students, Tricia Van Regenmorter
The Impact Of Technology On Handwriting Instruction In Kindergarten Students, Tricia Van Regenmorter
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research project was to study the outcome of computer-assisted instruction on handwriting quality. Quality handwriting includes legibility, orientation, formation, size, and placement on a base line. The participants were fourteen Kindergarten students in a preschool through eighth grade private school in a suburban setting. The fourteen participants were placed into two instructional groups through random grouping. One group of participants received computer-assisted instruction while the other group received teacher-assisted direct instruction. Participants participated in their assigned instructional approach for 10 minutes 3-4 times a week for four weeks. Data was collected quantitatively. At the conclusion …
Using Guided Play To Acquire Literacy Skills, Kimberly Farrell
Using Guided Play To Acquire Literacy Skills, Kimberly Farrell
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research was to determine if exclusively using guided-play based learning strategies with kindergarten students who have individualized education plan (IEP) literacy goals in letter sound identification assists these students in acquiring this skill. Students were provided instruction with the inclusion of technology and worksheets between the Fall and Winter FAST assessment screenings. Students were then provided guided play-based instruction to identify letter sounds between the Winter and Spring FAST assessment screenings. Data collection was obtained through bi-weekly IEP progress monitoring procedures and through the FAST assessment. Analysis of the data shows that students made overall …
The Effects Of Felt Piece Manipulative Integration On Preschoolers’ Abilities To Retell Stories, Megan Alexander
The Effects Of Felt Piece Manipulative Integration On Preschoolers’ Abilities To Retell Stories, Megan Alexander
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research project was to determine the effect of felt piece manipulative integration on preschoolers’ abilities to retell stories. A preschool class was taught retelling skills and story grammar elements. The class was exposed to a fairy tale five times and then each student was assessed on retelling abilities and the number of story grammar elements recalled without the integration of manipulatives. The class was then exposed five times to another fairy tale by the same author and was assessed on the same skills while having access to felt piece manipulatives that represented the story grammar …
Kagan Strategies In The Preschool Classroom And Their Effectiveness With Engagement And Academic Response, Megan Smith
Kagan Strategies In The Preschool Classroom And Their Effectiveness With Engagement And Academic Response, Megan Smith
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research was to determine the impact of Kagan cooperative learning practices on academic growth in a preschool classroom. Participants were four and five year olds in a half-day preschool program in an urban setting. Students were a mix of household incomes as well as students who are English language learners. Quantitative data was collected using the Get Set for School assessment. Data was collected after ten small group sessions for 50 sessions. For each group of sessions, a different Kagan engagement strategy was utilized and the Get Set for School assessment was given to track …
The Effects Of Second Step In A Prekindergarten Classroom, Victoria Brandenburg
The Effects Of Second Step In A Prekindergarten Classroom, Victoria Brandenburg
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
This action research project was conducted to determine if using Second Step social emotional learning program would affect the frequency of negative behaviors in a preschool class. The lead teacher and associate were trained in Second Step social emotional learning. Second Step was implemented in the preschool class for three weeks. Qualitative data was collected from teacher interviews. Quantitative data was collected from behavior logs, behavior reports and researcher observations. The data was entered in a table and the data was used to determine if negative behavior decreased after implementing Second Step curriculum. After analyzing the data and teacher interviews, …
The Impact Of Social And Emotional Learning On A Kindergarten Classroom, Rachel Mooy
The Impact Of Social And Emotional Learning On A Kindergarten Classroom, Rachel Mooy
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research was to determine the impact of social and emotional learning on the behavior of kindergarten students. Participants were fifteen five and six-year-olds in a private school in a rural setting. Qualitative data was collected through observation in a pre and post intervention setting. Six weeks of social and emotional learning lessons were implemented between observations. The results of this study suggest that social and emotional learning does affect students' behavior in a positive manner.
The Impact Of Technology Selection On Student Literacy Achievement, Elizabeth Daggett
The Impact Of Technology Selection On Student Literacy Achievement, Elizabeth Daggett
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research project was to determine if prekindergarten students could increase literacy achievement and motivation when the educator selects the technology based on learning goals and the Iowa Early Learning Standards. High quality technology applications were provided during whole group, small group, and learning centers. Data was collected through quantitative means using Teaching Strategies GOLD and the Individual Growth and Development Indicators (IGDI) test scores. Analysis of the data collected suggests that the prekindergarten student’s GOLD and IGDI scores increased as specific technology integration was implemented in the classroom.
Spatial-Temporal Math And Its Effect On Student Achievement, Nicole Dillnger
Spatial-Temporal Math And Its Effect On Student Achievement, Nicole Dillnger
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose behind this action research was to determine the effect Spatial-Temporal (ST) Math, a web-based mathematics program, has on student achievement at a second grade level. The ST Math program was given to a small group of second grade students on top of the classroom mathematics curriculum while another group of students strictly used the classroom mathematics curriculum. A pre and post assessment were given to these students over an eight week period. This quantitative data was analyzed to determine the correlation between the students’ exposer to ST Math and their achievement on the assessments. After analyzing the data, …
Choice And Its Effects On Motivation To Read, Kayla Cantu
Choice And Its Effects On Motivation To Read, Kayla Cantu
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research study was to determine if there is a connection between the implementation of choice in the classroom and students' motivation to read. Research-based literacy framework and a choice model were used over an eight week period of time. Qualitative data was collected at the beginning and the end of the study in the form of surveys. Analysis of the data concluded that kindergarten students when given opportunities for choice in the classroom their motivation to read increased.
The Impact On Inclusion In A Child Care Setting, Amanda Winslow
The Impact On Inclusion In A Child Care Setting, Amanda Winslow
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research project was to determine commonly reported barriers impacting inclusion in a child care setting. Data was collected through qualitative survey responses via an electronic survey and a small focus group of child care providers. Analysis of the data collected suggested that low wages in child care, home child care, and other community-based settings made it difficult to recruit qualified personnel to support quality inclusion in child care. Additionally, transportation and limited funding opportunities were challenges for inclusion in child care programs.
The Effect Of Take Home Literacy Bags On Parents’ Feelings Towards School, Lisa Fernstrum
The Effect Of Take Home Literacy Bags On Parents’ Feelings Towards School, Lisa Fernstrum
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
The purpose of this action research was to determine by what method take home literacy bags have an impact on parents’ feelings towards school. Parents completed a short survey early in the school year, prior to literacy bags being sent home. Literacy bags were sent home weekly for six weeks before parents were asked to complete the same survey for a second time. Analysis of the collected data suggests take home literacy bags have a positive impact on families' feelings towards school.
Can You Improve Phonological Awareness With Skill Boxes Through A Five-Minute Daily Routine?, Lisa Holland
Can You Improve Phonological Awareness With Skill Boxes Through A Five-Minute Daily Routine?, Lisa Holland
Master's Theses & Capstone Projects
Phonological awareness is a necessary component in order to learn how to read. These skills have to be taught to children. Children who have deficits in phonological awareness are at risk for a learning disability such as dyslexia. This is why explicit instruction in phonological awareness is crucial for development. Due to this, it is important to start assessing children on these skills in preschool and start interventions if they are needed. The purpose of this action research was to shed light on how crucial phonological awareness skills are for development and how if a child is deficient in this …