Early Childhood Education Commons^™

Through A Pedagogy Of Play: Kindergarten Teachers' Professional Identity, Self-Efficacy, And Well-Being, Jennifer L. Berube

Educational Studies Dissertations

Abstract

This convergent parallel mixed methods study examined how kindergarten teachers who implement a play-based pedagogy describe its influence on their professional identity, self-efficacy, and well-being. Kindergarten represents a critical educational juncture where tensions between developmental practice and academic acceleration are most pronounced, yet existing research has not adequately examined how pedagogical approaches affect the teachers who implement them. While extensive research documents the benefits of play-based learning for children’s development, the experiences of the teachers who facilitate that learning remain largely unexamined. This study addressed that gap through three integrated frameworks: Self-Determination Theory, Seligman’s model of well-being encompassing positive …

Choosing Play: A Quantitative Case Study On The Impact Of Play-Based Learning Compared To Direct Instruction In An Urban Kindergarten, Deborah Mary Arlauskas

Educational Studies Dissertations

Choosing Play: A Quantitative Case Study on the Impact of Play-Based Learning Compared to Direct Instruction in an Urban Kindergarten examines the academic and behavioral outcomes of kindergarten students in two urban public schools: one implementing a play-based instructional approach grounded in JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion) practices, and the other using direct instruction. Rooted in Froebel’s original purpose for kindergarten to nurture the whole child through play, social connection, and interaction with nature, this study returns to the developmental intent behind the creation of kindergarten itself. Standardized literacy performance was measured using the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) …

Enhancing Kindergarten Readiness, Aileen Z. Chavarin-Beleche

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many parents of young children are unaware of successful ways to prepare their child for Kindergarten. Without preparation, children might struggle in their daily academics and fall behind their peers. Parents who learn more about Kindergarten readiness are more likely to create structured learning environments and help their child build skills to successfully transition to Kindergarten. In order to address this need, I have created a one-hour presentation for parents of children attending the Cabrillo College Children Center and Lab School in Aptos, California.

Seeing Success Through Functional Vision: Screening, Education, And Intervention Within Mtss For Kindergarten Students, Falynne Marie Rzezuski

OTD Capstones

Visual skills are essential for participation in early academic tasks including reading, writing, classroom engagement, and learning. However, functional vision difficulties often go unrecognized in kindergarten students, potentially affecting their academic performance and ability to learn within educational settings. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop and pilot a functional vision screening tool and program using a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework for kindergarten students. A literature review informed the development of the project, including the creation of the functional visual screening tool, integration within MTSS, Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions, and educational resources for educators …

When Play Fades And Screens Rise: Teachers' And Parents' Lived Experiences Of The Push-Down Of Academics In Kindergarten, Rachel L. Hunter

Doctor of Education

In the span of a single generation federal mandates have transformed kindergarten from a place of play into an academic pressure zone. This study is grounded in early childhood education, child development, and educational policy, with a focus on heightened academic expectations in kindergarten alongside the rising influence of digital technology in young children’s lives. It addresses two questions: (1) How has the reduction or elimination of play in kindergarten impacted children’s peer-to-peer engagement? and (2) What role, if any, does digital technology play in compounding this shift? This phenomenological study employs qualitative, transformative action-research methods to examine the lived …

The Role Of Kindergartens In Promoting Educational Moral Values In Children Through Storytelling, Reem Al-Hajj, Marwan Abu-Alrob, Osama Tawfeeq Jarrar

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study examines the role of kindergartens in promoting educational moral values in children through storytelling. The research employs a quantitative approach with questionnaires as a study tool. The study sample, selected randomly, consists of 135 kindergarten teachers from Jenin Directorate, Palestine, analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (Smart-PLS4). The results show that kindergartens have a significant role in fostering educational moral values through storytelling, supported by strong path coefficients (e.g., β = 0.361, p = 0.002 for proposed suggestions) and a high explained variance (R² = 0.673). This framework, which positions children as active meaning-makers rather than passive recipients of …

I Think I Can: Kindergarten Teacher Perceptions On The Impact Of Loose Parts Play On Self-Efficacy Behaviors, Adena Rene Thomsa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Play in the classroom is often a source of debate. The merits of play on early childhood development are well documented, especially regarding self-efficacy - an individual’s belief in their ability to perform a task or complete a goal. Self-efficacy has, in turn, been linked to academic resilience and achievement. Despite these findings, research shows a decline in unstructured play opportunities in both preschool and kindergarten. During a play intervention study, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten teachers were interviewed about student behaviors before, during, and after loose parts and other playful materials were added to their classroom environment. This thesis examines the …

Using Parent Empowerment Groups To Increase Academic Success In Kindergarten Multilingual Learners, Sarah C. Deloach

All Dissertations

This study examined how parent empowerment groups influence the academic success of kindergarten multilingual learners. With increasing immigration across the United States, schools need to work with families to ensure students develop the skills required for academic achievement at each level. The identified problem is that the current multilingual learner program at Boyd Matthews Elementary does not adequately meet parents’ needs in building a strong home-school connection, placing the full responsibility of learning on the school and leaving students without critical academic support at home. Parent empowerment groups were held with multilingual kindergarten parents to share practical strategies for supporting …

The K-12 Education Workforce In Nevada, 2024, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

K-12 Education

This fact sheet presents data on the share of workers in the K-12 education workforce in Nevada. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Query System provides data on the amount of employment in all job sectors at the state and metropolitan statistical area (MSA) levels. This fact sheet focuses on employment and wage data for the State of Nevada, the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV MSA, and the Reno, NV MSA as of May 2024.

It's Time To Bring Block Play Back To Kindergarten Classrooms, Davia Brown-Franklyn

Bank Street Education Center

Originally published on Medium, this Op-Ed describes the necessity of block play in kindergarten classrooms for the development of essential skills, such as spacial awareness and abstract thinking, language and literacy skills, mathematical reasoning, and critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Building Early Phonemic Awareness, Tessa K. Sutfin

Journal of Curriculum, Teaching, Learning and Leadership in Education

Alphabet knowledge and phonemic awareness skills are strong predictors of later reading ability (Stanley and Finch, 2018). Therefore, phonemic awareness and letter-sound relationships are skills that Kindergarteners have a limited amount of time to master. As a result, educators must think critically about the strategies and forms of assessment implemented to ensure they are setting young readers up for lifelong success in reading. The purpose of my study was to determine if explicit instruction in phonemic awareness and letter-sound correspondence would increase student ability to isolate, segment, blend, and decode grade-level text. Strategies included kinesthetic movements of the hands and …

A Study Of Social And Emotional Learning Provision To Kindergarten Students In A Rural School Through The Lens Of Whole Child Development, Shirley Spiegel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this Improvement Science Project was to take appraisal of a rural school district’s current approach for developing the whole child in kindergarten. Three prominent context-based child development theories serve as the framework for this study in determining if there is evidence in practice for support of whole child development, or if those practices or components of the current practices do not demonstrate clear evidence for whole child development, according to the theoretical framework. Conducted through the lens of these whole child development theories, this study centered on the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) provision to kindergarten students …

Who's Down With Dap? The Relationship Between Teacher Preparation And The Use Of Developmentally Appropriate Practices During Kindergarten Mathematics Instruction, Megan G. Mccarver

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Children’s experiences in kindergarten classrooms occur during a critical period in their development and can have a long-term impact on not only academic abilities but other areas as well, such as social emotional development and socioeconomic status in adulthood. Kindergarten in America has undergone many changes over time, leading teachers to feel torn between meeting rigorous academic standards and addressing young children’s developmental needs. This mixed methods study investigated North Carolina kindergarten teachers’ understanding of child development and developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) and identified both the types of practices they use during mathematics instruction and whether the use of those …

Social Emotional Learning Unit Plan For Kindergarten Students, Aubrey Groenhof

Masters Projects

Younger grades are beginning to look different as time goes by. With new laws in place, like No Child Left Behind, there is a higher demand for rigorous academics. Teachers have assessments and district provided curriculum to make sure to achieve within their school days. This push for academic rigor has led to less free-play in the younger grades resulting in more disruptive behaviors. Research has revealed the importance of Social-Emotional Learning within the classroom setting to reduce the disruptive behaviors and emotions. This project focuses on the impact of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) on disruptive behaviors. The author investigated different …

Teachers’ Attitudes Toward The Educational Inclusion Of Children With Disabilities In Omani Kindergartens, Laila Z. Al Salmi, Ibrahim A. Al Qaryouti

International Journal for Research in Education

This study investigated the attitudes of female teachers (N = 169) toward the educational inclusion of children in kindergarten within the Sultanate of Oman. A Digital survey was conducted to gather insights into the teachers’ perspectives across two domains: the learning environment (LE) and the Impact of Early Inclusion in Kindergarten (IEIK). The results indicate that teachers demonstrate strong support for the inclusion of children with disabilities in kindergarten, underscoring the importance of establishing a conducive learning environment. This includes recommendations for increasing the number of teachers, modifying school infrastructure, and adapting curricula to accommodate the diverse abilities of …

Preparing For Kindergarten: An In-Depth Look At The Lived Experiences Of Parents Preparing A Child For Kindergarten, Grace Bache-Wiig

All Dissertations

The purpose of this multi-modal phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of parents preparing their first child for kindergarten and to evaluate the sources of information used to inform these experiences. Eight parents of rising kindergarteners were sampled for interviewing from preschool and homeschool settings in North Carolina. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore participant experiences and participants identified sources of information to be gathered for content analysis. The interview transcripts were analyzed using van Manen’s approach to identify units of meaning. Four major themes emerged from this study: emotions about kindergarten readiness, an emphasis on social and …

Effective Vocabulary Instructions In Kindergarten Through Third Grade, Allison Ericksen

Masters Projects

This project proposal explains the lack of research and emphasis put on vocabulary instruction in kindergarten through third grade. There is a vocabulary gap between students who come from low SES and high SES that puts students at a disadvantage when it comes to reading, since 60% of comprehension is tied to vocabulary (Stahl and Nagy, 2005). However, the gap is often not addressed until later grades when it starts to be more necessary to comprehend what they read in order to learn. Teaching vocabulary in the younger grades will help prevent the gap from growing too large for those …

Culturally Sustaining Pedagogical Practices In Early Literacy Classrooms: A Qualitative Case Study Of Two Kindergarten Classrooms, Elizabeth Carlton Phd

Dissertations

Students who attend school possess their own “funds of knowledge” from their home life and prior experiences (Moll et al., 1992). Yet, learners from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds are not viewed from a strengths-based perspective but rather a deficit perspective. The deficit perspective perpetuates the oppression and marginalization of students of color and multilingual students. Using a qualitative comparative case study research design, the study is rooted in the tenets of Critical Pedagogy (Freire, 2000), Critical Literacy, and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy as it sought to uncover insights into asset-based instructional strategies that allow multilingual learners opportunities to participate equitably …

Social Emotional Learning Resources And Evaluations For Kindergarten Students, Jacquelyn Becker

Masters Projects

Kindergarten is looking very different these years because of the increase in requirements and standards. The push is affecting teachers and students. Teachers are having to use scripted lessons and focus on test preparation instead of teaching based on the students developmental needs. Students are being pushed and given less time to play and explore while they are in school. The lack of free play and the push academically, students are starting to show negative behavior and acting out while they are in class. This project focuses on the benefits of play and teaching social emotional learning (SEL) skills for …

Transitioning Into Kindergarten, Faith C. Dysard

Masters Projects

Historically, kindergarten is the place where many children receive their educational foundation. The current demand on children and educators has changed from play-based education to more of an academic focus, for which some children are not ready. At University Prep Art and Design Elementary School, incoming kindergartners are assessed when they are admitted and then invited to participate in a weeklong summer bridge program. This project will explain different factors that provide reasoning as to why children are not ready for kindergarten and give a layout of a transitional program that children, teachers, and families can participate in to better …

The Power Of Play: The Role Of Children’S Museums In Kindergarten Readiness, Catie Davis

All Dissertations

This study explores the transformative potential of play in preparing young children for Kindergarten, focusing on the intersection of children's museums, caregiver interactions, and school readiness. The study, conducted over an eight-week Pop-Up Classroom program at The Flowerfield Children's Museum, included 52 participants, primarily from low-income backgrounds. Through a mixed-methods approach, including participant observations and caregiver surveys, the research aimed to answer the fundamental question: What is the role of play in preparing children for Kindergarten?

Two significant findings emerged. Firstly, the study illuminated the pivotal role of play in nurturing social-emotional development and communication skills among children. Structured observations …

Promoting More Play In Kindergarten, Sarah Hofland

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Kindergarten has changed immensely over the years. It is currently driven by academic standards. Kindergarten teachers use much of the day to implement direct instruction and seat work to meet the higher demands in reading and math. The problem is that this type of learning is not developmentally appropriate for kindergarteners. Research shows that play is the central way in which children at the kindergarten age learn. To be developmentally appropriate, this school improvement plan aims at initiating more time spent playing during the kindergarten day.

The Impact Of Small-Group Multisensory Instructional Techniques On Kindergarteners’ Letter Sound Knowledge, Karly Walker

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research was driven by the researcher’s interest in multisensory instructional techniques and the effect it can have on kindergarten students’ letter sound knowledge to aid in strengthening pre-reading skills. The researcher compared results of a control (traditional learning) group versus a treatment (multisensory learning) group of eight at-risk students while monitoring progress weekly using FastBridge earlyReading letter sound subtest. The research was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of multisensory instruction within small group learning. The researcher used a four-way factorial design test to analyze the control and the treatment group’s pre- and post-test scores in letter sound fluency. …

Examining Guided Reading Practices In Kindergarten Classrooms, Erica Barnes, Kimberly L. Anderson, Thea Yurkewecz

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This study investigated how 15 kindergarten teachers from one school district implemented small-group Guided Reading (GR). Analysis of video recordings indicates substantial differences in how GR was conducted, with none of the teachers fully implementing GR as conceptualized by Fountas and Pinnell (2012). Consistency across teachers was limited to reading a new book and using a picture walk as part of the book introduction. Differences were observed in how the books were read (choral, round robin, or independent reading) and in instructional activities before and after reading the new book, with word solving being the most prevalent focus of instruction. …

Improving Understanding Of Mathematics Concepts In Kindergarten Students Through Movement Integration, Kendall Stallings

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research project stemmed from the noticeable benefit of movement woven throughout the Wilson Fundations curriculum in developing early phonemic awareness. Knowing that kindergarteners have a natural inclination to move, this project aimed to determine whether similar benefits of movement could be garnered in mathematics instruction by boosting number sense and fact fluency. Participants completed an end-of-unit assessment and then received instruction with movement integration for the following unit before completing its endof- unit assessment. Assessment scores were converted into the school’s grading scale of M, W, or B, and a chi-square test of association was used to determine …

Implementing Play-Based Learning, Brooke Patton

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This school improvement plan discusses play-based learning (PBL), a subject often debated within an early childhood setting. This plan will review current research to define what play- based learning is and the impact PBL learning has on the development of preschool and kindergarten students. Research shows that PBL learning can be highly effective for academic growth and that children learn best in this type of setting. PBL lets children make connections between their personal lives and their environment. In addition, it provides children with joyful experiences associated with their learning, adds motivation, and keeps children’s attention. Consistent, intentional planning that …

Connections Between Mathematics And Computational Thinking: Kindergarten Students' Demonstration Of Mathematics Knowledge In A Computational Thinking Assessment, Lise E. Welch Bond

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Research shows that computational thinking can be used with kindergarten mathematics instruction, however we still do not know much about how specific math knowledge is related to computational thinking and if (and if so, how) children's mathematical knowledge is related to students' performance on computational thinking assessments. This student fills this knowledge gap by examining the following research questions: (1) How are kindergarten students' mathematical knowledge (MK) and computational thinking (CT)MK and CT operationalized during a CT assessment? In what ways, if any, do MK and CT co-occur, and (2) How do students' mathematical knowledge and co-occurring mathematical knowledge and …

Stories In Motion: Integrating Creative Dance In A Language Arts Classroom, Amira Akam

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

As learning gaps have widened in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased need for research-based strategies to improve student academic achievement and engagement. This study explored the integration of creative dance as a form of storytelling in a kindergarten language arts classroom. Students were introduced to an element of dance and used it to create short dance phrases in a unit on retelling. Both qualitative and quantitative data was collected using pre/post tests and student interviews measuring students’ engagement and enjoyment. Students involved in this study showed significant growth in their ability to orally retell …

Leaving Kindergarten Well: First-Grade Readiness In Outdoor Waldorf Kindergartens, Garry H. Oak

Leadership for Sustainability Education Comprehensive Papers

This article proposes an intervention to address the complex needs of children in outdoor Waldorf kindergartens. The intervention suggests integrating cultural responsiveness practices, remedial education, and outdoor teacher training competency into existing teacher training programs. By adopting this comprehensive approach, new teachers can acquire the necessary tools to meet the diverse needs of their students and adapt to the challenges of modern education. Ongoing professional development programs are also recommended to enable teachers to continuously enhance their skills throughout their careers. This multi-pronged solution aims to establish a more equitable and effective educational system that considers various dimensions of children's …

The Effects Of Early Identification And Intervention On Reading Scores At The Kindergarten Level, Cara Milby

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that reading fluently is the key to success: academically, economically, socially, as well as to a healthier lifestyle (Forrest, 2018; Wanzek et al., 2018). While research has shown that Response to Intervention (RTI) is a positive instructional program that will increase primary students’ academic abilities at grades 1 and 2 (Richards et al., 2007), there is a need for more research regarding RTI with kindergarten students. This quasi-experimental quantitative research study examined if early identification and intensive intervention through the addition of Response to Intervention (RTI) at the kindergarten level will lead to increased reading scores and better …