Early Childhood Education Commons^™

Classroom Strategies To Increase Language And Communication Of Dual Language Learners, Lori Ruiz

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research was inspired by the researcher’s interest to better understand teaching strategies to help students who are Dual Language Learners (DLLs) improve their English language, communication skills, and classroom engagement. The researcher wanted to know how modeling and visual cues affect the language and communication abilities of preschool DLLs in the classroom. Over four weeks, the researcher observed three four-year-old DLL students in a public, full-day, inclusive preschool setting. To determine the students’ levels on the English Language Acquisitions objectives, the researcher used an embedded mixed-methods design by collecting and interpreting observations before entering them into Teaching Strategies …

Promoting Emergent Literacy In Preschool Through Extended Discourse: Covert Translanguaging In A Mandarin Immersion Environment, Robin E. Harvey, Kevin M. Wong

Education Division Scholarship

Rich oral language practices, including the opportunity and ability to participate in cognitively and linguistically challenging extended discourse, are foundational to early literacy development. To meet children’s needs in their first exposure to the languages of schooling, educators may engage students in extended discourse multilingually. The current study focuses on student-centered translanguaging conversations to examine strategies that preschool teachers employ to support young children’s emerging bilingual and biliteracy development in a Mandarin immersion preschool serving primarily nonheritage learners of Mandarin in the United States. Findings indicate that, despite the school’s Mandarin-only policy, teachers engaged in covert translanguaging practices to extend …

Teacher-Child Interaction Quality In Free Choice And Associations With Child Peer-Related Social Competence, Yuenjung Joo

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Children’s peer-related social skills in early childhood set the stage for school readiness, social competence, and lifelong well-being. Preschoolers spend most of their classroom time in free choice, offering substantial opportunities for learning experiences that facilitate peer interactions that support social development. Yet, little is known about how early childhood teachers can best optimize children’s social learning without disrupting the benefits of play during this time. The purpose of this study is to investigate how preschool teachers’ social support behaviors during free choice align with children’s social needs (i.e., fit of teacher-child social interaction) and the association between the fit …

Special Education Preschool Teachers’ Perspectives, Attitudes, And Self-Efficacy Towards Inclusive Education, Mieke Kramer Tavares

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the perspectives of special education preschool teachers in California regarding the inclusion of children with disabilities in general education preschool classrooms. Furthermore, the study examined the self-evaluation of these teachers regarding their abilities to support children with disabilities in general education classrooms. Last, the study aimed to identify additional factors that impact the attitudes of teachers towards including children with disabilities in general education preschool classrooms.

Methodology: A mixed methods nonexperimental descriptive, sequential, convergent research design was employed. Data collection tools included surveys (quantitative) and interviews (qualitative). In Phase 1, dependent …

Teaching Practices To Prevent And Support Challenging Behaviors In Early Childhood Classrooms, Abigail Koster

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

search is finding that challenging behaviors are occurring in classrooms more and more. Challenging behaviors are one of the main reasons that teachers are leaving the profession along with large workloads, and lack of administration and community support. Research shows that teachers need to have a strong classroom management plan and high consistence expectations to diminish challenging behaviors from occurring in the classroom. With research in mind, a school improvement plan was created to provide professional development for teachers in the fall to support them in creating strong classroom management plans for the following school year. Teachers will using the …

The Applications And Implications Of A (Re)Humanizing Praxis For Early Childhood Educational Contexts, Kristopher M. Tetzlaff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dehumanizing preschool policies and practices and a lack of access to affordable, (re)humanizing early childhood educative experiences threatens to exacerbate the opportunity gap and deleterious preschool-to-prison pipeline. The purpose of this study was threefold; foremost, it aspired to elevate the role and power of critical resource pedagogies in individual and collective liberation. Second, it aimed to identify vital pedagogical and programmatic assets that advance the pursuit of mutual humanization in early childhood educational settings. Third, it sought to discern and address the pedagogical and programmatic limitations and systemic barriers that otherwise impede access to high quality early childhood programming. In …

Understanding Preschool Teachers' Perceptions Of Challenging Behavior: "It's Exhausting", Elizabeth Stapleton

Educational Studies Dissertations

Child maltreatment is a widespread issue across the United States, directly impacting young children’s learning and behavior. Yet, variability found in early education pre-service training does not include focus on this topic. Early education teachers often experience low wages, long work hours, and a lack of support to meet the needs of young children. This mixed methods study sought to understand preschool teachers’ perceptions of challenging behavior in their classrooms and the impact challenging behavior has on relationships within the classroom community. Quantitative data was collected from 30 preschool teachers using the Student-Teacher Relationship Short Form and frequency ratings of …

Improving Parental Engagement For Kindergarten Readiness: An Improvement Science Study, Sarah Johnson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Every child deserves the opportunity to come to school ready to learn with the skills needed to take on the content in kindergarten. Students, who are not ready for kindergarten, have a higher chance of needing additional support services with academics and behavior (Fitzpatrick et al., 2020). In Kentucky, less than 50% of the kindergarten students were considered kindergarten ready based on the 2022 Kindergarten Readiness data (Kentucky Department of Education, 2023). In the district where this study took place, 43% of students were determined to be kindergarten ready (Kentucky Department of Education, 2023). Knowing the implications and long term …

The Importance Of Nutrition Education In Early Childhood, Alexi Larios

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project aimed to highlight the importance of nutrition education in early childhood. I chose this topic because studies have shown a steady increase over the years in children’s diet-related illnesses (Baker & Bjerregaard, 2023). Many factors have contributed to this increase such as media and marketing. Companies use their marketing strategies to target the interests of children and persuade them to desire their unhealthy products (Taillie et al., 2019). This strategy leads to children purchasing and consuming processed foods, high in sugar and empty calories. Another important component in childhood nutrition is socioeconomic status. People from lower socioeconomic …

Developing Communication Skills In Preschool Children, Michelle Ayala

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The language and communication development of a preschooler was the main topic of this capstone project. To help and get children ready for kindergarten, these abilities are necessary. It has been shown that preschoolers who have difficulty developing their communication skills will probably face difficulties as they move through their education.

Implementation Of A Mental Health Consultation Program At An Early Childhood Education, Diana Buffington

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Research shows that young children experiencing social emotional difficulties in early childhood can have a lasting impact on later functioning in school and through their adult lives. Additionally, research has suggested that mental health intervention in young children can significantly help children navigate these challenges. With these research findings in mind, this school improvement plan was created to deliver early childhood mental health consultation to an early childhood program serving at-risk children in the Bay Area of California. This plan is comprised of a prevention-oriented approach that strengthens the capacity of school staff to prevent, identify, treat, and reduce the …

Using Small Groups To Support Mathematics Learning In Preschool, Katelyn Bradfield

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to gather data on the use of small group learning as a setting for increasing number sense skills for preschool students. The researcher met with a classroom of preschool students over the course of 6 weeks, one week for pre-assessment, four weeks for playing math games in the small group setting, and one week for post-assessment, to implement the intervention. The quantitative research gathered was analyzed to determine whether the addition of small group math time was impactful in increasing student number sense in the areas of 1:1 counting and numeral identification. …

Acquisition And Retention Of Vocabulary Using Simplified Picture Word Inductive Model, Kodie Davis

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research was guided by the researcher’s interest in finding ways to use picture word inductive model (PWIM) to encourage more vocabulary retention in preschool. The research was conducted using two versions of a similar PWIM poster. Group A used a simplified PWIM poster with limited items on the poster while Group B was exposed to a typical PWIM poster with more items to identify. Both groups used the words they identified in their posters for the 4-week study. Participants were monitored weekly using assessments such as visual identification and word identification to check for retention. Research was done …

Using An Interoception-Based Curriculum For Social-Emotional Learning In Preschool To Increase Emotional Regulation, Montana Applegate

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This paper presents a school improvement plan aimed at implementing and integrated interoception-based curriculum for social-emotional learning (SEL) in preschool classrooms, with the goal of fostering emotional regulation skills among young children. Drawing on recent research emphasizing the significance of SEL from early childhood through adolescence, this plan addresses the need for explicit teaching of emotional awareness and regulation in preschool settings. The proposed curriculum integrates interoception-based activities to enhance children’s ability to recognize and respond to internal bodily sensations and emotions. Through a review of relevant literature and personal classroom experience, this paper explores the foundations and practical implications …

Alphabet Instruction In A Preschool Setting: Individualized Or Large Group?, Kristen Guarino

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine if individualized instruction is more effective than large group instruction during alphabet instruction. The researcher is a preschool teacher in their 11th year of teaching, who used their 21 students as participants. The study consisted of two separate groups of students. One group received individualized instruction (treatment) whereas the other group received large group instruction (control). Pre-test data was conducted before the two-week instruction period for both groups. For the treatment group, data was used to individualize and guide instruction. Post-test data was then collected to show the amount of …

How Important Is Parental Involvement And Engagement In Preschool, Emilee M. Dixon

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this study was to evaluate preschool classrooms’ parental engagement throughout the school year. Specifically, the study aims to assess if parents felt they received information to support their child's development, if the school offered engagement opportunities, and if the parents believed that engagement impacted their child. Research studies have shown or indicated that parental engagement is a key component to a child’s success. This study highlights the importance of parental involvement and engagement for children in preschool. The study involves reviewing a survey to gain a better understanding of when, how, and why parental involvement and engagement …

Comparison Of Video Modeling And In-Vivo Language Instruction In Preschool, Jessah Marlee Hughes

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Early communication and language development in young children is critically important and those identified as having a language delay, would benefit from intervention. There is a rise in screen time exposure in young children, with some watching variations of popular evidence-based practices (time delay, video modeling, etc.) Most notably, Ms. Rachel is an early childhood learning YouTube sensation. This study seeks to compare the effectiveness and efficiency of video modeling and time delay in the differential use of early sentences during play-based activities.

Supporting Children’S Eating Behavior In A Preschool Classroom, Olajumoke Leshi

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Food selectivity, commonly observed in young children, has a significant effect on their health outcomes, and this poses a major challenge for parents and caregivers. This proposed study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a teaching package comprising prompting, shaping, and reinforcement strategies in enhancing exploratory eating behaviors among preschool children displaying food selectivity in a classroom setting. The study seeks to answer the research question: does the delivery of a teaching package consisting of prompting, shaping, and reinforcement result in an increase in exploratory eating behaviors (touch, smell, taste) by young children displaying food selectivity? This study will use …

Repeated-Measures Latent Profile Analyses Of Intervention Fidelity To A Teacher-Delivered Intervention Program For Children At Elevated Risk For Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Katrina A. Markowicz

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers have difficulty delivering Tier-2 intervention programs for preschoolers at elevated risk for socioemotional and behavioral disorders with high intervention fidelity (Durlak, 2010; Sutherland et al., 2018). Several proximal factors that impact program fidelity have been identified, which may undermine program effects (Domitrovich et al., 2008; McLeod et al., 2022; Sutherland et al., 2018). Therefore, researchers have identified strategies, such as practice-based coaching, to improve intervention fidelity and support teachers (Hemmeter et al., 2015; Synder et al., 2015). Most of the field's knowledge of these topics is limited to variable-centered approaches (Fettig et al., 2022; Low et al., 2016). However, …

Examining Teachers' Perceptions Of Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices And The Impact On The Academic And Social-Emotional Success Of Black And Brown Boys In Voluntary Prekindergarten Classrooms: A Qualitative Study, Stephanie Gomez Jackson

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) teachers’ perspectives regarding the theory of culturally responsive pedagogy. This study also sought to understand how teachers implement culturally responsive teaching practices in VPK classrooms and their perceptions of how culturally responsive teaching impacts the academic and social-emotional success of Black and Brown male students. The study was conducted using a qualitative, phenomenological methodology. Gay’s (2018) pillars of culturally responsive teaching were used as the conceptual framework to explore the cultural characteristics, experiences, and perspectives of voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) teachers. Data collection tools included (1) two recorded semi-structured interviews, …

Development Of S.T.E.A.M. Daises In Formal And Informal Environments For Educating Primary I Learners, Frances Neville

Masters Theses

The federal government has made education a competition among ourselves. Learning is not a rivalry to be imposed on our physical and cognitive development as humans. Escalating beliefs recognize education is more encompassing than CCSS, assessments and the grade level time frames in which standards are to be taught. On the precipice of anti-intellect, low expectations, and what has been termed “The Dumbing of America” an investigation into what it would take to close the achievement gap and increase student learning is overdue.

The goal for my Michigan based project, S.T.E.A.M. Daises, was to develop a program focusing on the …

Paraprofessional Training Materials, Program Implementation & Review, Breann Brewer

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

If ever you enter a special education classroom, you may encounter a few events. You may witness a classroom of impressive, almost automatic interactions, delivered in a way so eloquent that the students and staff seem to be in an effortless dance with one another. Or, you may witness a classroom that feels heavy with needs; needs of more staff, more help, more hands, and more time. This visual exercise demonstrates how the structure of a special education classroom sets the tone for student growth and success.

One pivotal part of a special education classroom is the paraeducators. Paraeducators, also …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Perceptions Of Inclusive Preschool Education Through The Lens Of Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Educators., Brooke Noon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Young children with special needs have been educated in early childhood settings with typically developing peers for over 40 years. Successful educational inclusion in the least restrictive environment requires appropriate aids and supports (Individuals with Disabilities Act, 2004). Although researchers have studied many aspects of special education, little investigation has been conducted on the perspectives of dual certified interdisciplinary early childhood educator’s (IECE) perceptions on full inclusion in preschool. This study was designed to examine the connection between the perceptions of IECE teacher’s experiences as a dual certified educator in preschool. In total, 10 IECE teachers were interviewed and completed …

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 Importance Of Teaching Social-Emotional Skills To Young Children, Stephanie Valdez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

My capstone project enhances the social-emotional skills of preschool children, which are fundamental for relationships, emotional management, and empathy. Children lacking these skills may struggle in learning, behavior, and socializing when they progress to elementary school. Studies have shown that social-emotional competence and cognitive competence are critical predictors of academic accomplishment (Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Student Benefits: Implications for the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Core Elements, n.d.). Children in preschool who lack these skills may experience difficulties in learning, behavior, and socializing as they progress to elementary school (Amy Morin, 2019). A significant issue arises when children encounter obstacles …

Universal Design For Learning (Udl) In Inclusive Preschool Science Classrooms, Marla J. Lohmann, Katrina A. Hovey, Ariane N. Gauvreau

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Science instruction is a critical aspect of early learning. Teachers can support young children’s learning about scientific concepts through the use of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, which is a proactive approach to instructional planning that helps ensure success for all learners. This teaching techniques article offers preschool teachers practical solutions for implementing in the UDL framework for science instruction in their classrooms.

Preschool Approach To Teaching Alphabet Knowledge, Ashley Kreinbrink

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This action research project was completed by a researcher interested in the alphabet knowledge curriculum. More specifically, in the study of letters, and how to incorporate the relationship of uppercase and lowercase identification, letter sounds awareness, sound placements, and writing letter formation as critical components of an alphabet knowledge curriculum. This researcher taught preschool for thirteen years. The students were able to participate in the study. Students received Enhanced Alphabet Knowledge (EAK) lessons daily. The study was part of our priority standards aligned to the Iowa Early Learning Standards and Teaching Strategies GOLD. The students were asked to identify uppercase …

General Education Preschool Teachers' Preparedness To Teach Students With Disabilities Within A General Education Preschool Setting, Mary-Margaret Satterfield

Ed.D. Dissertations

Since Congress passed amendments in 1997 to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), there has been an emphasis on instruction to students with disabilities in the general education classroom, especially with preschool students. The significant increase of students with disabilities in general education classrooms precipitated the need for general education teachers to have knowledge and skills about special education to support and provide instruction to students with disabilities. The purpose of this basic, interpretive qualitative study was to investigate how general education preschool teachers in a large school district in Tennessee felt prepared by their preservice, in-service, and continuing education …

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 …

Beyond The Clinic: Modified Internet-Delivered Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Terreca Cato

Master's Theses

Children who attend Head Start children are at increased risk for emotional and behavioral disorders. A variety of systemic factors contribute to their increased risk for problematic developmental outcomes. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based intervention for improving positive parenting skills and children’s outcomes. This study included a multiple baseline design across participants and tested the effects of Internet-Delivered Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (I-PCIT) on improving Head Start mothers’ use of the Effective Commands that are part of the Parent Directed Interaction component of PCIT. Seven total mothers were recruited to participate in this study. Four mothers did not complete …