Early Childhood Education Commons^™

Constructivist Education : Exploring The Constructivist Theory And No Child Left Behind To Develop An Effective Kindergarten Program, Leigh M. Siegert

Graduate Research Papers

This paper is a literature review of Constructivist Education Theories and how they can be incorporated into a No Child Left Behind (NCLB) classroom. The focal point of this paper will be the theories of Constructivist Education. In addition, will be discussed, the benefits of and problems concerning Constructivist Education. Also, guidelines for incorporating Constructivist Education into a NCLB classroom will be established. The conclusion of this paper will share which theories work and which do not. Also, recommendations for additional research are included.

Sending Children Who Are Medically Fragile To School, Aulanda L. Zenner

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined the decisions to send children who are medically fragile to school-based programming. A case study including parent interviews, as well as pediatrician surveys regarding the education of children who are medically fragile. Benefits, as well as problems, were discussed and were associated with children who are medically fragile attending school. Guidelines were presented for decisions to send children who are medically fragile to school. Also, conclusions were drawn from the literature and recommendations were made for the future of schooling for children who are medically fragile.

Revision Of The Carlisle Elementary Preschool Standards Based On The Iowa Early Learning Standards, Marne M. Sievers

Graduate Research Papers

This paper describes the process of evaluating current standards and benchmarks for the Carlisle Elementary Preschool, revising them using the Iowa Early Learning Standards, which were completed in May 2005, revising a teacher-created assessment tool and progress report, and investigating the curriculum that is used and how it aligns with the newly created standards and benchmarks. Standards and benchmarks have been a focus in the educational field due to the implementation of the Federal "No Child Left Behind" Act.

Many standards and benchmarks have been created for kindergarten through twelfth grade but few programs have adopted standards and benchmarks prior …

Incorporating Interactive Writing Throughout The Day In A Kindergarten Classroom, Amy Sobaski

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined the use of interactive writing in a kindergarten classroom. Interactive writing and related terms were explained, and connections were made between interactive writing and learning standards. Possible problems and solutions were discussed, and a case study was conducted in a kindergarten classroom. Guidelines were presented for successful integration of interactive writing into a balanced literacy program. Also, conclusions were drawn from the case study and reviewed literature, and recommendations were made for the use of interactive writing in the classroom and for future research in this area.

Gender Differences In American Children's Oral Narratives, Nadezda M. Zernova

Graduate Research Papers

Gender differences exist among different aspects of children's development (such as social, cognitive, and emotional). Children's narratives have been used as a common assessment tool (Libby & Aries, 1989; Wang & Leichtman, 2000) to learn more about gender differences. Knowledge of existing differences enables educators to individualize their teaching for boys and girls in order to benefit their development. The present study focused on gender differences in the following areas of American children's oral narratives: characters, emotional tone, structure, content, and language. The participants of the study were 14 kindergarteners and first-graders (7 boys and 7 girls) between ages 6 …

Daily Drawing And Writing Activities In A Preschool Classroom, Lynn Glaser

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review examined the effect of providing daily drawing and writing activities in a preschool classroom. Benefits, as well as concerns, were discussed. Guidelines were presented to help with establishing a classroom environment that would provide daily drawing and writing activities for children in a preschool classroom. Conclusions were also drawn from the literature and recommendations were made to assist administers and teachers with establishing a program that supports daily drawing and writing activities.

Nebline, November/December 2005

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Community Food Programs Help Limited-Resource Families Eat Healthy
NEP Teaches People How to Stretch Their Food Dollar
Get Involved in the Fight Against Hunger
Free Soybean Cyst Nematode Sample Kits Available
Don’t Forget to Winterize Your Underground Sprinkler System
Agricultural Tax Planning for 2005
Nebraska Arboretum Speakers Bureau
Setting Goals for Your Small Farm
Prepare Horses For Winter
Improve Nebraska Woodlands in Late Fall and Winter
“Woody Florals” Acreage Insights Clinic, Nov. 10
Prevent Soil Erosion
Thanksgiving — the Tradition Continues
Ginger Citrus Rice Recipe
FREE Healthy Desserts Presentation, Nov. 15
$tretch Your Food Dollar with Leftover Turkey
President’s Notes …

Nebline, October 2005

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Students Prepare for Careers at UNL College of Ag and Natural Resources
CASNR’s “Ensuring Your Future Guarantee”
Check Out UNL and CASNR
Drying Gourds
Deep Watering Trees in Fall can Prevent Winter Drying Injury
Gladiola Fall Care
Storing Vegetables
Farmer Question: How Can I Reduce Energy Costs When Drying Grain?
Avoid Pasture Damage During Fall Grazing
Food Safety 101: USDA Offers Tips for College Students
One-Dish Rosemary Chicken and White Beans Recipe
Healthy Desserts Presentation, Nov. 15
Breakfast Power
How Healthy is Your Home? Be Aware of Indoor Air Pollutants
President’s Notes — Janet’s Jargon
FCE News & Events
Household …

Nebline, September 2005

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Now is a Good Time to Start a 4-H Club!
Spotlight on a New 4-H Club: Happy Hearts
4-H Kick Off, Sept. 20
Harvesting and Storing Apples
Garden Plants with Silver Foliage
Holiday Plants, Will They Bloom Again?
Swarming Midges near Capital Beach
Hands-On Termite Applicator Training, Sept. 28 & 20
Itch Mites Increasing in Oak Galls: Be Prepared for a Possible Itch Mite Outbreak
Pollution Prevention Participation
Harvest Safety Reminders
Women in Agriculture Conference Sept. 15–16
Prepare Bins Before Harvest to Maintain Grain Quality and Value
Scrap Tire Collection
Resting Pastures — the Key to More Productive Pastures
Upcoming …

Nebline, August 2005

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

4-H Food Booth at County Fair: Volunteers Have Fun, Rewarding Experience
Support 4-H by Supporting the 4-H Corner Stop
Booth Funds 4-H Council Activities
Household Hints: Energy Saving Ideas
  President’s Notes — Janet’s Jargon
Praise and Encouragement
2005 Scholarship Winner
Pack Your Street Sense When You Pack Your Bags
New Effective Mosquito Repellents Less Greasy, Odor Free
Control Mosquito Populations
Scrap Tire Collection Sept. 24 & 25
Using Natural Enemies to Control Pests
Some Beneficial Predators
Soybean Management Field Day, Aug. 12
Plant Alfalfa in August
St. Johnswort in Lancaster County
Free Soybean Cyst Nematode Sample Kits Available
Ammoniate Wheat …

Nebline, July 2005

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Avoid Portion Distortion With MyPyramid’s Specific Guidelines
Mandevilla — Tropical Vine with Showy Flowers
Fragrance in the Garden
Garden Guide: Things to do this month
Most Leaf Galls Don’t Harm Trees
Traveling This Summer? Find Bedbugs in Hotel Rooms Before They Find You!
Household Hazardous Waste Collections, June 24 & 25
Some Insects Thrive on Rat Poison
P3 Intern Working at Extension
Pine Wilt Disease
How to Sample for Pinewood Nematode
Pine Species to Avoid Planting
Presentation on Sustainable Agriculture, July 8
Predicting the Last Irrigation for Corn, Milo and Soybeans
Irrigating Summer Turf
In Hot Weather, Raise Mower Height …

Nebline, June 2005

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Meth Production is Toxic to Communities
2005 Perennial Plant of the Year
Climbing, Twining and Vining
Plant a Moss and Wire Hanging Basket
Itch Mite Update: Extension Will Warn When “Mite Showers” May Happen
Spider Bites? Look for Yellow Sac Spiders
Spider Bites or Skin Infection?
Scouting and Treating for Soybean Rust
The Nebraska LEAD Program
June is Noxious Weed Awareness Month
President’s Notes — Janet’s Jargon
Household Hints: Cleaning Dirty Socks
Take Time for Family Activities
FCE News & Events
Cleaning Supplies Checklist
MyPyramid: The Basics
MVP Pudding with Milk Recipe
Water is a Nutrient, Too
June is Dairy …

Nebline, May 2005

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Successful Shade Gardening: Key is Proper Plant Choice, Care
Why So Many Weeds?
2005 All-America Roses
Flowers That Tower
Be Good to Your Worms
Winged Termites or Ants?
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels
What is Mange?
Soybean Rust is on the Horizon
Effect of Increasing Energy Prices on Farming Costs
Pioneer Farm Award Nominations Due May 1
Buying High-Quality Trees
Conserving Water in the Landscape
NEP Partners with LPS to Teach Nutrition in Teen Parenting Classes
Cocoa-Berry Yogurt Tarts Recipe
Enjoy Beef Nutrition during May, National Beef Month
Mexican Beef Salad Recipe
Fruit Slush Recipe
Spicy Ranch Dressing Recipe
President’s Notes — …

¿CóMo Se Dice En EspañOl? : Language, Self-Expression, And Development Of A Young Bilingual Child, Margaret Blachly

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper addresses three areas of early childhood development and education: a Language development of a native Spanish-speaking child in a dual-language school environment. Guided art experiences as a vehicle for self-expression, language development, and personal self-awareness in a young child. The role of a non-teacher/non-family member in a young child's development of self-awareness and language. The paper presents a case study with related research, analysis, and suggestions for educators. Lauren Rodriguez (pseudonym), currently 7.8 years old, is a Mexican- American girl whose first language is Spanish. She first encountered English at her bilingual preschool, where she began attending school …

Nebline, April 2005

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Hallam Tornado Cleanup Included
Proper Disposal of Hazardous Waste
2005 Hazardous Waste Collections
15 Tons of Hazardous Waste Collected After 2004 Tornado
Liming Acid Soils
Smaller Ag Lime Particle Sizes Are More Effective
Animal Science Youth Field Day April 2
Nebraska Agricultural Youth Institute Applications Due April 15
Illegal Dumping in Lancaster County Declines
Household Hazardous Waste Collections for 2005
Create Moving Color in Your Garden
2005 Master Conservationist Award Nominations due April 1
Everything Homeowners Need to Know About TERMITE CONTROL
Earth Day 2005
Spending Your Calorie Salary: Tips for Using the 2005 Dietary Guidelines
Yogurt Salad Dressing Recipe …

Nebline, March 2005

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Rising Energy Prices Cause Some Irrigators to Consider Changing Energy Source
Water Conservation Strategies
2005 All-America Selections Winners
Caring for Easter Lilies
How Do Honey Bees Survive the Winter?
Beginning Beekeeping Workshop
Ultrasonic Pest Repellents Are Not Effective
Everything Homeowners Need to Know About TERMITE CONTROL
Nominations are Being Sought for the 2005 Lincoln-Lancaster County Environmental Awards
ewf needs volunteers
Private Pesticide Applicator Certification, March 3 and 16
Glyphosate, Rose by any Other Name ...
Pesticide Disposal Collection, March 16
“Native Grasses and Wildflowers” Rural Living Clinic, March 10
“Fertilizing Cropland With Biosolids” Workshop, March 3
Pruning Shrubs in the …

Numeracy In The Early Years: Project Good Start, Sue Thomson, Ken Rowe, Catherine Underwood, Ray Peck

School and system improvement

Project Good Start investigated the effectiveness of numeracy programmes for Australian children in the year before school and the first year of schooling. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected from pre-schools, early childhood centres and primary schools, tovinvestigate the practice and learning experiences that best support children’s early numeracy development.

Nebline, February 2005

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

The Scoop on Poop: Lessons in Wastewater Biology
Fertilizing Cropland With Biosolids
Shopping for Plants, Seeds
Colorful Coleus Make Good Bedding or Container Plants
Garden Guide: Things to do this month
Bromeliads Need Strong Light, Warm Temperatures to Survive
The Acreage Yard and Garden: an Ongoing Process
Shock Chlorination of Domestic Water Supplies
Rural Living Clinic on Raising Fruits, Feb. 10
Fewer “Trips to the Attic” of the Food Guide Pyramid Create Great Health Benefits
Italian White Bean Soup Recipe
Eating Well as We Age, Part 1
“Blooming” Chocolate Won’t Hurt You
President’s Notes — Janet’s Jargon
Household Hints: Beat …

Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival, Karen Rowell, Rosemary Chance, University Of Southern Mississippi

Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival Programs

The program for the thirty-eighth annual Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival held on the campus of The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 2005.

Fractions, Decimals, And Percents : A Fifth Grade Curriculum Unit, Jeffrey Li

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This independent study outlines a fifth grade curriculum unit for fractions, decimals, and percents. The unit utilizes a problem-solving approach to lead to deep understanding of fractions and their relations to decimals and percents. The study is influenced by writings by Hiebert, Dewey, Piaget, \/ygotsky, and Fosnot, and uses a lesson planning format created by Hal Melnick. Four explorations drive the unit:

Exploration 1: What is a fraction?

Exploration 2: Going Deeper with Fractions

Exploration 3: Connecting Fractions to Decimals and Percents

Exploration 4: Comparing Fractional Amounts

Effect Of A Balanced Literary Program In Kindergarten, Holly Parker

The Corinthian

The purpose of this study was to show the effect of a balanced reading instruction on kindergartners. The subjects were students from 10 kindergarten classes in 2 consecutive school years. This was a causal-comparative study with 129 students in the control group and 151 students in the experimental group. Both the control group and the experimental group were pretested in the the fall and posttested in the spring, using the Lexia Comprehensive Reading Test. The posttest mean of the experimental group (M = 28.0, SD = 10.3) was higher than the mean of the control group (M = 24.1, SD …

The Effects Of Lexia Phonics Based Reading Software On First Graders' Lexia Comprehensive Reading Scores, Paula Snider

The Corinthian

The research conducted in this paper provides information about using computer software to remediate reading skills in first grade. The pre- and posttest is the Lexia Comprehensive Reading Test (2001). This research was conducted in a first grade classroom with 22 students of which half were in the experimental group. Students were matched using Lexia Comprehension Reading test scores and randomly divided into the two groups. The experimental group used the Lexia Phonics Based Reading Program (2004) for 30 minutes a day 3- 4 times a week to build upon individual needs. After one month, the posttest was administered. The …

Bridges To Change: From The Classroom Community To Weeksville An Integrated And Thematic Curriculum, Pamela Jones

Graduate Student Independent Studies

"Bridges to Change" is a curriculum designed for use in a third grade inclusive classroom. This curriculum serves a dual purpose: (1) to provide teachers and students with activities that are designed to build and forge a sense of classroom community and (2) to provide teachers with built-in modifications and adaptations-thereby making the curriculum accessible to students at all levels. A wide array of sources was used in the creation of this curriculum. Understanding by Design and Universal Design for Learning were instrumental in laying the foundation for this work. Understanding by Design's "backwards design" approach was instrumental in the …

Developmentally Appropriate Practice In Childcare For Young Children And Families; A Book Of Photographs And Simple Text, Pamela Wheeler-Civita

Graduate Student Independent Studies

In this Independent Study to fulfill the requirements for my graduate degree at Bank Street College of Education, I am highlighting developmentally appropriate practice in childcare for infants and toddlers. In book format, I will cite aspects of good practice, using both simple text for young children, more in-depth text for adults, and black and white photographs to illustrate these points further. The rationale will cover my own personal history that lead me to believe that The Bank Street Family Center models developmentally appropriate practice. It also includes research to back my claims. All experiences supporting my ideas are solidly …

Catalogue 2005-2006, Bank Street College Of Education

Graduate School of Education

This course catalog from a past academic year is a resource for referring to previous course offerings, degree requirements, institutional policies, and more.

Nebline, January 2005

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Partnering With the Community: Lancaster County Extension Collaborates with over 125 Community Partners
Crop Protection Clinic on Jan. 24
Reduce Soil Compaction by Controlling Traffic in Fields
“10 Ways to Boost Profit by $20/Acre” Workshop on Jan. 26
Increased Quantities of Stored Corn Heighten Need to Preserve Quality
Things to Consider When Planting on an Acreage
Understanding Groundwater
Paving and Other Soil Surfacing
Chainsaws — Cut Safely and Comfortably
Latest U.S. Drought Monitor Map
Can You Guess It?
StairWELL to Better Health
Cranberry Apple Crisp Recipe
It’s the Berries!
Choose Your Drinks Wisely — It Makes Sense, and Saves Cents! …

Balanced Literacy Through The Use Of A Progressive Daily Message In A Kindergarten Classroom, N. Elizabeth Debritz

All Graduate Projects

The focus of this project was to review available literature on using a daily message within the framework of a balanced literacy program, and create specific lessons and activities to use in a kindergarten classroom that help students become successful readers and writers. Throughout this project the students will be experiencing powerful communication between teacher and students, and student to student, practicing various literacy skills, responding to print daily, and interacting with text and other students. These activities will help foster their attitude and ability to read independently.

The Critical Relationship Of Dramtic Play And Literacy Development: Primary Plays Handbook, Activity Packets And Dramatic Play Kits For The Primary Classrooms, Connie Lewellyn

All Graduate Projects

Dramatic play is a critical element of programs for young children as a means of acquiring literacy. Literacy-enriched play encourages children's exploration of reading and writing in the world around them. Although child-structured dramatic play is widely recognized as being important, few opportunities are provided for primary educators to incorporate this type of drama into their reading curriculums. This project provides a foundation to implement dramatic play activities in the preschool through third grade reading curriculums.

Maximizing Early Childhood Practices By Incorporating Constructivist Principles In An Elementary School, Pamela Evanshen, B. Clark

ETSU Faculty Works

In most public schools, children begin school in kindergarten. Recently, many school systems have begun to implement programs for preschoolers, ages three and four. Georgia introduced the first statewide universal pre-K program in 1995 which offers all 4 year old children free preschool. New York, Oklahoma and Florida have followed (Barnett & Hustedt, 2003). Tennessee recently passed a bill to use $25 million of lottery money to fund preschool for children considered "at risk" ("Latest Pre-Kindergarten News," n.d.). The substantial amount of research involving brain development has stressed the importance of quality experiences in the early years of life (birth-8 …

Inquiry In Early Childhood Teacher Education: Reflections On Practice, Jane Tingle Broderick, Seong Bock Hong

ETSU Faculty Works

As teacher educators we work to make inquiry methodology explicit to help teacher candidates construct the link between theory and practice. Bringing inquiry learning into the early childhood curriculum method courses raises the potential for inquiry teaching practice for teacher candidates and models a constructivist practice in a higher education setting. Of the numerous curriculum studies available, few focus on methods of inquiry to guide adult learners’ to construct inquiry- teaching practices that they can transfer to their work with children. To improve the quality of our teaching in an Early Childhood Teacher Education program we researched and developed several …