Pathways To Progress: Policy-Driven Innovation And Community Building In Early Childhood Integrated Education, Hallie Caddy, Rachael Flynn, Annie Insana, Cathy Eschete

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The presentation outlines Belmont University's efforts to transform early childhood education through an innovative integrated teacher preparation program and the development of a new preschool. It discusses the changing landscape of Tennessee’s early childhood education policies, including new licensure endorsements that blend early childhood and special education. Belmont aims to address challenges such as teacher shortages and accessibility while aligning with the university’s mission of serving diverse communities. Key strategies include understanding community needs, anchoring initiatives to the university’s mission, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and leveraging critical resources. The university is preparing to launch its integrated early childhood education program …

Optimizing Sensory Processing: General Education Classroom Strategies, Elizabeth Lowry

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Innovations in OT Symposium: Transforming Possibilities into Practice

Introduction

In the general education setting, teachers often feel unequipped to address sensory processing deficits. There is little research in the general education setting within this area, but implementing sensory strategies can be beneficial for all students. The purpose of this capstone project is to support sensory processing behaviors within the elementary education setting.

Methods

General education classroom teachers/staff within Pembroke Elementary School (Public Schools of Robeson County, North Carolina) participated in an educational in-service that took place in February 2025. During this time, an 11-field RedCap survey was developed and a pre-survey/post-survey was provided to the participants to gauge …

Identifying Universal And Language-Specific Features In Play-Based Writing Of Young Children, Shaya Helbig

Dissertations

Young children’s marks when writing consist of universal features such as scribbling and drawing, and language-specific features such as letters or letter-like forms and spaces (Clay, 1979; Puranik & Lonigan, 2011; Rowe & Wilson, 2015; Teale & Sulzby, 1985). It is widely agreed that exposure to words and written language play a pivotal role in children’s writing development (Clay, 1979; Teale & Sulzby, 1986). However, it remains unclear whether children form more complex writing skills through specific developmental stages, and if age plays any part in this progression (Clay, 1979; Justice & Vukelich, 2008; Teale & Sulzby, 1986). The lack …

A Journey Into Hybrid Play Space Approaches Within An Urban Context, Ross William Podyma Mr

International Journal of Playwork Practice

This paper explores the development and implementation of a hybrid play space approach at Normanton Park, in Derby, UK. It examines the integration of playwork and forest school principals within a free, open-access play environment, focusing on the role of adults in facilitating child-led play. The paper analyses the synergies and tensions between these approaches, considers the contributions of other organisations providing environmental opportunities for young people, and reflects on the application of these models in contexts of urban deprivation. It argues for the value of hybrid models in maximising inclusivity and accessibility while fostering children’s creativity, resilience, and connection …

Effects Of Trauma On Brain Development And Learning, Jodie Subbert

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Early childhood trauma significantly impacts brain development, particularly in the areas of language processing and executive functioning. This inquiry-based research explored how trauma influences students’ attention, engagement, and emotional regulation in early learning environments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of trauma on learning and literacy development and to identify trauma-informed teaching strategies that support academic success in young learners. Data collected through reflective journaling, classroom observations, and teacher discussions revealed that students affected by trauma often struggle with emotional regulation, focus, and task engagement. However, the implementation of trauma-informed practices, such as consistent routines, emotional …

Language And Literacy In Early Childhood Education: Hybrid Syllabus, Michele De Goeas-Malone

Open Educational Resources

Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Education is a capstone course, which means it is a core course in the education degree that offers students nearing graduation the opportunity to integrate their learning to help them address issues in education related to the development of language and literacy from birth to 8 years of age. This course is also a writing intensive course. That means that you will be engaged in several high and low stakes writing activities throughout the semester.

This course is designed to promote your understanding of the importance of issues concerning language and literacy in early …

How Do Children Learn How To Learn? Promoting Early Development At Home Through Play: A Scoping Review, Annika J. Larson

Senior Theses

Early childhood is a critical time in human development, during which children are discovering and practicing countless skills, from basic motor and language skills to problem-solving, self-regulation, memory, and other foundational abilities like literacy and math skills. From infancy through childhood, play is thought to be the primary condition under which most early skills are developed and perfected. During this time, young children are especially vulnerable to adversity and negative environmental influences due to their brains’ high plasticity; adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact an individual well beyond early childhood, specifically in early skills deficits. Play is known to be a …

A Phenomenological Study Of School Staff Perceptions Of The Threat And Prevention Of School Violence, Rebecca Linton

Dissertations

My study addressed the issue of school safety and student mental health in schools in the United States. The purpose of this study was to identify the concerns staff members had about the system and procedures used to track students’ mental health and how staff and students are kept safe within the school environment. The overarching research question for my study was: What are the perceptions of school staff regarding school safety and the support students with mental health issues receive? I used a quantitative research method for my study, collecting data through surveys of teachers and administrators. The survey …

Testimonios Of Antiracist School Social Workers: Advancing Professional Equity And Updating The School Social Work Model, Leticia Villarreal Sosa, Christy Mccoy, Laurel E. Thompson, Stephanie Ochocki

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

During a modern era of rising white nationalism and racial reckoning, the opportunity to reimagine the national model for school social work practice was explored in partnership with practitioners, scholars, researchers, and leaders of the profession. It sparked a parallel process of engagement that required the critical analysis of the systemic and structural racism impacting not only our educational communities, but also the historical influences shaping the school social work profession. Like the many antiracist efforts that have come before, the revision process was impacted by a pervasive culture of white supremacy, yet what emerged was an equity-centered model to …

Peer-Mediated Interventions Within The Special Education Classroom, Jessica Sass

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Preschool teachers are being asked to do more with less, especially when looking at the shortage of staff and the increase in students with IEPs. Students are starting school with more significant social and language needs, and the ability to integrate into the general education classroom and provide support is becoming more challenging. Research suggests that peer-mediated interventions (PMI) are a viable option in providing support to students who need support in language and social skills, especially when peers involved in the interventions are trained, and exhibit prosocial behaviors and interest in the target students. This inquiry-based study aimed to …

The Role Of Teachers In The Development Of The Curriculum, Kaylon Nevers

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The role of teachers in the curriculum development process is crucial to the educational success of students. This study explores the impact of teacher involvement in curriculum development, focusing on how their insights and expertise shape a more effective and relevant curriculum for students. Utilizing various sources, including peer-reviewed journals, literature, observations, surveys, and interviews, the research highlights significant contributions teachers make when actively involved in the curriculum development process. These data led to the conclusion that teacher involvement in curriculum development has significant positive impacts on the effectiveness and relevance of the curriculum for students. These data confirmed that …

Exploring The Impact Of Language Modeling Integration In Classroom Assessment Scoring System (Class) On Language Teaching And Learning In Pre-K Settings: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Teacher-Child Relationships And Interactions, Joy Lee Hernandez

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

This descriptive research study utilizes a mixed methods design to explore the impact of integrating language modeling into the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) on teachers' perspectives on language teaching and learning. Additionally, the study analyzed teacher-child interactions in Pre-K settings in Southeast Virginia, U.S.A.

Observations were conducted in eleven (11) classrooms using the Pre-K CLASS, a key instrument for assessing the quality of teacher-child interactions across domains such as Emotional Support, Classroom Organization, and Instructional Support, which includes Language Modeling. The CLASS tool was supplemented with detailed notetaking to capture both quantitative scores and qualitative nuances of interactions. This …

The Contribution Of Task Difficulty And Adult Reliability On Children's Academic Task Persistence, Ella M. Wheelbarger

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Task persistence plays a crucial role in children's academic success and achievement of long-term goals. Contextual variables may influence child persistence such as reward source reliability, task difficulty, or task arrangement. We evaluated the effects of reward source reliability on children's academic task persistence with task difficulty. The perception of the reliability of the reward source was manipulated by making a commitment to provide a reward after completion of the task, but upon completion, delivery was delayed to the next day. The study was designed to examine the extent to which experiencing prior disappointments would decrease persistence times on subsequent …

El Deafo Bibliotherapy, David S. Wolff

OER Materials

The goal of this assignment was for preservice teachers to practice writing a chain of questions that focused on the social and/or emotional needs of young learners. Bibliotherapy is therapeutic in nature to help individuals understand themselves and the world around them through guided reading experiences (American Library Association, 2025; Delisle & Galbraith, 2002). Further, bibliotherapy allow individuals to identify a personal problem mirrored by a character in a book. As the reader connects with the character, the reader experiences the emotions expressed by the character. Finally, the reader applies the character’s experience to their own personal problem (American Library …

Horrible Harry In Room 2b Bibliotherapy, David S. Wolff

OER Materials

The goal of this assignment was for preservice teachers to practice writing a chain of questions that focused on the social and/or emotional needs of young learners. Bibliotherapy is therapeutic in nature to help individuals understand themselves and the world around them through guided reading experiences (American Library Association, 2025; Delisle & Galbraith, 2002). Further, bibliotherapy allow individuals to identify a personal problem mirrored by a character in a book. As the reader connects with the character, the reader experiences the emotions expressed by the character. Finally, the reader applies the character’s experience to their own personal problem (American Library …

Exploring Pedagogical Approaches And Discussion For Young Beginner Double Bass Players, Jiaying Zhang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In recent years, early childhood education for the double bass has gained increasing attention and plays a crucial role in shaping the future development of the instrument. However, compared to other instruments, research on early childhood education for the double bass remains relatively underdeveloped, with a lack of written materials on the subject. This thesis introduces the formation of early childhood teaching concepts and explains why parents play an irreplaceable role in a child’s initial exposure to music learning. By collecting and analyzing traditional double bass teaching methods and integrating common principles from other string instrument teaching approaches, this study …

Social Stories To Shape Impulsive Behaviors To Increase Self-Regulation In Preschoolers, Caroline Claire Hargrave

LSU Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Students need to be able to self-regulate their behavior within the classroom, thus not interrupting instruction and keeping the classroom running smoothly. Self-regulation is a critical skill children need to succeed in multiple aspects of life. Poor self-regulation skills can lead to challenges academically as well as socially. Contrary to self-regulation is impulsivity, which surrounds not thinking before doing. Impulsivity is a common factor seen within the preschool setting, which surrounds multiple behavior variations deemed unsuitable for classroom learning. Previous research indicates that social stories can be implemented within the classroom to decrease inappropriate behaviors in preschoolers with …

Anchored Networks: Navigating Formal And Informal Pathways To Access Educational Resources In Transient And Military Families, Lara Ray

Dissertations

This study examines how Navy families in San Diego establish and use formal and informal networks to access educational resources for their children following relocation. Grounded in social capital theory, the research employed a multiple-case study approach, integrating data from interviews, focus groups, and digital analysis of Navy-affiliated social media platforms. The study explores how parents navigate these networks to promote their children’s academic success, with particular attention to key decision-making moments, resource negotiation, and equity considerations. Participants included Navy spouses from diverse ranks (E-3 to O-6) and socioeconomic backgrounds, providing insight into disparities in resource access. Findings reveal that …

Understanding Parental Beliefs And Home Environment In Early Childhood Mathematics: A Perspective From The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Zhengqing Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the dynamics of parental beliefs and their influence on intentions to engage in the home math environment (HME) for early childhood mathematics learning, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a framework. Specifically, it explores how behavioral, normative, and control beliefs, along with background factors, shape parents' intentions to support children in formal and informal math practices at home. Employing a quantitative approach, the research utilizes a self-designed questionnaire to evaluate the TPB model's applicability and identify key predictors of parental intentions.

The findings reveal that parents' attitudes, perceived social norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly …

Eds 704: Curriculum And Instructional Practices For Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Young Children With Disabilities In Inclusive Settings, Lingyu Li

Open Educational Resources

Curriculum and instructional practices appropriate for young children with special needs including curriculum standards, designing learning environments, developing effective strategies for teaching readiness and content area skills, developing social skill programs, collaborative teaching techniques and using informal checklists in the development of appropriate IFSP/IEP goals and objectives. Emphasis will be placed on the impact of cultural and linguistic diversity on program planning and skill acquisition. Use of technology for instruction and monitoring student progress will be incorporated throughout the course.

Adverse Childhood Experiences And The Impact Of Resiliency On Child Behavior: A Quality Improvement Project, Macy Kraft

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Background: Adverse Childhood Experiences can have a significant impact on a person’s future health and wellness. Therefore, it is necessary for healthcare professionals to increase their understanding of possible mediating factors to lessen the impact of these experiences should they occur.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based quality improvement initiative designed to enhance the formal behavioral assessments of pre-school children following the participation of their caregivers in an ACEs and resiliency educational intervention.

Methods: Implementation of a two-armed intervention; a brief educational session aimed at providing an introduction to ACEs and a …

Integrating Food, Water, And Agriculture Education In Early Childhood: A Baseline Study Of Farm To Ece Programming, Kyle Whitley, Kelsey Hall

National Collaborative for Research on Food, Energy, and Water Education (NC-FEW)

This baseline study examined how [State] early care and education (ECE) providers implemented activities and access to locally grown foods, gardening, and learning about food, nutrition, water use, composting, and agriculture. Over the past three years, 254 respondents participated in farm to ECE, with many providers cooking or holding taste tests, doing agriculture/nutrition education, and conducting field trips. Universities, farmers, community organizations, and Extension agents could alleviate the primary barriers and support ECE providers through curriculum, website content, or trainings on how to teach 3-5 year olds agriculture, gardening, plant life cycle, water, the environment, or composting.

Mitigating The Negative Effects Of Over And Early Exposure To Media With Joint Media Engagement: A Literature Review, Mary K. Littlepage

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

This paper examines the negative impact of over and early exposure to media on children’s developmental domains. Among other deleterious effects, early and over exposure to media has been associated with attention deficits, language delays, and interrupted social interactions. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) addresses these concerns with recommendations, discouraging the use of screens for children birth to eighteen months and recommends that children over two years old limit their viewing to one to two hours or less per day (AAP Council on Communications and Media, 2016). For children within the recommended viewing and age parameters, many studies have …

The Limitation Effect: Florida Restrictions As A National Warning Sign, Mica Pollock, Hirokazu Yoshikawa, John Diaz, Abigail Richburg, Blair Cox, Andrew Matschiner, Emilie Homan, Abdul-Rehman Mohammed Issa

Education Faculty Articles and Research

The abstract below summarizes a white paper report we released in fall 2024, The Limitation Effect: Experiences of State Policy-Driven Education Restriction in Florida’s Public Schools (Pollock & Yoshikawa, et al.,). We hope readers will read our report in full. It links to an archive of background information and full interview highlights, as well.

At this writing, the nation has experienced over four years of a divisive networked campaign to restrict how educators can support students in public schools. This campaign has promoted both state law and nationally networked local agitation demanding that public schools limit access to specific realms …

Parent-Teacher Communication In The Infant-Toddler Setting, Shaquonna A. Alston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a lack of understanding in terms of how to support effective parent-teacher communications in infant and toddler education programs. Early childhood educators are necessary to communicate with parents about what occurs in classrooms as parents are vital sources about what occurs in homes. The purpose of this study was to explore parent and teacher perspectives on parent-teacher communication to determine ways to improve and support home-school communication and support early learners. Bronfenbrenner's theory of ecological systems, particularly the mesosystem, which involves interactions between two or more settings such as homes and schools, guided the research. For this basic …

Nebline, March/April 2025

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Be Groundwater Aware in Your Day-to-Day Life! Becky Schuerman

National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 9-15, 2025

National Nutrition Month: Food Connects Us, Alyssa Havlovic

Recipe of the Month: Wild Vegetable Salad, Alyssa Havlovic

Prepare Your Landscape’s Spring Game Plan, Sarah Browning

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month, Mary Jane Frogge

2025 GROBigRed

Embracing the Puddle: The Joy of Rainy Day Outdoor Play, Hayley Jackson Perez

Agronomic Practices to Reduce Nitrate Losses to Groundwater, John Nelson

Ethan & Morgan Gabel Attend National 4-H Congress

4-H Horse Teams at Nationals

Teen Council 4-H’ers Team Up to Lead Overnight Lock-in

Heart of …

Engaging Early Childhood Students Using Clothesline Math, Stacy K. Boote, Terrie Galanti, Danielle Felicien, Tara Kelly

UNF Faculty Research and Scholarship

Strengthen young learners’ agency and accountability by problematizing number sense, place value, and multiplication concepts using a Clothesline Math routine.

Early Bedtime Routines And Behavioral Outcomes Among Children From Low-Income Families: Mediating Role Of Emotion Regulation, Rachel A. Razza, Sangita Pudasainee-Kapri, Ying Zhang

The Lender Center for Social Justice

This research demonstrates that early bedtime routines in low-income families promote better behavioral outcomes via improved emotion regulation.

If You Can't Read The Book, You Only Learn A Little, John Hobe

Empowering Educators Conference

Come and discuss exciting strategies we can do to make certain students can read the materials we provide. We want the students to remember successful school experiences. We will discuss what to do so the students read teacher provided maerials or the books students select successfully.

Mapping Early Childhood Phonological Abilities In Paud Tasikmalaya: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Anggia Suci Pratiwi, I Dewa Putu Wijana, Adi Sutrisno, Endang Nurhayati, Rahil Rohimah Nurdin

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This study maps the phonological abilities of early childhood in PAUD Tasikmalaya, focusing on language sound acquisition and use. Using a descriptive qualitative method, data were collected through classroom observations and interviews with 4- to 6-year-old students in various PAUD institutions, including state-owned, private, Islamic, and Christian schools across Tasikmalaya. The study involved 315 children from RA Baiturrahman, TK Negeri Pembina, TK Cangkurileung, TK IT Ihya As-Sunah, and Joykids.Speech data were analyzed through reduction, display, and verification, ensuring validity through expert judgment. Findings reveal that vowel mastery progresses with age. At four years old, children fully master initial and final …