Early Childhood Education Commons^™

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.

Digital Stratification: Comparing Digital Literacy Practices Among Aboriginal And Mainstream Children In Australian Homes, Huan Gao, Gui Ying Annie Yang-Heim

Faculty Publications - College of Education

This qualitative study examines the home digital literacy practices of Aboriginal and Mainstream elementary-age children in Australia, highlighting how socio-economic and cultural factors influence these practices. This study integrates conceptural framework such as capital, digital capital, and social reproduction theory to analyze conversational interviews conducted with six children. Our findings reveal significant disparities in digital capital accumulation, primarily driven by socio-economic differences and varied access to digital resources. Mainstream students typically possess more digital capital, which allows them to navigate the digital landscape more effectively and perpetuate systemic inequalities. The enduring digital divide reinforces existing economic and social hierarchies, exacerbating …

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 …

Feeding And Swallowing Disorders In Children With Autism: What Caregivers Need To Know, Olivia Hopkins

Undergraduate Publications

This study investigates the complex topic of feeding and swallowing disorders in children with autism, highlighting the significant challenges they pose, particularly related to sensory sensitivities and oral motor difficulties, and the persistent lack of understanding. We examine diagnostic criteria, risks, familial impacts, cultural nuances, and evidence-based intervention strategies, with a focus on practical guidance for caregivers, to equip them with resources for navigating these challenges (Schulz & Eden, 2016). Despite the prevalence of these disorders, many remain unaware of the struggles, underscoring the urgent need for targeted investigations and supportive measures. Specifically, this paper aims to provide Speech Language …

Short-Run Economic Effects Of Michigan's State-Funded Preschool Programs, Timothy J. Bartik

Upjohn Institute Policy Papers

This policy paper estimates the short-run economic effects of the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP), Michigan’s state-funded preschool program for 4-year-olds. The paper considers 15year effects on state residents’ per capita incomes due to impacts on employment rates and real wages, as well as cost-savings from free preschool and fiscal benefits due to tax base expansion. These 15-year effects ignore the program’s outcomes for child participants and focus on how the Michigan economy is affected by GSRP’s direct impacts on parents and preschool teachers. The estimates use a regional econometric model of a state’s economy, developed originally to evaluate economic …

The Effect Of Age Of Acquisition On The Development Of Lexical Attainment And Oral Proficiency In English As L2 In Adult Native Arabic Speakers, Mona Ahmed Kamar El-Zaman

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the influence of the age of acquisition (AoA) on the development of lexical attainment and oral proficiency in English as a second language (L2) among adult native Arabic speakers, focusing on classroom foreign language learners within the Egyptian context. AoA, a critical variable in second language acquisition (SLA) research, is explored in relation to two key domains: lexical knowledge and oral proficiency. The study examines the role of AoA and AoA related effects, such as the order of bilingualism and the length of exposure to rich language input (LoE) as a confounding factor. Through a mixed-methods approach, …

The Impact Of Age, Gender, Race, And Socioeconomic Background On Montana Students’ Reading Achievement, Robin Cormier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem in this study was that 88% of local Montana elementary school students were not proficient in reading by the end of the 2023–2024 school year. The study’s purpose was to determine whether a relationship existed between students' performance on standardized reading tests in the local school setting and the key variables: age, gender, race, and socioeconomic background. Grounded in Piaget’s constructivist theory of cognitive development, the analysis explored whether the demographic factors contributed to differences in reading performance. Using a quasi-experimental, ex post facto design, (N = 64) students were categorized by age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status. …

Perspectives Of Childcare Directors, Teachers, And Parents Regarding The Risks And Challenges Of Nature Preschools, Mary Lavere Traub

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nature preschools are becoming more widespread but most nature preschools in the United States are not licensed. The problem addressed in this study was that unlicensed nature preschools may present risks and challenges for children because they are unlicensed. Guided by the work of Ernst and colleagues about the safety risks inherent in nature preschools, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of directors and teachers who work in nature preschools and parents who enroll their children in nature preschools regarding the risks and challenges for children that these preschools may present. Interviews were conducted …

Identifying Research-Based Practices For Increasing Peer Interaction In Children With Hearing Impairment: A Review Of The Literature, Amal Aldawoud

International Journal for Research in Education

Establishing peer interaction is critical for all childhood development, especially for children with hearing impairment (HI), who tend to experience a lot of difficulties in interaction. Practices aiming to promote peer interaction in children with HI need to be informed by evidence from quality research. This paper aims to review and evaluate research studies that focus on interaction between children with HI and their peers (with or without HI) in self-contained and inclusive classrooms. Seven empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals from 1990 to 2023 were examined and evaluated, using the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC, 2014) quality indicators. Several …

Let’S Talk About Quality: How Equitable Funding And Program Structure Impact Academic And Social Outcomes In Supplemental Education Programs, Inayah Ansari

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Although many studies have highlighted how high–quality supplemental education programs (early childhood education and after-school programs) help children and adolescents reach developmental milestones faster, very few studies focus on how programs are structured to create the quality that produces positive outcomes. In this paper, I define quality as equitable funding and program structure and interrogate how this conception of quality determines cognitive and social-emotional benefits, particularly for programs in New York City. Using fiscal data and study reviews, I illuminated the impact of budget cuts on programs and the importance of funding. Using a thematic analysis of six interviews conducted …

The Perspectives Of Play Advocates On Children’S Unstructured Play In Turkey, Bengi Sullu

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The Convention on the Rights of the Child has established children’s rights to non- discrimination, development, participation and the observance of their best interests. With this recognition, there has been a growing global interest in acknowledging play as a right. Yet unstructured play, in which children can choose when, where and how to play, with control over their play, has not received the same attention, support and investment as organized, structured play (UNCRC General Comment 17, 2013). The way adults perceive and support play shapes the play opportunities that are available to children (Bianquin, 2018; Göl-Güven, 2017). Additionally, institutions and …

Autonomy And Relatedness: Motivating Kindergarten Teachers In An Online Professional Development, Xuanyi Eliza Wu, Alfredo Bautista, Marc Clarà

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Drawing on the self-determination theory, this paper focuses on two factors that are essential for individuals to be motivated, namely the psychological needs of autonomy and relatedness. We implemented three different iterations of an online PD course, entitled Chat with Children. While content was identical, the designs of autonomy and relatedness varied. Participants of this exploratory study were 417 in-service Hong Kong kindergarten teachers. We analyzed teachers’ enrollment, participation, and completion in the three iterations, and also interviewed teachers to explore their experiences of different autonomy and relatedness designs. We found that participation and completion were significantly higher in the …

Centering Equity In An Ai-Generated Literacy Read Aloud Lesson Plan Brought To Life By Preservice Teachers, Denise Farrelly

Open Educational Resources

This resource is a series of in-class activities geared toward preservice teachers (PSTs) focused on how to center equity in their instructional planning and lesson implementation. PSTs will be able to use a generative AI tool to select an appropriate read aloud book and create the framework for a literacy lesson plan that stems from their own students’ interests. While AI will generate the learning objectives, standards, and basic procedures for the lesson plan, the PSTs will integrate the student-centered and culturally-responsive elements such as meaningful and engaging questioning, activities, and assessments. PSTs will consider these factors as they revise …

Manejo Y Conocimiento Del Cafetal Como Espacio Para El Fortalecimiento Educativo En Escuelas De Zonas Indígenas Y Rurales, Atzin Elihu Calvillo-Arriola, Alma Adrianna Gómez Galindo

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

El café es uno de los cultivos más importantes en el mundo, en México este sistema agroforestal, considerado de bajo impacto para los ecosistemas, es manejado por familias campesinas e indígenas, esto abre la posibilidad de valorar y reconocer al cafetal como un laboratorio viviente para la enseñanza de las disciplinas STEM.

Stem Como Respuesta A La Interdisciplinariedad En El Currículum Mexicano, María Del Rocío Hernández Hernández, Alma Adrianna Gómez Galindo

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

No abstract provided.

Perspectivas De Docentes De Secundaria Frente A Una Enseñanza Con Enfoque Stem En Escuelas Rurales, Yesenia Castaño Torres, María Teresa Guerra Ramos

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

Se analizan las perspectivas de docentes de una escuela ubicada en una zona rural de México sobre el enfoque STEM para la enseñanza de los saberes escolares en secundaria. Se reflexiona sobre lo que entienden los docentes sobre las disciplinas STEM y la viabilidad del enfoque en contextos escolares rurales.

Bridging Indigenous And Hispanic Knowledge Systems Through Collaborative Panel Discussions: Stem Teachers’ Perceptions Of Culturally Sustaining Nature-Based Pedagogy, Uma Ganesan

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

This paper presents findings from a transformative collaborative panel discussion session at the 2024 STEM Education Conference, examining how nature-based, environmentally conscious, and culturally sustaining science teaching practices implemented at the Umonhon Nation Public School (UNPS) in Nebraska can inform teaching practices in the Rio Grande Valley. The session was co-facilitated by University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Associate Professor Dr. Amanda Morales and UTRGV Assistant Professor Dr. Uma Ganesan. The study combines panel discussion analysis with qualitative survey data from participating STEM educators, providing rich insights into teachers’ perceptions of implementing culturally and linguistically sustaining (CLS) practices in diverse contexts. By …

Mentoring And Supporting All Writers: Strengthening Writing Instruction In Pk To 5th Grade With Halpern’S “Interactive Writing” And Anderson’S “Mentor Texts”, Chad H. Waldron, Meghan K. Block, Alicia D. Fluker, Mariah C. Schepak, Michelle R. Snyder

Michigan Reading Journal

Shared, co-authored book review by educators and researchers of Matt Halpern’s (2023) A Teacher’s Guide to Interactive Writing, Grades PreK-2 and Carl Anderson’s (2022) A Teacher’s Guide to Mentor Texts, Grades K-5 (Heinemann)

Teacher Candidates’ Perspectives On The Integration Of Digital Tools In Teacher Training Programs: A Case Study Of Using Seesaw, Gui Ying Annie Yang-Heim, Xi Lin

Faculty Publications - College of Education

Digital tools are crucial in modern education for improving teaching practices and student engagement. While technology enhances learning, many teacher candidates still struggle to effectively integrate it into their teaching (Habibi et al., 2023). For instance, Seesaw is a widely used digital platform in K-12 classrooms but seldom explored in higher education. This study explores teacher candidates' views on integrating Seesaw into their learning processes, revealing benefits and challenges. The study is guided by Puentedura's (2010, 2014) SAMR model as a framework to evaluate and discuss the findings of integrating Seesaw in a literacy methods course. The study's insights aim …

The Effectiveness Of Using Al Hodhud Application To Teach Reading Skills In Arabic As A Second Language In The International Baccalaureate System For Kindergarten Students, Samaa Bassem Haroun, Mohammad M. T. Habib Samkari

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدفت الدراسة التعرف إلى فاعلية تطبيق "الهدهد" في تنمية مهارات القراءة باللغة العربية كلغة ثانية لدى طلبة رياض الأطفال في برنامج البكالوريا الدولية، وقد أجريت الدراسة في مدرسة المواهب الإنجليزية في محافظة العاصمة عمان في الأردن خلال الفصل الدراسي الثاني من العام الدراسي 2022-2023. ولتحقيق أهداف الدراسة تم استخدام المنهج شبه التجريبي، وتم اختيار مجموعة الدراسة عمدياً، وتألفت المجموعة من (40) طفلاً من مرحلة رياض الأطفال، وتألفت العينة من مجموعة واحدة درست استخدام تطبيق الهدهد، وتم تطبيق الاختبار القبلي والبعدي، وبعد تطبيق الدراسة وإجراء التحليل الإحصائي أظهرت نتائج فاعلية تطبيق الهدهد في تنمية مهارات القراءة باللغة العربية كلغة ثانية، وأظهرت …