Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Early childhood classrooms'

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of K-12 Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) implementation in preschool classrooms. PBIS is a multi-tiered social-emotional and behavioral framework developed for the K-12 population and not for young children. Implementation of K-12 PBIS in preschool classrooms creates a contextual mismatch which may negatively affect outcomes such as teacher self-efficacy and student behavior. The Pyramid Model is a framework adapted from K-12 PBIS developed specifically for young children.

This study used a logic model to examine the relationships among implementation fidelity, teacher sense of efficacy and student behavior. Three research questions asked the degree to which teachers trained in K-12 PBIS implement Pyramid Model key practices and how this relates to teacher self-efficacy and student behavior. A convenience sample of 20 preschool teachers trained in K-12 PBIS participated in this quantitative research. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was utilized to run descriptive, correlation and linear regression data analyses on data gathered through The Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool (TPOT), Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) and student behavior tallies. Results indicated that preschool teachers trained in K-12 PBIS implement 63% of Pyramid Model key practices. Implementation fidelity was not found to correlate with teacher self-efficacy, but was found to predict the frequency of inappropriate student behavior that occurs during child-directed activities. Implications of this study suggest that contextual fit matters when choosing an intervention model for young children. It is recommended that districts that implement K-12 PBIS with their K-12 population separately implement the Pyramid Model in their preschool classrooms. Teachers should be trained in the key practices developed to support young students’ social-emotional and behavioral growth. Future research could compare preschool programs that implement K-12 PBIS with those that implement the Pyramid Model. Direct comparison of teacher and student outcomes within these two contexts could reveal important findings for policy and practice.

Early numeracy skills are a critical component of daily preschool instruction, according to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM; 2002); however, there is variability in how mathematics-driven instruction is implemented in the preschool classroom (Graham, Nash, & Paul, 1997; Brown, Malfese, & Molfese, 2008). Research indicates that children from low income backgrounds who qualify for Head Start programs do not make comparable growth in early numeracy skill development when compared to children from higher SES levels (Puma, et. al., 2012). The objective of this dissertation was to evaluate a selected mathematics curriculum utilized by the Happy Faces Head Start1 program, after program data indicated that children’s mathematics achievement was below established targets (Happy Faces Head Start, 2012). Results indicated that the curriculum, Mathematics: A Creative Curriculum Approach, which was implemented in rural Head Start classrooms did not show significant gains in math skills compared to children in the control group.

While high levels of skills in education and achievement are critical for a student’s social and economic success, schools have yet to live up to their educational responsibilities to children of color and children living in poverty. Nationwide, the achievement gap affects students of color, particularly low-income Latino students. Gay argued that contributing to educational deficits are teachers who do not understand the importance of knowing their students’ cultural backgrounds. This qualitative dissertation utilized the conceptual frameworks of culturally responsive pedagogy and sociocultural interactions to understand Latina Head Start preschool teachers’ perspectives in the classroom when implementing culturally responsive pedagogy embedded within sociocultural interactions in classrooms.

The major findings in this study documented that the Latina Head Start preschool teacher participants were sensitive to the unique needs of Latinao dual language learners from low-income families. The teacher participants overwhelmingly reported that providing emotional support, cariño (affection), and empathy to all of the children throughout classroom interactions was vital for student learning. They regularly used the children’s home language, Spanish, and supported children’s development in both languages. The Latina Head Start preschool teacher participants expressed a sense of commitment and responsibility to ensure each Latino child is successful. The Latina Head Start preschool teacher participants shared a natural ability to teach with cariño while utilizing culturally responsive pedagogy with interwoven sociocultural interactions as they worked with their Latina/o students.

The preschool years are a crucial time for children to develop vocabulary knowledge. A quality preschool environment promotes large amounts of language usage including picture book read alouds and discussions. There is growing research to support the use of nonfiction literature in preschool classrooms to promote vocabulary growth and knowledge of the world for preschool children. This research study compared vocabulary growth of preschool children using fiction and dialogic discussions versus vocabulary growth of preschool children using nonfiction and dialogic discussions following a six week study of autumn and changes that happen during this season to the environment and animals. The quasi-experimental design used the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-4, a curriculum-based measure for receptive vocabulary, and a curriculum-based measure for expressive vocabulary to assess vocabulary growth. Results showed that there was significant difference in the vocabulary growth in the treatment group indicated by the curriculum-based measure for receptive vocabulary, but the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-4 and the curriculum-based measure for expressive vocabulary did not indicate significant difference in growth in the 6-week research period. The findings of this research have implications for teachers. Using nonfiction literature during read aloud times is beneficial to vocabulary growth. Dialogic discussions used with fiction and nonfiction read alouds provide authentic opportunities for students to use vocabulary in meaningful ways. In order to maximize vocabulary growth during the preschool years, teachers should be aware of the benefits of using nonfiction literature for interactive read alouds.

This qualitative interview study examines the challenges and successes early childhood teachers in Oakland Unified School District face when addressing issues of race and racism in their classrooms. Teachers' and District Administrator's stories of barriers and strategies were analyzed to inform my professional practice. Data were collected through qualitative interviews and a focus group. The main theoretical framework that supported analysis came from Critical Race Theory. The data were analyzed through descriptive coding and analytic memoing. Key findings include the impact of personal beliefs and experiences on teachers' barriers and strategies. Teachers' barriers include the age or English proficiency of their students, lack of discussion at their school site, and a lack of training and tools. They used a wide range of strategies, including literature, general conversations, specific questions, creating a strong link between home and school as well as relying on experiences regarding race and racism they had in their personal lives. Teachers and district administrators were both working on addressing racism, however, their strategies were very distinct; administrators were working on large-scale projects while teachers were very focused on their individual classrooms and students. This study makes an important contribution to the literature because the role and impact of race and racism in Early Childhood classrooms is often overlooked. There is a lack of professional literature addressing the obstacles that teachers committed to engaging in this work face and also an absence of reflection from early childhood teachers about what strategies they use to support them in their anti-racist work.

Keywords: anti-racist teaching, early childhood education, critical race theory, obstacles to anti-racist teaching, teacher strategies

The purpose of this research was to explore factors influencing Kuwaiti kindergarten preservice teachers’ intentions to use Web 2.0 technologies in their future Kuwaiti kindergarten classrooms and their perceptions of using Web 2.0 technologies to enhance kindergarten student learning. This mixed methods study employed parallel collection of qualitative and quantitative data, separate analyses of the data, and then a merging of the findings. Gathered data were evaluated using the decomposed theory of planned behavior (DTPB) to predict the factors that influence Kuwaiti preservice teachers’ intentions to use Web 2.0 technologies in their future kindergarten classrooms. The central research questions of the study included the following: (1) What factors do Kuwaiti preservice kindergarten teachers describe as the best predictors of their intentions to use Web 2.0 technologies in their future classrooms? (2) What are Kuwaiti preservice kindergarten teachers’ perceptions of the pedagogical benefits of using Web 2.0 technologies in their future classrooms? (3) How do Kuwaiti preservice kindergarten teachers describe the factors that predict their intentions to use Web 2.0 technologies in their future kindergarten classrooms? (4) How do Kuwaiti preservice kindergarten teachers describe their perceptions of Web 2.0 technologies as pedagogical tools? The findings revealed that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control positively and significantly affect the preservice teachers’ intentions to use Web 2.0 technologies.

This study indicated Kuwaiti kindergarten preservice teachers’ intention to use YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Twitter in their future kindergarten classroom to improve student learning, communicate with parents, and share classrooms activities. Another important finding was the fact that the majority of Kuwaiti kindergarten preservice teachers did not use Wikis, Blogs, Facebook, and Skype. However, they proficiently used the popular Web 2.0 technologies in their social cultural environment. Most of the teachers believed that Web 2.0 technologies could improve kindergarten students’ learning, but they had concerns regarding inappropriate content. Hence, they were not prepared to use Web 2.0 technologies in educational settings. Finally, by using a mixed-method approach, this study offered educators a different dimension of the factors that affect preservice teachers’ intentions to use technology.