Young parents and their children are considered a high-risk population as they are more likely to lack social support networks, have limited access to opportunities to enhance parenting skills, and are often financially dependent. Young children whose mothers have poor parenting skills are more likely to have persistent problem behavior. Three young mothers living in a transitional housing facility participated in this study. The purpose of this study was to determine if these mothers could implement parenting strategies that are a part of a commercially available parenting book and DVD. This study found that: (1) mothers were able to correctly implement the parenting strategies; (2) child problem behavior decreased from baseline to follow-up; and (3) the mother's perception of child problem behavior shifted positively from baseline to follow-up phases.

This study examined the effects of a parent-led intervention focused on developing children's early literacy skills within the home setting. The lesson plans contain scripted steps for completing activities to teach letter names and phonological awareness skills. Archival data were analyzed from a study conducted with 26 families from three Head Start centers. Thirteen families completed the intervention and thirteen families were enrolled in a control condition which provided information on shared reading strategies. Children in the intervention group performed at statistically significant higher levels on measures of letter naming, phonological awareness, vocabulary/oral language, and comprehension. Parents rated both the intervention and control conditions as highly acceptable. Most parents (n= 10) within the intervention group completed the vast majority of the lesson plans. Changes within the home revealed that parents in both groups engaged in the same types of early learning activities, but that parents in the intervention group reported engaging in these activities more frequently than the control group. This study contributes to the literature by creating a method of parental involvement in preschool targeting phonological awareness and letter naming abilities.

The life of a child has completely transitioned from analogue to digital in the past 20 years. The use of digital devices and media has tripled among children between the ages of 0-8 years old since 2011. With the increasing amount of internet access in places that children and families frequent, it is almost impossible to go anywhere without the Wi-Fi access information being made available to consumers to enjoy while they patronize the business. Educators are in a unique position to find creative ways to incorporate technology into their instruction; however, this nuance is not without its challenges. Many early learning programs have not incorporated technology into their programs for a variety of reasons such as, but not limited to: lack of funding, fear, and the belief that it is not developmentally appropriate. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and The Fred Rogers Center drafted a joint statement that provided a framework for early childhood educators to use as they introduced technology and digital media into their learning environments. The researcher of this study conducted a mixed methods study with three diverse early learning programs in the southeastern part of the United States. After examining the aforementioned variables, the researcher found there to be no difference in the technology usage rate among the three schools. The findings also indicated that two out of the three schools were better equipped than the other with technology and access to digital media. Despite several of the survey participants having said that they had not received training on how to use digital devices for instructional purposes, an overwhelming 92% of them admitted to using technology for daily task completion. The researcher was not able to collect sufficient data to answer the question about parental influence. However, the researcher has identified this variable as an area for future research and believes that further examination will yield thought-provoking results regarding parental influence.

L’objectif de cette étude est de vérifier s’il existe un lien entre les conditions de défavorisation extrême associées à la pauvreté familiale telles que vécues par l’enfant en maternelle et son engagement en classe en 3e année du primaire. Pour ce faire, nous avons analysé des données portant sur un groupe de 341 enfants provenant des régions les plus défavorisées de Montréal à partir des observations rapportées par leur enseignant. Plusieurs régressions multiples ont permis de mettre en évidence des indicateurs sur l’engagement en classe, soit la concentration, la persistance et l’autonomie des participants avec quatre indicateurs liés à la défavorisation extrême soit la faim, les retards à l’école, l’habillement inadéquat et les signes de fatigue. Les résultats de cette étude ont montré que chacun de ces indicateurs pouvait indépendamment contribuer à l’engagement en classe, mais, que deux indicateurs ont un pouvoir prédictif supérieur et fiable, soit le retard en classe et les signes de fatigue. D’autres recherches plus poussées étaient les résultats de la présente étude et suggèrent comment une intervention précoce des enseignants, au début du primaire, pourrait encourager l’engagement en classe d’enfant provenant d’une population défavorisée urbaine. / This study sought to verify the link between certain conditions indicating deprivation in kindergarten children attending school in low income neighbourhoods and subsequent classroom engagement in third grade. Participants are from the Montreal Longitudinal Preschool Study (n = 341). For the deprivation variable, kindergarten teachers reported upon the frequency that children arrived to school hungry, not adequately clothed, late to school or tired. For the classroom engagement variable, third grade teachers reported on children’s task-orientation, persistence, and autonomous learning behaviour in the classroom at the end of the school year. A series of multiple regression analyses were used to verify the possibles links, first by the unique contribution of each deprivation variable and subsequently by attempting to determine which specific deprivation variable which contributed the most weight in the prediction of classroom engagement. Each deprivation variable made its unique contribution independent of child and environmental controls; however, arriving late and being tired seemed to matter most in terms of predictive power. Although cognitive skills and behavioral skills matter in school readiness, this study suggests the importance of teacher input when identifying children at risk of later learning-related behavioral difficulties. More inferential research needs to be conducted on this prospective relationship in order to better understand its dynamics and offer strategies for preventive intervention.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

The writer proposes the utilization of a developmentally based outdoor curriculum and playground designed for young children. The curriculum consists of an overview, objectives, curriculum methodology, playground designs and evaluation. Cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains are each included in the objectives. A curriculum methodology focusing upon approaches for individualization and development of the total child is presented. The playground designs are based upon current research. Play value, development appropriateness and safety were considered in developing playground designs and curriculum. Evaluation of the curriculum and playground will be measured through assessments of the individual child, the class, and the staff. Numerous approaches to evaluation are described. This project is intended to assist preschool teachers in establishing and maintaining a program based on current research and literature. Ideas to assist other preschools in adaptation are presented. Included in the ideas are steps in developing a curriculum and playground design as well as a suggested approach to training parents and staff in the rationale and appropriate use of the curriculum.

Examining teacher attitudes about the impact of Standards-Based Reform (SBR) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) on current teaching practices in kindergarten classrooms was the focus of this mixed-methods study. The investigation was designed to survey classroom teachers concerning activities and opinions about enactment of governmental policy, One hundred-nine kindergarten teachers responded to a questionnaire about beliefs, educational level, years of kindergarten teaching, and classroom practices. Follow-up semi-structured interviews were carried out with ten teachers to gather information on attitudes, beliefs, and implementation of policy. Quantitative analysis was used on practices and subject changes. Qualitative analysis was used to report attitude, procedural changes, and predictions concerning SBR and NCLB. Triangulation strengthened the study by examination of classroom practices and teacher reporting through plan book inspection.The quantitative research was conducted to measure changes through chi-square analysis to the questionnaire responses, Developmental teaching practices and subject changes were examined. Outcomes demonstrated that teaching practices had become more "blended" but more developmental than teacher-directed. Significant differences were noted in subject changes, confirming that language arts dominates the curriculum. Subjects not tested for NCLB were presented less,Ten teachers who had taught prior to initiation of SBR in Indiana (2000) were interviewed and their plan books were examined. Along with an open-ended question from the questionnaire, these responses provided the qualitative methodology. Analysis created six categories concerning the impact of SBR and NCLB on the child, the classroom, the family, the teacher and profession, and the future of education. Theories were developed that addressed the conflict educators feel between the Structure of legislation and the Humanistic components of teaching. This personal balance that teachers have created between Structure and Humanistic was influenced by a sense of independence garnered by support of principals. Teachers who taught in schools with structured, embedded programs aimed at raising test scores exhibited the most stress and lack of autonomy.This study resulted in five recommendations. They were: encourage developmental practices that support the individual child, increase the role of the parent in the educational partnership process, to support teacher inclusion in decision making to foster autonomy, and the need for professional organizations and teacher preparation programs to heed current teaching practices while supporting the developmental needs of the child. / Department of Elementary Education

Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine how children interact with each other and what social positions they assume when using the learning pad. The social positions reffered to is the Owner, the Participant and the Spectator, defined by Ljung Djärf (2004). According to Ljung Djärf (2004), the Owner is defined as the one in control of the mouse and keyboard. The Owner is expected to be in charge of what is happening on the screen. The Participant is typically found on a chair near the computer. The role of the Participant is to support the Owner by suggesting how to proceed regarding the task that is being worked on. The last position is the Spectator, the child also found near the computer passively observing what is taking place on the screen. The position of Spectator may have been self-selected by the child or assigned by the owner. In order to answer the research question of this thesis, an observation study was identified as the appropriate empirical data collecting method. In the analysis of the data, the children was divided into groups based on their level of skills. Children with more skills and knowledge regarding the technology. Children with better reading skills Children with greater skills in using the learning pad and previous experience of the game used during the observations   These skill groups emerged when the results would be analyzed and those affected the resolut.

Teachers are required to manage difficult behaviors within their classrooms with limited support and resources. Additionally, there is not a lot of research that has been completed looking at teacher attitudes or how children’s behavior impacts them personally. The current study looks at teacher outcomes based upon an evidence-based teacher training program. The teacher training was implemented at the Western Kentucky Head Start. Teachers’ job stress and self-efficacy were measured before the training, after the training, in the fall, and in the spring. In addition, standardized observations were completed, looking at classroom climate and management, in the fall and spring following the training. There were no significant differences among Pretest, Post-test, fall, or spring data for measured job stress or self-efficacy. Based upon observation results, Positive Climate significantly increased from fall to spring and Concept Development significantly decreased. Teacher’s attitudes and perspectives are extremely important as they provide the general climate of the classroom. Continued research should be completed to assess teacher outcomes and how these outcomes impact the overfull functioning of the classroom and success of students.

本研究為探討幼兒教師人格特質、情緒智力與幼兒情緒能力之研究。目的為：一、了解幼兒教師人格特質、情緒智力及幼兒情緒能力之現況；二、分析幼兒教師不同背景變項（年齡、學歷、服務年資、婚姻狀況）在其人格特質、情緒智力之差異情形；三、分析幼兒不同背景變項（年齡、性別）在其情緒能力之差異情形；探究幼兒教師人格特質、情緒智力與幼兒情緒能力三者之相關情形；四、探究幼兒教師人格特質、情緒智力對幼兒情緒能力之預測力。 本研究以相關文獻及問卷「幼稚園教師人格特質問卷」、「臺灣地區幼稚園教師職場情緒智力量表」、「幼兒情緒能力發展量表」為研究工具探討。以分層隨機抽樣自臺北市12個行政區抽取研究對象，共計156位幼兒教師、422位4至6歲幼兒。依問卷所得資料以平均數、標準差、T檢定、Pearson積差相關、單因子變異數分析、多元逐步迴歸分析進行資料處理與分析。本研究主要結論如下： 壹、臺北市幼兒教師人格特質為正向，「謹慎負責性」最高；教師情緒智力偏中高， 「教保情緒表達」最佳；幼兒情緒能力佳，「情緒的覺察與辨識」最佳。 貳、臺北市幼兒教師「年齡越高、研究所畢業、已婚者」，在人格特質、情緒智力表 現較佳，「服務年資5年（含）以下」者則表現較差。 參、臺北市幼兒情緒能力，以「6足歲(含)以上」、「女性」幼兒最佳。 肆、臺北市幼兒教師人格特質「謹慎負責性、開放經驗性」與幼兒情緒能力有顯著正 相關；而教師人格特質的「外向性、情緒穩定度」則與幼兒情緒能力有顯著負相 關。 伍、臺北市幼兒教師情緒智力的「教保社交技巧」與幼兒情緒能力的「情緒的表達」 有顯著正相關、和幼兒情緒能力的「情緒的調適」有顯著負相關。 陸、臺北市幼兒教師人格特質與情緒智力之構面間有顯著正、負相關。 柒、臺北市幼兒教師人格特質、情緒智力對幼兒情緒能力具有預測力。