The impact of high quality early learning experiences on a child's development is profound. Teacher quality has been deemed an important predictor of classroom quality, but currently teachers in Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) in the state of Florida are required to meet minimal training requirements. The purpose of this study was to examine an intervention including in-class coaching as a means of professional development to better prepare preschool teachers. The present study included and examination of the changes in environmental quality, child outcomes, and teacher perceptions after the intervention. Scores obtained were compared before and after the intervention. A two-tailed t-test revealed that the post-test was significantly higher than the pre-test. In particular, two sub-scales were statistically significant, including Space and Furnishings and Activities. The other sub-scales, including a measure of teacher-child interactions and language-reasoning were not significantly changed. An ANOVA indicated no significant differences in kindergarten school readiness scores between centers that received coaching for varying amounts of time. Teachers were interviewed to discover their perception of in-class coaching. After examining in-class coaching from the varying angles, conclusions were drawn: In-class coaching may significantly affect the quality of classrooms, as related to environmental aspects of quality but may not be improving child outcomes. In-class coaching may increase teachers’ validation, inspiration and may contribute to the teachers’ understanding of developmental appropriateness. Conclusions suggest that teachers with a native language other than English may receive additional benefits from an in-class coaching and that effective coaches must have many skills in order to create change in the classrooms in which they work. The final conclusion was that despite its merits, coaching may not be a long-term solution to classroom and teacher quality in the context of low educational requirements, minimal pay, high turnover, and low job satisfaction. Recommendations for future practice and research are suggested.

The purpose of this study was to examine how teachers describe instructional coaching. Instructional coaching has become a leading form of professional development in educational settings, yet there is a lack of empirical evidence that explains and clarifies it. One aspect of instructional coaching that is not known is how teachers perceive it. In order to gain understanding about instructional coaching, the perspectives of the teachers could provide valuable insight to benefit those involved in the practice. Instructional coaching and the schools where coaching takes place are complex in nature. Through the use of one-on-one interviews, an in-depth look at teachers’ perspectives provided insight into some of these complexities. Fifteen teachers in six child care centers participated in this study. Two qualitative strategies—inductive analysis (Hatch, 2002) and educational criticism (Eisner, 1998)—were used to analyze interview data from which three themes were formed: (a) instructional coaching is a means of building instructional capacity, (b) instructional coaching requires a supportive environment, and (c) instructional coaching increases children’s learning opportunities. The themes are perspectives from which to view and understand instructional coaching in preschool classrooms. One conclusion in this study was that all three themes were substantially supported by extant literature and empirical research. The implication for policy and practice is that instructional coaching is contingent upon change and change is difficult due to resistance by teachers and systemic issues. Five recommendations are highlighted in this study: (a) instructional coaches should demonstrate a high level of proficiency in educational knowledge and practice, (b) coaches should be involved in on-going professional development that includes communication training, (c) teacher supervisors should be involved in instructional coaching as instructional leaders, (d) instructional coaching should be intentional, and (e) instructional coaching should have child learning as its primary focus. Further research is needed to better understand the perspective of teachers in the field of early childhood education; the perspectives of instructional coaches in the field of early childhood education; and how to effectively involve teacher supervisors in the coaching process to develop teacher leaders and support them to assume the duties and responsibilities of highly effective instructional leaders who influence deep, sustained learning facilitated by problem-solving- and creativity-focused instruction

This quasi-experimental Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) study explored whether the vocabulary and reading comprehension mean scores of Hispanic Kindergarten ELs whose teachers were trained to utilize Dialogic Reading (DR) discourse were higher than the mean scores of Hispanic ELs in kindergarten whose teachers were not trained to utilize DR discourse strategies. Sixty-three self-identified Hispanic, English Language Kindergarten students and four teachers participated in the study. The teachers were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (DR trained) or control group by drawing names from a hat. Student assignment to experimental versus comparison group was based on the teacher’s assignment to either the experimental or comparison group. Thirty-one were assigned to the control group and 32 to the experimental group. The teachers were instructed to read the story to a group of six students (maximum) at a time, utilizing the DR discourse strategies they had been trained to implement. Subjects were read a story each week during the 8-week duration of the study. Teachers in the experimental group collaboratively selected 10 words each week from the Read Together Talk Together (RTTT) instructional stories that were utilized for vocabulary instruction. A test of homogeneity was conducted to evaluate whether the variance among the dependent variables was the same across the groups. An Analyses of Covariance (ANCOVA) was applied to analyze students’ vocabulary and comprehension mean scores in the experimental group and the comparison group. The results of the study demonstrated a significant increase in the vocabulary and reading comprehension mean scores for the students whose teachers had been trained in DR discourse strategies. When comparing the two groups, the results revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study was conducted to explore how DR discourse may be an effective technique to teach literacy skills. The findings of this study showed that vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension of Hispanic ELs were positively affected by the teachers’ inclusion of dialogue during storybook reading. Its outcomes accentuated the need for teachers to provide assistance to ELs as they develop vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension skills.

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2017-07-12T17:54:05Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Telma Cezar Martins.pdf: 4412550 bytes, checksum: 268807a698397f79d160f8a1ba7baf49 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-12T17:54:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Telma Cezar Martins.pdf: 4412550 bytes, checksum: 268807a698397f79d160f8a1ba7baf49 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-05-09 / This PhD dissertation analyses the influence of the whitening process on pedagogical practices in the context of early childhood education, especially in the environment of kindergartens. It aims to support both the understanding and the raise of awareness concerning the effects of whitening upon the development of the identity of children between 0 and 3 years old, especially when it comes to black children. Although the Law 10.639/03 had substantially fostered the inclusion of ethno-racial education in the different fields of education, the reproduction of whitening in kindergartens is still considerably frequent. Remarking that such reality affects society in general, among other kinds of harms whitening reinforces prejudice, discrimination, stigmatization and, as consequence, racism itself, and negatively influences the development of both the identity and self-esteem of black children. Taking into account the premises worked by critical authors from different areas of social studies, the theoretical grounding of this research is composed by those thinkers who, while questioning a Western society marked by the imposition of Eurocentric and US-centric hegemonic values, also demonstrate how education reproduces the same values. Alongside a critical dialogue with the relevant literature, whitening is examined in this research based on two empirical realities. For this purpose, the methodological tools employed during the fieldwork were ethnographic observation, interviews with the management team, and focal groups performed with the teaching staff of two municipal kindergartens in Santo André/SP as well with coordinators from the Educational Service of Santo André city’s Municipal Department of Education. The analysis of the data validated the hypothesis that the whitening process is still hegemonic in the educational practices in kindergartens despite the mandatory presence of ethno-racial education in those places, which is assured by the Law 10.639/03. In regard to education policies, this situation reinforces the need of qualifying the teaching and administrative staff of educational unities, which will produce spaces for fostering the discussion around the problems concerning the phenomenon of whitening and its many causes and consequences. / Esta tesis analiza la influencia del proceso del blanqueamiento en las prácticas pedagógicas relacionadas a la primera infancia, especialmente en las guarderías. El objetivo del trabajo es aumentar la comprensión y el conocimiento de los impactos de este proceso a la formación de la identidad del niño de 0-3 años, sobre todo el niño negro. Aunque la Ley 10.639 / 03 en gran medida ha contribuido a la inclusión del tema de la educación étnica-racial en los diferentes segmentos de la educación, la realización del blanqueamiento en el entorno infantil es todavía muy presente. Aparte de afectar a toda la sociedad, el blanqueamiento refuerza el prejuicio, la discriminación, la estigmatización y el racismo, influyendo negativamente en el desarrollo de la identidad y la autoestima de los niños negros. Basándose en presupuestos de los autores del pensamiento crítico de diferentes áreas de los estudios sociales, la base teórica de esta investigación se compone de las ideas de los pensadores que, cuando problematizan la sociedad occidental marcada por la imposición de los valores hegemónicos europeos y estadounidenses, también muestran la educación como la reproducción de estos valores. Además del análisis critico de las fuentes bibliográficas, este trabajo analiza el tema del blanqueamiento basándose en los resultados de dos investigaciones empíricas. Por lo tanto, como las herramientas metodológicas se utilizó la observación etnográfica, entrevistas con el equipo de gestión, y también la aplicación de grupos focales con los equipos docentes de dos guarderías infantiles municipales ubicadas en Santo André / SP y el Equipo de Coordinación del Servicio Educativo de la Secretaría Municipal de Educación de Santo André / SP. Los resultados del análisis de datos confirmaron la hipótesis de que, a pesar de que la educación étnica-racial sea obligatoria de conformidad con la Ley 10.639 / 03, el proceso del blanqueamiento se mantiene hegemónico en la práctica educativa cotidiana de los niños. En el contexto de las políticas educativas se desprende la necesidad de calificar el equipo pedagógico y administrativo de las unidades educativas, produciendo espacios para alimentar la discusión acerca de los problemas relacionados al blanqueamiento y las numerosas causas y consecuencias de este fenómeno. / Esta tese analisa a influência do processo de branqueamento nas práticas pedagógicas na pequena infância, notadamente na Creche. Tem por objetivo auxiliar a compreensão e a conscientização sobre os impactos que o branqueamento promove na formação da identidade da criança de 0-3 anos, especialmente da criança negra. Embora a Lei 10.639/03 tenha contribuído muito para a inserção da temática da educação étnico-racial nos diferentes segmentos da educação, a reprodução do branqueamento no ambiente da Creche é ainda fortemente presente. Dentre outros danos, ressaltando que essa realidade afeta toda a sociedade, o branqueamento reforça o preconceito, a discriminação, a estigmatização e, por sua vez, o racismo, impactando negativamente no desenvolvimento da identidade e da autoestima da criança negra. Partindo de pressupostos de autores do pensamento crítico de distintas áreas dos estudos sociais, o embasamento teórico desta pesquisa é composto por pensadores(as) que, ao problematizarem a sociedade ocidental marcada pela imposição de valores hegemonicamente eurocentrados e “estadunizados”, evidenciam também a educação como reprodutora desses valores. Além do diálogo crítico com as fontes bibliográficas, esta pesquisa examina o tema do branqueamento a partir de duas realidades empíricas. Para tanto, como instrumentos metodológicos de campo, foram utilizados observação etnográfica, entrevistas com a equipe gestora e aplicação de grupo focal com as equipes docente de duas Creches municipais, localizadas em Santo André/SP e da equipe de Coordenadoras do Serviço Educacional, da Secretaria Municipal da Educação de Santo André/SP. A partir da análise dos dados, confirmou-se a hipótese de que, apesar da obrigatoriedade da educação étnico-racial, designada nos termos da Lei 10.639/03, o processo do branqueamento mantém-se hegemônico nas práticas educativas do cotidiano das creches. Decorre dessa situação, a necessidade de, no contexto de políticas públicas educacionais, qualificar o quadro pedagógico e administrativo das unidades educativas, produzindo espaços para alimentar a discussão da problematicidade em torno do tema do branqueamento e das inúmeras causas e consequências desse fenômeno.

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2017-08-24T13:35:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Jose Poloni.pdf: 3043268 bytes, checksum: e439001b2c5efbafeee93ee20f6e8649 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-24T13:35:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Maria Jose Poloni.pdf: 3043268 bytes, checksum: e439001b2c5efbafeee93ee20f6e8649 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-06-05 / The right to education appears in legal texts, especially in the Federal Constitution of Brazil of 1988, in the Statute of the Child and Adolescent (ECA), of 1990, and in the Law of Directives and Bases of National Education (LDB) of 1996. However, there is still a meaningful number of children, adolescents and young people, totally or partially excluded from the formal education system. This fact becomes more evident in early childhood education; within the age group from zero to three years old, that is, in kindergarten. Considering that early childhood education is the first stage of basic education, which, besides being a social right, is a universal right, a duty of the State and the family, this thesis has the objective of analyzing and understanding the reasons for the mismatch between legal texts and the reality in childhood education. Particularly in the context of kindergarten, in the Mauá district, leading to the judicialization of education at this stage. The scope of this research comprises, in the bibliographic context, research and study on the theme of education as a right, the main official texts on the legislation of the subject, and, empirically, data and information collected in a municipal school of early child education. It considers the discourse of the different agents involved in this reality (mothers of children at day-care centers, teachers and school administrators) as well as data obtained at the Municipal Department of Education regarding registration and legal actions, filed by parents, to obtain a vacancy in the day-care center. The theoretical reference of this research is based on authors who have developed studies focused on the right to education and its viability, thinkers who identified with the emancipating approaches to education, among them Paulo Freire and scholars of child education, specifically of early child education. This research develops from quantitative and qualitative approaches, operating with both official data (Municipal Secretary of Education, Federal Government and Public Ministry) as well as information from protagonists of the school reality. According to the data analysis obtained so far, it is quite clear that, since LDB / 96, when early childhood education was included in the basic system, this stage of education gained greater visibility and became the target of public policies. However, there is still not enough amount of schools to care for children between zero and three years of age. Thus, as well as the legal text, which states that education is a universal right, a real text, noticed by a movement of the organization of society, through a claim with the public institutions, is being developed those who have had their rights historically denied. / El derecho a la educación está presente en textos legales, en particular, en la Constitución Federal de Brasil de 1988, en el Estatuto del Niño y del Adolescente (ECA), de 1990, y en la Ley de Directrices y Bases de la Educación Nacional (LDB) 1996. Sin embargo, todavía hay un significativo número de niños, adolescentes y jóvenes, excluidos total o parcialmente del sistema educativo formal. Este hecho se vuelve más evidente en la educación primaria, en el grupo etário compreendido entre cero y tres años de edad, es decir, en la eduacación inicial. Considerando que esta fase es la primera de la educación básica, que, además de ser un derecho social, es un derecho de todos, deber del Estado y de la familia, esta tesis tiene como objeto de estudio el análisis y comprensión de las razones de los desencuentros entre el texto legal y la realidad de la educación inicial. Particularmente en el contexto de la educación inicial, en el municipio de Mauá, llevando a la judicialización en esa etapa de la educación. El universo de esta investigación comprende, en el ámbito bibliográfico, estudios sobre la temática del derecho a la educación y los principales textos oficiales respecto a la legislación del tema, y, en el ámbito empírico, datos e informaciones recogidas en una escuela municipal de educación inicial, considerando los discursos de los diferentes agentes involucrados en esa realidad (madres de los niños de la guardería, profesoras y gestor escolar), además de datos obtenidos en la Secretaría Municipal de Educación referentes a la matrícula y acciones judiciales, realizadas por padres y madres, para obtener una vacante en la guardería. El marco teórico de esta investigación se basa en autores que desarrollaron estudios centrados en el derecho a la educación y su viabilidad, pensadores identificados con los enfoques emancipadores de la educación, entre los cuales están Paulo Freire y otros estudiosos de la educación inicial en especial. Esta investigación se desarrolla a partir de enfoques cuantitativos y cualitativos, basándose tanto datos oficiales (Secretaría Municipal de Educación, Gobierno Federal y Ministerio Público) como en informaciones de los actores y protagonistas de la realidad escolar. A partir del análisis de los datos obtenidos hasta ahora, queda evidente que, a partir de la LDB / 96, cuando aconteció la inclusión de la educación inicial en la educación primaria, esta fase ganó mayor visibilidad y se convirtió en objeto de políticas públicas; Sin embargo, todavía es insuficiente el número de escuelas y guarderías, para la atención de niños de entre cero y tres años de edad. Así, paralelamente al texto legal, que afirma que la educación es un derecho de todos, un texto real, notado por un movimiento de organización de la sociedad, a través de la reivindicación de los poderes públicos, está siendo desarrollado por aquellos que han tenido sus derechos históricamente negados. / O direito à educação está presente nos textos legais, em especial, na Constituição Federal do Brasil de 1988, no Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente (ECA), de 1990, e na Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional (LDB), de 1996. No entanto, ainda há um significativo número de crianças, adolescentes e jovens, excluídos, total ou parcialmente da educação formal. Esse fato se torna mais presente na educação infantil, na faixa etária de zero a três anos de idade, isto é, na creche. Considerando que a educação infantil é a primeira etapa da educação básica, que, além de ser um direito social, é um direito de todos, dever do Estado e da família, esta tese tem como objeto de estudo a análise e compreensão das razões do descompasso entre o texto legal e a realidade, na educação infantil, particularmente no contexto da creche, no município de Mauá, situação que contribui para a judicialização da educação nessa etapa da educação. O universo desta pesquisa compreende, no âmbito bibliográfico, estudos sobre a temática do direito à educação e os principais textos oficiais sobre a legislação do tema, e, no âmbito empírico, dados e informações colhidas em uma escola municipal de educação infantil, considerando os discursos dos diferentes agentes envolvidos nessa realidade (mães das crianças da creche, professoras e gestor escolar) e dados obtidos na Secretaria Municipal de Educação referentes à matrícula e ações judiciais, impetradas por pais e mães, para obtenção de uma vaga na creche. O referencial teórico desta pesquisa aporta-se em autores que desenvolveram estudos centrados no direito à educação e sua exequibilidade, pensadores identificados com as abordagens emancipadoras da educação, dentre os quais Paulo Freire, e estudiosos da educação infantil, em especial, da educação em creches. Esta pesquisa desenvolve-se a partir de abordagens quantitativas e qualitativas, operando tanto com dados oficiais (Secretaria Municipal de Educação, Governo Federal e Ministério Público) quanto com informações dos diversos protagonistas da realidade escolar. As análises dos dados desta tese revelaram que, a partir da LDB/96, quando da inclusão da educação infantil na educação básica, esta etapa de educação ganhou maior visibilidade e se tornou objeto de políticas públicas; contudo, ainda é insuficiente o número de escolas e creches, para atendimento de crianças de zero a três anos de idade. Assim, paralelo ao texto legal, que afirma que a educação é direito de todos, um texto real, notado por um movimento de organização da sociedade, via reivindicação junto aos poderes públicos, está sendo construído por aqueles que têm seu direito historicamente negado.

The purpose of this project was to create electronic books (E-books) for kindergartens to read during their center time. The E-books are intended for kindergarten teachers to use to help their students learn to read while utilizing the technology resources in their classroom. These E-books are teacher created so the cost is minimal and they can be copied and distributed to each student without worrying about copyright laws. Teachers can customize them to fit the current thematic unit they are teaching and once created, they can be used repeadedly without being damaged like paper books.

This paper explores the importance of providing teacher training in the use of technology to reap the benefits of adding computers to the classroom. It describes how a basic software program was used to create an interactive program to teach phonics in Spanish to kindergarten students in a Structured English Immersion Program. A benefit to having good phonemic awareness skills in Spanish is that it will help the student in developing phonemic awareness skills in English and will facilitate learning to read English words.

The purpose of this project is to develop a way of communication between school and parents. It aims to help parents to be more involved in their children's education. One of the main aspects and focus of this project is the analysis of the use of streaming video.

With the incidence of prenatal drug exposure increasing, it is important that preschool teachers are prepared and confident in serving the needs of children affected by this exposure. Teachers need more training and education to prepare them for working with children with prenatal drug exposure. The purpose of this sequential mixed-methods study was to explore the perceptions, training, and shared experiences of preschool teachers when working with 4- and 5-year-old preschool children who have experienced prenatal drug exposure. The researcher invited 77 preschool teachers in northeast Tennessee working in either Head Start or Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K Initiative programs to complete an initial quantitative survey – of which 53 participated. Of the survey participants, 34 reported they might have worked with a child with prenatal drug exposure. Six of those teachers who said they had experience with children with prenatal drug exposure participated in a follow up semi-structured interview with the researcher. The findings revealed that preschool teachers were favorable toward children with prenatal drug exposure regarding the children’s ability to learn. Preschool teachers were already using many effective interventions (e.g., working one-on-one with the child, offering flexible seating options, repetition of information) that they may have used with other children with special needs, but they were eager for more information about the best way to work with these children. School leaders and those in teacher preparation programs would be excellent advocates in spreading knowledge and translating medical knowledge into resources more applicable to the teaching and childcare profession. It is important that the information become more accessible to all teachers and stakeholders in education.

The diploma thesis focuses on cooperation of composite primary schools and pre-school centres. The theoretical part refers to strategic documents in the field of education - White Paper, Strategy for Education Policy of the Czech Republic untill 2020, Common European Framework of Reference. It explains the basis of creating school educational programmes. It also outlines the legislative strategy of composite primary school and kindergardens and the cooperation in the field of education in general and in the field of community-based education. The main aim of this thesis was to gain the insight into the cooperation and communication within the group of pedagogical staff in primary schools and pre-school centres, insight into given school educational programme,s and moreover to search the elements which denotes the close interconnection. These tendencies of cooperation are then the basis for forming and innovating the above mentioned programmes. The next aim was to discover the cooperation between schools and municipal authorities. In the practical part there was conducted a survey. The teachers and municipal authorities were given questionnaires. The evaluating criteria of school educational programmes were set before. The hypothesis, that the primary schools and pre-school centres communicate only...