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There is a growing need for more information regarding the early academic development of preschool-age children who are learning to speak Spanish and English. To achieve this, studies are needed that acknowledge the heterogeneity of language abilities within bilingual preschool children, and that these variations in language abilities may impact children’s early academic skills. This two-study dissertation investigated how four foundational skills: narrative production, phonological awareness, letter-word identification, and early math, differed depending on the language dominance Spanish-English bilingual children possessed at preschool entry. The studies used data from a larger language, literacy, and self-regulation project entitled Tools of the Mind: Promoting ELLs’ Language, Self-Regulation & School-Readiness. Participants were typically-developing children of Latino heritage recruited from early childhood centers with primarily English instruction. Performance on a standardized language battery given in English and Spanish was used to assign children to one of three language-dominance groups (i.e., stronger-English, balanced abilities, stronger-Spanish). Both studies yielded several findings that make unique contributions to research on bilingual preschoolers. The first study underscored the important relations of both lexical diversity and grammatical production abilities to bilingual preschoolers’ narrative macrostructure. The second study identified specific areas of school readiness strengths for each language dominance group and identified areas that may need additional support. Implications of interest to speech-language pathologists and other early childhood professionals are discussed, including implications for assessment and differential instruction. / Communication Sciences

In this qualitative phenomenological inquiry, I explore how an international group of early childhood music teachers describe creating music-learning environments for young children. As members of the Early Childhood Music Education Commission of the International Society for Music Education, the nine research participants share a common interest in contributing to early childhood music education. I was interested in understanding how members of that group perceived creating music-learning environments for young children. I wondered: What are early childhood music teachers' perceptions of music-learning environments for young children; What shapes their perceptions; and How do early childhood music teachers strive to create an environment conducive for young children's music learning? Using tenets of narrative inquiry, I restory this study as a conversation in a coffee shop. Imagine there's an international early childhood music conference in your town. During a conference break, I walk into your favorite coffee shop. You stand in a long line waiting to order. I walk in and take my place behind you in line, and we begin a conversation about children's music learning. Eventually, colleagues who are attending the conference (i.e., the nine research participants) join us. During our conversation, you and I discuss our experiences with understanding and creating early childhood music-learning environments. Next, we talk with the nine research participants about how they create music-learning environments for young children and I reveal the essence of their shared experience: participants view themselves as cultural music mediators, believing it is their job to mediate music interactions among adults and young children. Finally, you and I discuss implications for parents, early childhood music teachers, early childhood general education teachers, and pre-service music and general education teachers. We talk about ways they can become cultural music mediators, and create webs of music interactions for adults and young children. After reading this study, I invite you to visit my Facebook page, Music-Learning Environments for Young Children, to contribute thoughts and questions. / Music Education

Objective: The quality of the emotional relationship between teachers and young children affects children's social and emotional development and their academic success. Little is known, however, about whether the amount of workplace stress experienced by early childhood educators impacts the quality of their relationships with the young children in their classrooms. The purpose of this dissertation was to determine whether workplace stress was associated with poorer quality teacher-child relationships in Head Start, the nation's largest federally-funded early childhood education program. Methods: Two separate but complementary studies were conducted. In Study 1, teachers from 37 Head Start programs in Pennsylvania (PA) completed the Staff Wellness Survey, an anonymous, web-based survey about workplace stress and the levels of conflict and closeness in their relationships with children in their classrooms. Study 2 data came from an existing federal data set, the 2006 Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES). In FACES, a nationally representative sample of Head Start teachers responded to interview questions about workplace stress and were observed and rated on the quality of their teacher-child relationships in their classrooms. In both studies, the association of poor quality teacher-child relationships was examined with the presence or absence of 3 types of perceived workplace stress: high demands, low control, and low support. Results: In Study 1, surveys were completed by 994 teachers (52.0% of teachers in the 37 PA programs), of whom 19.8% experienced 0 of the 3 types of workplace stress, and 23.3% experienced all 3 types. Teachers experiencing all 3 types of workplace stress were more likely than those experiencing 0 types to report high conflict in their relationships with children, even after controlling for teacher depressive symptoms and economic stressors (odds ratio [OR] = 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-3.29). Only low control was significantly associated with low closeness in teacher-child relationships after adjusting for covariates (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.09-2.05). In Study 2, data were available from 325 teachers (89.0% of teachers participating in FACES), of whom 19.4% experienced none of the 3 types of workplace stress and 38.5% reported experiencing 2 or more types. Teachers experiencing 2 or more types of workplace stress were more likely to have poor quality teacher-child relationships (observed) than teachers reporting 0 types of workplace stress (OR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.22-5.90). Conclusion: In both a large sample of Pennsylvania Head Start teachers and a nationally representative sample of Head Start teachers, higher perceived workplace stress was associated with poorer teacher-child relationship quality. In light of these findings, Head Start should consider more closely examining and addressing workplace stress as part of its professional development and training activities for teachers. / Public Health

The educational plight of Latino students in the U.S. is an increasing concern given the low achievement and attainment status of this population. Although many risk factors associated with underachievement are difficult to alter, parent educational involvement has been shown to positively impact learning outcomes. In this study, parental home- and school-based involvement practices and educational aspirations were compared in a large (n = 6085), nationally representative sample of Latino (n= 1,313) and non-Latino white (n = 4,772) first grade students. The role of these forms of involvement in predicting student achievement in third grade was then assessed. Findings indicate that Latino parents had higher educational aspirations for their children but were less involved at home and school than non-Latino white parents. Multiple hierarchical regression analysis showed that socioeconomic status and parental aspirations, respectively, were the most significant predictors of achievement among Latino and non-Latino white students, even when controlling for SES. While higher levels of school-based and lower levels of home-based educational involvement significantly predicted achievement among non-Latino white students, educational participation was not predictive of achievement among Latino students. Language status served as a meaningful barrier to Latino parent involvement. Findings suggest that educators should harness Latino parents' high aspirations for their children by making greater efforts to communicate and engage them in their native language. Future research should assess non-traditional forms of Latino parents' educational involvement and explore involvement practices that are culturally sensitive and meaningful to Latino parents. / School Psychology

This study sought to describe the current implementation of behavioral strategies across Tiers 1, 2 and 3 of the preschool Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) model by preschool special education professionals in the state of Pennsylvania (PA). Both federal and state mandates have urged and required the use of PBIS in early childhood settings to alleviate issues of challenging behavior, while simultaneously reducing suspension and expulsion at the early childhood level. As such, the current study attempted to outline the level of preparation and training received by preschool special education professionals, across all disciplines, in the area of PBIS by higher education entities, as well as through their preschool special education employers. Furthermore, the study looked to analyze the reported implementation of PBIS strategies across tiers by the special education professionals within early childhood settings across regions of PA. Approximately 780 preschool special education professionals were surveyed and a total of 248 responded, resulting in a 31.8% response rate. A descriptive survey approach was utilized and univariate analyses, as well as one-way ANOVA and correlational analyses were conducted. Results showed the current state of PBIS implementation in PA through preschool special education professionals remains variable, inconsistent and possibly under-supported by employers and higher education entities. A large percentage of the overall population, 62%, reported having taken 0 credits in PBIS-related content at the higher education level. Approximately 65% reported two or fewer trainings offered by their employer in the past two years, however, 70% of the respondents reported being offered coaching in PBIS. Behavior Support Specialists, Special Education Teachers and Occupational Therapists are among the top three defined professional roles that consistently report implementing strategies with higher frequencies than other defined disciplines. Tier 1 strategies are implemented at higher frequencies than Tier 2 strategies and Tier 2 strategies are implemented with higher frequencies than Tier 3 strategies. Specific, targeted areas of global PBIS requirements can be increased to possibly result in an overall increase in the fidelity of PBIS strategy implementation and a decrease in reported suspensions and expulsions, these include the use of preschool special education professionals on early childhood-based PBIS leadership teams and an increase in the frequency of data collection and analysis. There are also a number of reported barriers, including capacity of early childhood program staff and parental and familial involvement that reportedly inhibit preschool special education professionals from successfully and consistently implementing PBIS in early childhood settings. / Special Education

Public libraries are a free community resource available to families in communities across the United States. The Every Child Ready to Read Program (ECRR) is currently the only known research-based early literacy parent initiative available for public libraries to use. This current study presents the findings of a case study that included both librarian and parent interviews to explore how one suburban library utilized the ECRR program. Building upon current ECRR research, the study explores how librarians and parents utilized library storytimes. The key findings of the study include the discovery that the two librarians differed substantially in their implementation of the ECRR program, with one librarian being more willing to offer instruction to parents while the other librarian not directly wanting this as her role. One possible reason for this difference involves the different educational background and specific job duties of each librarian. In regards to parents, the study found that parents utilized library storytimes largely for social reasons for both themselves and their child. Furthermore, new mothers and Spanish-speaking mothers showed a special appreciation for storytimes, in that both attended storytimes for personal guidance. In light of parent-school trust literature, the library in the current study appeared as a place to establish and maintain trusting partnerships with parents. Implications of ECRR are discussed, as well as recommendations for further research / Literacy & Learners