<p> Research in the area of early childhood has confirmed that children accessing high-quality programs lead to better outcomes in kindergarten as well as later in life (Committee for Economic Development, 2006; Frabutt &amp; Waldron, 2013; Hudson, 2014; Stewart, 2015; Temple &amp; Reynolds, 2007). The factors highlighted in research contributing to these outcomes have included teacher effectiveness and classroom quality (Armor, 2014; Fernandez, 2010; Ryan, Whitebook, Kipnis, &amp; Sakai, 2011). One factor missing from current research and policy is the role of the early childhood leader. The purpose of this basic interpretive qualitative study is to gain insights into how early childhood leaders&rsquo; experiences have shaped their understanding of leadership, focusing specifically on directors from licensed early childhood programs in Northern Virginia. The central research question guiding this inquiry is: What are the experiences of pre-kindergarten leaders in licensed pre-kindergarten programs in Northern Virginia that inform their development as a leader? Three sub questions are also included: What led an individual to become a pre-kindergarten leader? What has influenced the leadership philosophies of pre-kindergarten leaders? What has influenced the current leadership practices utilized by pre-kindergarten leaders? Data from interviews, walkthroughs, and document analyses with seven directors from early childhood centers in Northern Virginia were examined. Through this process, five themes emerged: generational influences, collegial influences, past work experience, environmental influences, and leadership characteristic and behaviors. Three conclusions were built upon these themes to address the research questions. First, participants entered the field of early childhood due to generational influences with their child entering preschool or just by &ldquo;falling into&rdquo; the field. Once in the field, collegial influences encouraged participants to pursue the director position. Participants also rose through the ranks, by beginning as a volunteer or teachers&rsquo; aide, becoming a teacher, and then ultimately becoming a director. Second, a director&rsquo;s philosophies were reinforced through the media as well as professional organizations. Finally, a director&rsquo;s practices were informed through collegial influences, past experiences, and environmental influences.</p><p>

<p> Promoting global awareness is commonly cited as a main benefit of early foreign language education; however, little research backs this claim. This study explores a partial Spanish immersion preschool and how it shapes young children&rsquo;s global awareness and knowledge of foreign languages and cultures. The study used a series of games, activities, and interviews to address the following three aspects of the classroom: (1) foreign language activities and language use, (2) how global awareness was portrayed by students and teachers, and (3) the beliefs, goals, and motivations of parents who chose to enroll their children there. The frameworks of translingualism and global education informed analysis of classroom observations, activities with children, and interviews with parents and teachers.</p><p> Findings indicated that children did show signs of early learning related to global awareness, though language and culture were not always the primary goals for parents and teachers at the school. Children&rsquo;s literature and games allowed children to express their views and understanding about their learning about Spanish and other cultures in the classroom. They were able to talk about speaking Spanish in school and knew some words and phrases learned through exposure from the teachers in the classroom. Parents and members of the staff expressed their beliefs in the value of early second language exposure; however, primary needs of the children such as keeping them safe and developing a nurturing environment were always the priority. The findings will inform future development of language immersion programs for young children and give directors of such programs insights into what parents may hope for their children to learn regarding language and other cultural instruction.</p><p>

<p>This research project offers educators a close and intimate view of the researcher's personal teaching efforts and a reflective account of responses to instruction. This qualitative reflective self-study includes written records of attempts to create and deliver reading comprehension lessons. It also includes a detailed account of how the researcher's reflections and insights affected lesson design as well as her responses to the academic, social, and emotional needs of the students. Furthermore, this self-study examines how teachers' and administrators' attitudes impact teaching and learning, with a thoughtful emphasis on how the gifts of under-represented students may be used in effectively planning instruction. Specifically, this self-study presents how reflection is used to examine the application of various teaching strategies with eight elementary school students attending a reading comprehension intervention class at an urban school in California. The researcher chronicles her use of culturally relevant teaching practices grounded in high expectations, and a belief in the importance of student empowerment for the purpose of increasing social justice and equity for all students. In this study, reflective notes of lessons are presented. Additionally, how the lessons were designed in order to create opportunities for a small group of African American and English Language Learner students to use their talents and gifts to improve comprehension of text are detailed. This teacher-research study provides insights on how a cycle of deep reflection and consideration of planned instructional actions and design might be improved. As part of the reflection and instructional planning process described in this study, there is focus on the students' thinking and learning processes and domains that support the students as they become self-empowered, independent, and confident readers. The examination of the thinking process of the students, as well reflection and self-examination of instruction by the teacher-researcher, are the center of study. Ultimately, a vivid story unfolds of how both the students and teacher-researcher become more empowered as gifted readers, writers, and communicators of transformation.

Thesis (MPhil)--Macquarie University (Australian Centre for Educational Studies, Institute of Early Childhood), 2007. / Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of Philosophy Macquarie University, Australian Centre for Educational Studies, Institute of Early Childhood. 2007. Bibliography: p. 199-227.

<p> The purpose of the study is to evaluate if the effectiveness of a check-in, checkout (CICO) intervention varies based on the function maintaining students' target behaviors as determined by functional analyses prior to the implementation of the intervention. Participants in the study consisted of 6 children enrolled in general education Kindergarten classes across 6 teachers in the Southeastern United States. Upon completion of a functional analysis, participants were determined to fit into functional groups (i.e., combined attention and escape, attention, and escape), then a modified between groups design with a component of a multiple-baseline across participants design was completed. Overall, the current study found that the CICO intervention increased desired behavior as measured by points earned on the daily behavior report card ratings across baseline to intervention phases. All functional groups displayed an increase in average points earned from baseline phase across intervention phases. The results of the current study have implications within the educational systems for selecting interventions within the response to intervention framework, utilizing functional analysis for the CICO intervention, and acceptability of evidence based interventions. Limitations and recommendations for future research are presented.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Lehigh University, 2009. / Adviser: Christine L. Cole.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: A, page: . Adviser: Liora Bresler. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-189) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

<p> Developmental kindergarten is an extra year readiness program for students age eligible for kindergarten, but deemed developmentally unready for formal instruction in kindergarten. It follows the maturational "gift of time" perspective that with regard to readiness, older is better. Despite a theoretical shift away from a maturational perspective of child development, limited research to support the program, and an awareness of factors other than relative age that affect readiness, there has been an increase in the implementation of developmental kindergarten programs. This thesis considers the perspectives of 19 teachers and administrators from four districts in a large southern California county, directly involved with programs in their districts. Although all participants are supportive of the program, researchers call for empirically validated interventions, not delaying school entry or admission into extra year readiness programs, to support at-risk students; access to high quality preschool seems to be the most promising solution. </p>

<p> The current study was a replication and extension of our previous study (Kendrick et.al, 2011) which examined the play behaviors of preschool children (range: 2-5.5 yrs old) and how teachers' presence and engagement may impact children's play while on the playground. In the current study we also examine the influence of teachers' style on children's play while on the playground. Two sites were examined over a five week period; one served as the control group and the other as the experimental group. Within the five-week timeline, both groups participated in weekly teacher instruction consisting of being in close proximity (i.e. within 3 feet) of the children in the playground. Behaviors of the teachers and children were observed, recorded and coded at three time points (baseline, 3 weeks, and 5 weeks). The analyses revealed that initially having teachers in close proximity to children while on the playground reduced children's onlooker behavior and increased their parallel play. Over time children appeared to habituate to the teacher's proximity as they resumed play behaviors seen at baseline. Interestingly, teacher proximity also had an impact on teacher's engagement style. For example, both groups of teachers displayed more neutral, rule enforcer or director of play styles at baseline, but over time both groups moved toward more child directed styles. When examining more closely the impact of teacher training in the experimental group, which involved strategies to facilitate complex play and reduce aimless and onlooker behaviors, the experimental group compared to the control group (those who did not receive training), seemed to have a more negative impact on children's play behavior. That is, more aimless behavior and less simple social play was observed in the experimental group indicating that the teacher training was not helpful in facilitating children's social skill development. Methods for coding and analyzing data as well as implications of the teacher training are further discussed.</p>