Since 2011, the state of Oregon has embarked on a comprehensive educational policy change to create a unified birth to twenty educational system. As part of the birth to age five early childhood and family investment strategy, mandated participation in Oregon professional development system is required for all early childhood educators working in Office of Child Care licensed programs. To date, research on early childhood educators' experience in professional development systems has focused primarily on experiences with regulatory systems. This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored how four early childhood educators made meaning of their experiences of professional engagement in Oregon's state professional development system. As a researcher-participant, I conducted a two-part interview with these early childhood educators. First, we revisited the experience of the professional development journey in collage, followed by narrative semi-structured interviews. The researcher employed Dahlberg's (2006) concept of "bridling the experience" (p. 16) as a way to develop an understanding of early childhood educators' professional practice and the intersection between practice and professional engagement in Oregon's professional development system for childhood care and education. The collage and narrative dialogues illuminated the essence of each individual's experience. Experiences such as the intersection of personal professional self, acts of professional engagement, and the emotional nature of participants' work all emerged from the collage and interview process. Three essential themes emerged from the data interpretation and discussion, namely, (a)Personal and Professional Self: Intertwining Personal Experience and Professional Identity, (b)Curves Ahead: Maneuvering Rivers, Roads, and Paths, and (c)The Journey and the System are Asynchronous: "You Guys Figure that Out, Good Luck." Through the emergence of essential themes, participants demonstrated that their experiences while unique also shared common characteristics of what it means to be an early childhood educator in Oregon living with policy in the classroom. It is now the turn of policy makers and program managers of Oregon's professional development system to recognize the strength and wisdom of the voices in the early childhood classroom.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a função de cuidar na perspectiva das educadoras de berçário. Participaram deste 15 educadoras de berçário de duas creches públicas federais de Porto Alegre/RS. As educadoras responderam a entrevistas e questionários, e as suas respostas foram examinadas através de análise de conteúdo qualitativa. As verbalizações das educadoras permitiram refletir acerca da possibilidade de um cuidado suficientemente bom ser oferecido na creche. Contudo, algumas falas denunciaram que cuidar de bebês e crianças pequenas é uma tarefa emocionalmente exigente. Frente a isso, destaca-se a necessidade de o fazer do educador ser reconhecido enquanto gerador de sentimentos com os quais os profissionais podem ter dificuldade de lidar sozinhos. Dessa forma, é fundamental que sejam fornecidos dentro das creches espaços de escuta nos quais a equipe possa refletir sobre os sentimentos e ansiedades evocados no trabalho emocionalmente próximo com bebês e crianças pequenas. / This study aimed to investigate the function of care in the perspective of nursery educators. 15 nursery educators from two federal public daycares in Porto Alegre/RS participated in this study. The educators responded to interviews and questionnaires, and their answers were examined through qualitative content analysis. The educators’ verbalizations allowed to reflect on the possibility of a good enough care to be offered in the daycare. However, some statements reported that caring for infants and young children is an emotionally demanding task. In view of that, it is highlighted the importance of the practitioner’s work to be recognized as generator of feelings with which professionals may experience difficulties to cope alone. Thus, it has to be provided within the daycare listening spaces in which the staff can reflect on the feelings and anxieties raised in an emotionally close work with babies and young children.

The primary objective of this study is to foster career outcomes such as job satisfaction and turnover intentions in early childhood educators (ECEs). ECEs are defined as individuals teaching children from the age range of birth to 5 years old and work in child care programs. The focus on ECEs population was due to the fact they work in demanding environments with little wage incentives, and as a result, they experience high levels of job dissatisfaction, which in turn leads to turnover. Research has demonstrated that most ECEs are intrinsically motivated, but previous research has not quantitatively tested this construct in a model. A third objective is to explore the role of person-organization fit (P-O fit) and person-job fit (P-J fit) as mediators. Prior research has examined fit a mediator for the K-12 teacher population but it has not been explored in ECEs. The last objective of this study is to investigate distributive justice on career outcomes through P-O fit and P-J fit. Data for the study were collected from a community-based sample. The participants were teachers that worked in the field of early childhood education. Our findings show educators’ motivation and perceptions of organizational justice have a considerable impact on their career outcomes. Our results provide support for the mediation model that we hypothesized. This study can also assist in the selection of early childhood educators by utilizing the intrinsic motivation to work with children to identify which educators are intrinsically motivated and assess their fit as it relates to a specific organization.

Människors välbefinnande påverkas till stor del av relationer, främst de nära relationerna och av de miljöer de vistas i. För barn innebär det att relationen till föräldrar, förskolepersonal och vänner samt hem- och förskolemiljön är det som främst påverkar deras välbefinnande, eftersom den största delen av deras liv vanligtvis utspelar sig bland dessa personer och miljöer. Det har visat sig att svenska barns psykiska välbefinnande har försämrats och att det till en viss del kan bero på att barn inte får den tid de behöver från sina föräldrar. I tidigare undersökningar har vi funnit att både barn och föräldrar önskar mer tid tillsammans. Samtidigt börjar i regel svenska barn i förskolan redan mellan ett och två års ålder, en ålder som enligt anknytningsteorin är känslig i utvecklingssynpunkt. Enligt Skolverket är allt fler barn inskrivna i den svenska förskolan och de tillbringar också fler antal timmar där. Vi har därför undersökt om antalet timmar på förskolan har betydelse för barns välbefinnande. För att få ett så nära barnperspektiv som möjligt har vi gjort detta genom att intervjua sex förskolepedagoger i olika stadsdelar av Stockholm. Den empiri vi funnit under vår undersökning visar att barns välbefinnande påverkas av antalet timmar de spenderar på förskolan. För barn som tillbringar långa dagar, kan konsekvensen bli att deras relationer till pedagoger och vänner stärks medan relationen till föräldrarna kan bli lidande. Barn som går långa dagar tenderar också att vara tröttare. Barn som går oregelbundna tider och dagar på förskolan riskerar istället att hamna utanför kamratgruppen. Det kan för dessa barn och de barn som går kortare dagar också innebära att det tar längre tid att bygga upp en tillit till personalen. Vi har även funnit att barn idag är mer stressade, vilket bland annat är ett resultat av större barngrupper, höga ljudnivåer, förskolans kvalité, fritidsaktiviteter och föräldrars stress. Dessa faktorer påverkar också barnens välbefinnande. Hur välbefinnandet ser ut under barndomen, påverkar individens fortsatta liv. Vi har i vår uppsats undersökt ett område som vi tror kan påverka barnens välbefinnande. Då vår uppsats är begränsad på många olika sätt, anser vi att det därför är mycket viktigt att forska vidare på varför barns psykiska ohälsa har ökat i Sverige.

Thesis (Ph. D.) University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on August 2, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a função de cuidar na perspectiva das educadoras de berçário. Participaram deste 15 educadoras de berçário de duas creches públicas federais de Porto Alegre/RS. As educadoras responderam a entrevistas e questionários, e as suas respostas foram examinadas através de análise de conteúdo qualitativa. As verbalizações das educadoras permitiram refletir acerca da possibilidade de um cuidado suficientemente bom ser oferecido na creche. Contudo, algumas falas denunciaram que cuidar de bebês e crianças pequenas é uma tarefa emocionalmente exigente. Frente a isso, destaca-se a necessidade de o fazer do educador ser reconhecido enquanto gerador de sentimentos com os quais os profissionais podem ter dificuldade de lidar sozinhos. Dessa forma, é fundamental que sejam fornecidos dentro das creches espaços de escuta nos quais a equipe possa refletir sobre os sentimentos e ansiedades evocados no trabalho emocionalmente próximo com bebês e crianças pequenas. / This study aimed to investigate the function of care in the perspective of nursery educators. 15 nursery educators from two federal public daycares in Porto Alegre/RS participated in this study. The educators responded to interviews and questionnaires, and their answers were examined through qualitative content analysis. The educators’ verbalizations allowed to reflect on the possibility of a good enough care to be offered in the daycare. However, some statements reported that caring for infants and young children is an emotionally demanding task. In view of that, it is highlighted the importance of the practitioner’s work to be recognized as generator of feelings with which professionals may experience difficulties to cope alone. Thus, it has to be provided within the daycare listening spaces in which the staff can reflect on the feelings and anxieties raised in an emotionally close work with babies and young children.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a função de cuidar na perspectiva das educadoras de berçário. Participaram deste 15 educadoras de berçário de duas creches públicas federais de Porto Alegre/RS. As educadoras responderam a entrevistas e questionários, e as suas respostas foram examinadas através de análise de conteúdo qualitativa. As verbalizações das educadoras permitiram refletir acerca da possibilidade de um cuidado suficientemente bom ser oferecido na creche. Contudo, algumas falas denunciaram que cuidar de bebês e crianças pequenas é uma tarefa emocionalmente exigente. Frente a isso, destaca-se a necessidade de o fazer do educador ser reconhecido enquanto gerador de sentimentos com os quais os profissionais podem ter dificuldade de lidar sozinhos. Dessa forma, é fundamental que sejam fornecidos dentro das creches espaços de escuta nos quais a equipe possa refletir sobre os sentimentos e ansiedades evocados no trabalho emocionalmente próximo com bebês e crianças pequenas. / This study aimed to investigate the function of care in the perspective of nursery educators. 15 nursery educators from two federal public daycares in Porto Alegre/RS participated in this study. The educators responded to interviews and questionnaires, and their answers were examined through qualitative content analysis. The educators’ verbalizations allowed to reflect on the possibility of a good enough care to be offered in the daycare. However, some statements reported that caring for infants and young children is an emotionally demanding task. In view of that, it is highlighted the importance of the practitioner’s work to be recognized as generator of feelings with which professionals may experience difficulties to cope alone. Thus, it has to be provided within the daycare listening spaces in which the staff can reflect on the feelings and anxieties raised in an emotionally close work with babies and young children.

This study investigated whether a relationship exists between learning style and the self-reported technology-related needs, beliefs, stages of adoption, software expertise, and technology competencies of teachers in a large suburban school district. The Gregorc Style Delineator was used to identify dominant learning style, and the Snapshot Survey was used to measure technology-related needs, beliefs, stages of adoption, and software expertise. Technology competencies were measured using the Technology in Education Competency Survey. Data collected from 499 participants was included in data analysis. The study was conducted at each of the 12 elementary schools of a large suburban district in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The findings suggest that there is a significant relationship between learning style and the technology-related needs, stages of adoption, software expertise, and competencies of teachers. The relationship between learning style and technology-related needs was significant at the p < .01 level. The relationships between learning style and technology-related stages of adoption, software expertise, and technology competencies were significant at the p < .05 level. Members of the abstract sequential [AS] learning style group reported having significantly fewer needs and significantly higher stages of adoption, software expertise, and competency than members of one or more of the other learning style groups. More research is recommended to determine whether these findings could be utilized to improve teacher staff development in the area of technology. Possible applications may include mentoring programs and the customization of training models to more closely match learning style profiles.

Although technology is available and used in early childhood classrooms, little is known about what early childhood teachers believe about the use of technology and how technology is integrated into early childhood curricula. This study was designed to (a) determine the beliefs of early childhood teachers about technology integration into early childhood curricula and (b) describe the extent to which early childhood teachers integrate technology in their early childhood curricula. The participants included 39 prekindergarten teachers who volunteered to participate in a technology integration project. The treatment group accessed a Web-based technology integration training program and participated in two classroom observations, along with completing an attitudinal questionnaire pretest and posttest. The Prekindergarten Web-based Technology Integration Training included four modules each expanding the following themes: (a) national and state standards and guidelines for technology; (b) setting up a computer center; (c) integrating technology; (d) using the digital camera. The control group participated in two classroom observations without the benefit of the Web-based technology integration training program and completed the attitudinal questionnaire pretest and posttest. Results indicate that Prekindergarten teachers believe that technology can enhance a child's learning, but there was no statistically significant difference between the control and the treatment group.

Early childhood educators working to establish and maintain productive parent-teacher relationships are essential to the success of school-community partnerships in military- connected schools. The purpose of this study was to seek understanding of what early childhood educators had experienced while working with military families. Epstein's model of school, family, and community partnerships provided the conceptual framework for this study. The questions that guided this case study were designed to explore how early childhood educators established and maintained relationships with military families. Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews with 8 early childhood educators in military-connected schools. Inductive data analysis was used to code the data initially and then to determine these 5 themes: (a) educators used many methods to communicate with families; (b) parent involvement was influenced by educator communication, family life, and school culture; (c) deployments impacted student achievement; (d) strong community resources were deemed necessary; and (e) military children benefitted from having resilient educators. Participants believed timely training addressing the unique needs of military families would be advantageous. A 3-day professional development for early childhood educators was developed to incorporate the findings of this study. School districts implementing the professional development for early childhood educators in a strong school, family, and community partnership will result and will lead to positive social change by increasing the academic achievement, emotional wellbeing, and social welfare of children of military families attending military-connected schools.