Preschool teachers are an essential part of the education system in the United Sates. The problem is that research and data about the development of literacy skills exist for kindergarten and upper grades, but there is minimal research on preschool teachers' perceptions on the development of literacy skills in a play-based learning environment.…

The aim of this qualitative multiple case study was to understand three Saudi kindergarten teachers 'attitudes toward enacting inquiry to teach science in the kindergarten classroom. This study was guided by two research questions: 1) What attitudes do Saudi kindergarten teachers hold about using inquiry to teach science in their classrooms? 2)…

The problem addressed in this qualitative case study was that many early childhood educators are unprepared for or lack the knowledge and skills to utilize trauma informed practices in their classrooms to help address early childhood trauma which leads to the use of exclusionary disciplinary measures. The purpose was to better understand teachers'…

A Head Start program in Southeast Georgia, teachers were struggling to provide appropriate services to students with special needs (SWSN) in inclusive settings. The purpose of this study was to explore Head Start teacher descriptions of their roles and the barriers that inhibit implementation of inclusive education for SWSN. McKenzie and…

The number of children attending state-funded early childhood education (ECE) programs, centers, or school-based preschool programs has increased over the last two decades and continues to rise steadily. These ECE programs use play as the main learning tool for their young students. Research illustrates the many benefits of using play as a…

Students diagnosed with sickle cell disease (SCD) are eligible for special education services and benefit from advances in medical research that have extended the life expectancy of this population; however, there is a dearth of research on medical professionals' and PK-12 educators' awareness epistemological beliefs about pediatric sickle cell…

This study examined parents' and teachers' social constructions of disability, school readiness, and the transition to kindergarten process for children with disabilities who participated in a self-contained preschool special education (SPED) class, called a special day class (SDC). The 12 participants included parents of children with…

This qualitative narrative inquiry study examined the challenges and opportunities in a writing workshop framework and teachers' perceptions of their role in addressing the inequities of writing instruction in the early grades. The narrative inquiry study examined the contextualized phenomena within writing instruction in early childhood…

Black students with disabilities receiving special education services provide unique challenges to the current education system that was designed for white, able-bodied, and minded individuals. Teachers, more specifically, special education teachers, who are often white, play a vital role in serving as a first level of support and having a…

The quality of preK-12 education is an international issue of central importance in discussions currently being held by educators, administrators, legislators, and educational policymakers. Concerns addressed in these discussions include funding, high-stakes assessments, the role of technology in the classroom, national and state curriculum…

Many teachers have good intentions but are not prepared to engage students, colleagues and parents in conversations about race and Black racial identity. This inquiry postulated that learning about Nigrescence theory helps educators better understand Black racial identity development. Accordingly, a cohort of urban early childhood teachers…

This descriptive single-case study, using interviews, a focus group, document analysis and observation/field notes explored how pedagogical and leadership practices at a preschool impacted Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) integration. This study sought to understand how STEM was integrated daily within the classroom environment…

This research explored the nuances of co-creating and implementing a co-constructed and reconceptualized Kindergarten mathematics curriculum including innovative teaching practices such as number talks, math baskets, and counting collections to examine their impact on a student's mathematical identity, mindset, and content knowledge. The goal of…

In the current educational landscape where the use of technology is prominent, the present study was designed to examine how to effectively integrate iPads and open-content applications into early literacy instruction through the use of creation-based tasks: digital experiences where students have the opportunity to be creators of content and…

This research project focuses on teachers' important role in the era of standards-based education and explores how teachers' beliefs and literacy practices are associated with their implementation of the Wisconsin Early Literacy Learning Standards (WELLS). I utilized a mixed-method approach that combines survey research with a case study to…