The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if providing targeted professional development (AIM Pathways to Proficient Reading) in foundational literacy skills based on the science of reading and Structured Literacy can lead to a difference in teacher knowledge and to determine a relationship between teacher knowledge and student…

Teachers' noticing of students' mathematical thinking plays an important role in supporting student learning. Yet little is known about how online professional development (PD)--a growing setting for PD in the USA--can cultivate this noticing. Here, we explore the potential of using two online tools for engaging video to support K-2 teachers'…

This study examined the effects of an SLP-delivered whole-class interactive book reading intervention and a professional development program on children's self-initiated participation. Eleven kindergarten teachers and the children in their classes participated in this quasi-experimental study. They were filmed during book reading at pre- and…

The aim of this pilot study was to develop, practice, and evaluate learning environments that are supposed to foster early mathematical reasoning in kindergarten. The participating kindergarten teachers attended a multi-part PD program. The research focused on the development of their teaching skills, and their reasoning practice over one school…

Children learn language through participating in language-rich activities such as book reading. This longitudinal qualitative study explored the perception of 11 teachers and 78 kindergartners regarding children's participation in book-reading in order to understand how it is experienced by those most involved in this activity. Each participant…

IOE (Institute of Education), UCL's Faculty of Education and Society (University College London, UK) has a long tradition of engagement with schools to support young children's learning and co-produce knowledge through research-practice partnerships. From the first demonstration schools in the early 1900s to engagement with contemporary research…

This article focuses on development work led by Nikki Smith who participated in a teacher leadership support group designed especially for educators in the field of early childhood. Nikki's project improved the provision and practice of a particular type of learning environment for very young children, one that is created and packed away each day.…

Interest has grown internationally in the concept of physical literacy [Dudley, D. 2015. "A Conceptual Model of Observed Physical Literacy." "The Physical Educator" 72: 236-260; Edwards, L., A. Bryant, R. Keegan, K. Morgan, and A. Jones. 2017. "Definitions, Foundations and Associations of Physical Literacy: A systematic…

Background/Context: Childhood trauma can increase preschooler's risk for behavioral problems, poor student-teacher relationships, and expulsion (Loomis, 2020; Zeng et al., 2019). Efforts have been undertaken to address the gaps in knowledge and confidence of ECE teachers by integrating trauma-informed approaches into ECE settings, who by virtue of…

To better understand the reasons underlying attrition and the teacher shortage, and to develop ways to attract and retain high-quality teachers in early childhood education, it is necessary to explore teacher motivation and commitment to teaching. Although previous research has investigated various aspects of teacher motivation and commitment to…

Developing early reading skills is important for long-term academic success. Too often, however, young children do not have the foundations of literacy they need. One-third of Tennessee students read on grade level (Tennessee Department of Education, 2021), and in the state's capital city of Nashville, three out of four 3rd graders are not reading…

Although small group instruction is often endorsed in teaching young children, teachers are rarely given explicit instruction on how to move instruction into small groups where effective adult-child interactions can take place. This study examines how 14 early childhood educators transitioned their instruction from whole to small group teaching…

Data from 332 teachers who participated in the National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education study were used to examine the implications of classroom age diversity in preschool programs for teacher interactions with students in areas of instructional and emotional support, and classroom organization. Teachers in early childhood…

A three-session professional development (PD) program on planning for young gifted children was provided to sixty-six early childhood/early years educators, aiming to increase educators' professional knowledge and skills in this area. The program was grounded in a socio-cultural perspective that sees young gifted children as class members as well…

Hearts and Minds on Babies (HMB) is an innovative, attachment-based training for Early Head Start (EHS) staff and parents, developed through a collaboration between university-based researchers and clinicians and community-based EHS educators. This article describes HMB, our collaboration, and lessons learned when infusing infant and early…