This study aimed to explore parents' goals and own early childhood experiences in an effort to help teachers better understand and connect with parents. The study used interviews and an online questionnaire. The questions were both specific and open ended, as one of the goals was to learn about personal accounts and memorable experiences parents may have enjoyed in their earliest educational settings. Results indicate that parents do in fact place children in certain preschool settings based on their own early educational experiences, as they want them to either go through the same enjoyable occurrences or undergo better experiences. Implications suggest early childhood centers should understand parents' own experiences and goals in order to forge a deeper connection between educators and parents through a sharing of personal, early educational accounts. Such connections could result in a more comforting and enjoyable learning experience for children, since parents and teachers will be more able to work together toward the same goals.]]> Permission to conduct this study at Wagner College allowed for data to be collected over five years in three first year residential student housing communities: all male, all female and co-ed floors in Harborview Hall. The study looked at the incidents occurring on each floor over that period of time, and which students were involved. It also examined the fines assigned to each floor; both fines for individual students and fines assigned the entire community for larger scale damages. These findings were analyzed for significance to answer the questions posed.
It was found that neither housing style can be awarded the title "best" in terms of lessening incidents or damage fines. Both housing styles have their merits, but there is not a style which lessened both incidents and damage fines in a consistent way. This outcome indicates that either style is a viable housing option for an institution. ]]>
This study sought to identify how play therapists define trauma, identify the selection of tools, materials, resources and approaches each therapist selected and implemented based on the services needed for the child. Through two experts with a range of experiences in play therapy were asked to discuss and describe the specific approaches, strategies and tools they utilize to help preschoolers overcome, or to work through a traumatic event.
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This study's aim is to explore through qualitative methods if an after school program helped parents acquire skills and techniques to increase literacy learning at home and school. The goal of this study is to meet with these parents and learn about how these strategies taught in the program may have become embedded into their home lives, helping them engage academically with their children. During the course of this program, parents should become more confident on ways to help their child and promote language development. The study will examine whether this was the case. ]]> The purpose of this study was to explore the idea of LGBTQ inclusion in early childhood settings. This study surveyed current early childhood teachers to learn what inclusive practices they are currently employing in their classrooms, as well as their background knowledge in LGBTQ issues. LGBTQ parents who have or have had children in early childhood classrooms were interviewed on their experiences in an effort to gain real life understanding and insight into the struggles LGBTQ families face. LGBTQ parents were also questioned about their hopes and expectations for inclusive schools. Finally, the information gathered from the parent focus group and teacher surveys was used to develop a framework for an LGBTQ inclusive workshop for teachers to learn more about family diversity and how to incorporate these issues into their classrooms.
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