A teacher's well-being has a powerful impact on their work with children, families, and colleagues, and can influence the overall quality of the program in which they are employed. With a specific focus on the unique factors related to the field of early childhood care and education, this book discusses the concept of well-being and how it applies…

The present study focused on the differential effects of two German PD programs in the ECEC field. We examined whether PD programs are equally effective for all ECEC professionals or whether ECEC professionals benefit differently from these learning opportunities. An experimental pre-post-follow-up study was conducted in the field with random…

Background: The professional development (PD) of early childhood teachers is of strategic importance in higher education and the profession given the need to improve responsiveness and progress towards millennium goals. Aim: The purpose was to analyse classroom practices and teachers' experiences of PD programmes, through the theoretical lens of…

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of in-service education designed to improve early childhood teachers' environmental awareness, knowledge, attitudes and their skills on integrating environmental issues in their teaching. Thirty early childhood teachers in the treatment group and Thirty in the control group participated the study.…

This dissertation in practice will focus on gaining insights into the relationship between money spent on professional development and the Standards Assessment Inventory Scores. The Standards Assessment Inventory is an assessment tool aligned with the Standards of Professional Learning that provides insight into the perceptions of professional…

Professional standards identify what future educators should know and be able to do when they complete a program of study from an Institution of Higher Education (IHE). With support from the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the first ever stand-alone Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) Standards were approved in…

The early childhood field is increasingly beginning to recognize the importance of integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematical concepts into preschool classrooms. Despite this recognition, preschool teachers often face challenges integrating these subjects due to insufficient knowledge, training, and resources. This…

The purpose of this study is to examine the professional development of preschool teachers during summer holidays, and to develop recommendations for professional development between teaching semesters. The study is built on the basic interpretive design, with a study group of 24 preschool teachers. The data were collected through semi-structured…

Background/Context: Neoliberalism has both feet firmly planted in educational contexts around the globe (United States, Australia, United Kingdom). Due to the precarious nature of unstructured play and its unwillingness to fit neatly into a neoliberal framework of quality and high returns on investments, play for play's sake has taken a backseat…

Early childhood (EC) educator qualifications shape the quality of education/care provided to children. Although past research demonstrates that EC educator qualifications are lower than recommended by research, little is known about how qualification attainment differs at the state level where policy change primarily occurs. Using…

This systematic literature review examines research on U.S. professional development (PD) in which practicing teachers are asked to engage explicitly with race and racism. Using Kennedy's PD theories of action, this review examines 64 studies published from 1981 to 2019 and analyzes race-related PD goals, pedagogical approaches, and documented…

Instruction in prekindergarten through third grade (P-3) lends itself to authentic, project-based and playful experiences that immerse learners in STEM activities and instruction. In an era of increased focus on literacy and math skills, STEM provides an interdisciplinary approach that may prove more effective for young students to acquire skills…

This dissertation investigated the impact of two different coaching models on student achievement. The data collected was IREAD-3, Indiana's third-grade proficiency assessment tool, and Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) assessment data, a formative assessment measuring student growth over time. The study encompassed 13 elementary schools in…

The dramatic growth in the use of mobile devices across different environments and fields has contributed significantly to mobile learning (mLearning). Students have benefitted through the multimedia features of mobiles and can utilize emerging technologies with their mobile devices for learning purposes. Despite the relevance of mobile learning…

Teaching that supports children in scientific sensemaking emphasizes discourse that prioritizes children's ideas and supports children in engaging in disciplinary practices. However, supporting science talk requires skillful instruction, and without support, teachers may find it challenging to engage our youngest students in rich discussions. In…