Meaningful Learning Experiences In Supportive Environments: A Dissertation Review

A Dissertation Review on Positive Caring Learning Environments

Susan Renee Tefft

Walden University 

Title: Preparing Early Learners for Kindergarten Success

The early childhood problem researched in the dissertation along with a brief explanation of the study—study purpose, population/participants, methodology, data sources, and conclusions

The early childhood problem that the author was researching in this dissertation was how high-quality learning environments in early childhood education can reduce disparities in academic achievement. The research in this dissertation also looked at how pre-academic skills taught during early learning can assist children with having higher educational attainment throughout schooling. The purpose of this study was to understand the significance of classroom quality as it relates to the relationship between a teacher and student, the impact of parental involvement in the school environment, and preschool teachers' understanding of process quality and structural quality.

The author of this dissertation conducted a qualitative case study at an elementary school in Texas. Utilizing a purposeful sampling of participants that included all 16 early childhood teachers and 17 parents of the early learners in that school. The school that is being used for the research had 8 classrooms with 2 teachers in each classroom and two parents were selected from each classroom to participate in the study.

The author conducted face-to-face interviews with parents and teachers utilizing preplanned questions to ensure the data collected from participants was accurate. During the interviews, an audio-recorder was used for accuracy and the data was transcribed, coded and sorted. The researcher followed extensive steps to ensure reliability and validity of the data collected.

The researcher found that high-quality learning opportunities were limited in this particular school. Possibly, because teachers’ had a lack of knowledge as it relates to structural quality and process quality. The research stated that the curriculum being used by the school was outdated and may not be reaching the individual needs of the children. The research also found that the parents lacked an understanding of the importance of social-emotional skills as they relate to school readiness. The researcher concluded that with Professional Development for teachers to increase their understanding of structural quality and process quality, an updated curriculum that individualizes instruction for children, and parent education on social-emotional development and how it relates to kindergarten readiness; high-learning opportunities and kindergarten readiness could increase.

Resources Used In This Research and Their Relevance to This Study

Below I listed three resources that I reviewed that the researcher used in this dissertation. The first resource was a research article written by several researchers and illustrated how promoting academic and social-emotional school readiness can affect later learning for school-age children. This article is relevant to this dissertation because it directly relates to the research questions the author is trying to answer.

The second is a white paper that highlights the efforts being made in Washington State to offer high-quality universal preschool and the components of a high quality early learning program. This resource would be useful to the research being done in this dissertation because the researcher needs to have a basic understanding of what the early learning professional community standards are for a high-quality early learning environment.

The third article I reviewed that was used in this research was on family engagement in early childhood programs. Recognizing the important role of the family in educational success directly relates to the problem statement being addressed in this dissertation. Therefore, the researcher would have to read and understand multiple sources of literature that relate to family involvement in early childhood education and the role the family and culture play in early childhood education.

Bierman, K. L., Domitrovich, C. E., Nix, R. L., Gest, S. D., Welsh, J. A., Greenberg, M.T., & Gill, S. (2008). Promoting academic and social-emotional school readiness: The head start REDI program. Child Development, 79(6), 1802-1817. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2008.01227.x

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (2011, April). Early learning - Washington State. Retrieved from http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/USProgram/Washington-State/Early-Learning

DeMeulenaere, M. (2015). Family involvement in quality early child care centers.

Childhood Education, 91(4), 315-316. doi:10.1080/00094056.2015.1069164

How the information gleaned from this dissertation may further my work related to fostering supportive learning environments through positive classroom cultures and classroom communities.

As an Education Manager in a County Head Start program part of my job is to ensure that the Teacher/Family Advocates under me have an understanding of what constitutes a supportive learning environment and how to offer every child and family a positive classroom culture and community. By staying abreast of current trends and research in the early childhood field I will be able to offer better support for my staff and more importantly, a high-quality early childhood experience for all of the children enrolled in our program.

The information and resources gathered in this dissertation are current and relevant. The researcher took an in-depth look at what an early-childhood preschool program does to support kindergarten readiness and the role the family play’s in that process. I can use this information to design professional development opportunities to support what we know and what we need to know to create a supportive learning environment for every child in our program.

This dissertation also relates directly to the research I am doing on the The social-emotional aptitude of early childhood professionals and how not providing adequate training to beginning teachers’ leads to attrition and burn out. The author of this dissertation provided research and resources that will both be valuable to my learning and my teaching to help ensure the quality of the program I work for and my research.

References:

Stewart, D. J. (2016). Preparing early learners for kindergarten success (Order No. 10090333). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1779522971). Retrieved from https://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.proquest.com%2Fdocview%2F1779522971%3Faccou