Research Presentations for the 2006 ACEI International Conference
San Antonio

Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Research Highlighted Session
9:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Embracing Cultural Confluence: Understanding the Cultural and Human Agency Factors That Shape Preschoolers' Acquisition of Self-Regulation
Wanda A.R. Boyer, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
This ethnographic research examines the powerful culture and human agency factors that influence the acquisition of preschool self-regulation. Implications include respectful methods to support culturally diverse families.

Examining Pre-Service Teacher Beliefs About Peace
Susan L. Mody, Plattsburgh State University of New York, Plattsburgh, NY, USA
Educating for peace faces the challenge that many teacher candidates believe that war is inevitable. Can reflective practice be enhanced through concept mapping and interview projects with community stakeholders?

Mathematics in Pre-Kindergarten Classes: Pre-Kindergarten Teachers' Use of Hypothetical Learning Trajectories in Mathematics Education
Mary Ellen Bardsley, Niagara University, Lewiston, NY, USA
A year-long case study of pre-kindergarten teachers using and developing understanding of early childhood mathematics through the use of proposed developmental progressions of mathematical concepts.


Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Research Forum I
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 

Recess Play: Observations of First and Fifth Grade Children
Rose B. Jones, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA
Jeanetta G. Riley, West Broadway Elementary School, Madisonville, KY, USA

Recess play behaviors of county and city first and fifth grade children were studied from ten research questions using seven individual and group categories.

Technology and the Young Child: Addressing Issues of Cultural and Developmental Awareness
Lilia C. DiBello, Barry University, Miami, FL, USA
Rebecca P. Harlin, Florida Atlantic University, Miami Shores, FL, USA
Software intended for use in classrooms must be reviewed. Results will be presented that identify criteria highlighted by graduate students for developmental and cultural appropriateness.

Improving PRAXIS Performance of Teacher Candidates From Under-Represented Populations
Carol McClain, Orangeburg, SC, USA Preliminary results of a study designed to improve performance of potential teachers on state mandated qualifying exams for teacher certification.

Musicianship of Pre-K Specialists: Moving Beyond Do-Re-Mi
Elisabeth Etopio, Karla Hamlen, Maria Runfola, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
What do Pre-K teachers need to teach music more effectively? Discover how early childhood teachers developed their musicianship and implemented a developmentally appropriate music curriculum.


Thursday, April 13, 2006
Research Forum II
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 

Drama Discovery: Bibliotherapy and Theater Games for Self-Efficacy of Students with Emotional and/or Behavioral Disabilities Regarding Their Understanding of Their Own Exceptionalities
Shellie Jacobs, Gibsonia, PA, USA
Utilize bibliotherapy in combination with theater games as an innovative tool for reaching students with emotional and behavioral needs for deeper understanding of their exceptionality.

A Culture of Aggression: Respond to Escalating Aggression during Confrontational and Threatening Situations (REACTS)
Jonathan R. Brown, Lisbeth J. Brown, Clarion University, Clarion, PA, USA
REACTS is a new tool to better assist schools in identifying and responding to staff-specific needs for reducing disruptive behaviors from students and others.

Oakwood Integrated Primary School: Academic Excellence and Education for Peace in a Divided Society
Karen Pickett, University of Michigan at Flint, Flint, MI, USA
Using principles of peace education, Oakwood Integrated Primary School in Belfast, Northern Ireland crosses sectarian boundaries to create a climate of tolerance, respect, and mutual understanding.

Amazing Kids: The Development and Implementation of a Middle School Disability Awareness Program
Paula G. Purnell, Beatrice Fennimore, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA, USA
Middle school students, both with and without disabilities, benefit from opportunities to dialogue and problem solve with their peers on issues of diversity. This session will provide a successful model for developing a disability awareness program using simulation activities and personal story to promote dialogue.

The Environment as Curriculum: An Ethnographic Study of a New Zealand Maori Kohanga Reo (Language Nest Preschool)
Maxine L. Bauermeister, Webster University, St. Louis, MO, USA
This research presentation will describe how the physical environment serves as curriculum in teaching young New Zealand Maori children their native language and culture in a full immersion preschool.


Friday, April 14, 2006
Research Forum III
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

 

Preparing K-3 Teachers to Implement a Comprehensive Program of Family and Community Involvement
Kent Chrisman, Tana Kauffman, Donna Couchenour, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA, USA
This research project examined the processes and effects of creating Action Team for family, school, and community partnerships through implementation of Joyce Epstein's partnership framework.

Developing Professional Dispositions in the Preservice Teacher: Raising Standards
Nina M. King, Celia B. Hilber, Elizabeth Engley, Steve Armstrong, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL, USA
After the presentation, participants will be able to recognize emergent professional dispositions; address weaknesses exhibited in preservice teachers; and use a professionalism rubric.

What's Playing in Teacher Education? Images of Teachers and Educational Practice in Popular Films
Patricia A. Crawford, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
This study examines historical representations of teachers and schooling as seen through the lens of popular film. Implications for teacher education will be explored.

Educating Pre-Service Early Childhood Education Teachers to Meet the Needs of Special Needs Children: How Colleges and Schools of Education in Some Mid-Western Universities are Preparing Teachers
Rachel Adeodu, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL, USA
This research examines how some colleges and universities in the Mid-West are preparing early childhood and general education teachers to educate children with special needs.

Embracing Beginning Teachers in a Confluence of Cultures: The Role for Teacher Education
Janice Patterson, Cecilia Pierce, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
Participants will become aware of beginning teachers' needs, and specific strategies used by mentors and university faculty. Implications for teacher education programs will be discussed.


Friday, April 14, 2006
Research Roundtables
3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

 

Empowering Early Childhood Educators Through Technology: A Learning Community Approach
Ruslan Slutsky, Bob Cryan, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
Empowering early childhood educators through the infusion of technology with the goal of providing alternative pathways to professional development.

Narratives of Preservice Teachers: A Comparison of Oral and Written Forms
Tonja Root, Linda Miller, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA, USA
Data was collected from oral and written narratives by preservice teachers (senior-level teacher education majors) to be analyzed. Comparisons were made between these formats for linguistic and overall structures.

Knowing From Inside: Using Narratives to Understand My Students
Min Zou, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO, USA
The presenter shares findings from a study in which narratives were used to help her know and understand her students multi-dimensionally.

Reality and Perception of Induction/Mentoring Programs
Shirley Andrews, Ellice Martin, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA, USA
How do new teachers, mentors, and administrators perceive induction and mentoring efforts in the school district in which they work? Hear about a study conducted to examine these issues related to the retention of novice teachers.

Diversity in Home, Families, and School Emphasis Areas: International/Global Issues
Li-Chun Chang, National University of Tainan, Tainan, Taiwan
This study examined the relationship between bilingualism and cognition. Mandarin-Taiwanese bilinguals were studied. Results were consistent with the thresholds theory, especially in divergent thinking.

Mentor/Apprentice Satisfaction: The Rhode Island Child Development Specialist Apprenticeship Program
Clarissa M. Uttley, Lincoln, RI, USA
Research examining satisfaction levels in apprentice/mentor relationships to inform best practice in mentoring program models. Participants recruited from the Rhode Island Child Development Apprenticeship Program.

A Study of the Effects of Cultural Diversity upon Early Childhood Development in a Student-Teacher Relationship
Chizuko Konishi, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
The research concerns how the ethnic background of bilingual teachers affects the language development of preschool children whose parents are not native speakers of English.

Development of Knowledge and Comprehension of Assessment and Evaluation Experiences: Phase 2 - Middle School
Edward J. Caropreso, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA
This study will extend the findings of previous research exploring the development of children's knowledge and comprehension of their assessment and evaluation experiences, an area of cognitive development virtually untapped by previous research, to middle school age learners.

Making It Happen: Going to School in Cambodia
Nancy Keiser, North Central College, Naperville, IL, USA
Despite large class size and teacher shortages, one agency in Cambodia helps children gain entry to schools and succeed once they get there.

How Experiences and Monsters Contributed to Science Learning of Struggling Readers in a Rural Mississippi School
Kerry P. Holmes, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
This study examined whether integrating students' experiences with science concepts affects science learning. Students used three graphic organizers based on monster themes to document experiences, ask questions, and seek information.

Study on Guiding a Student Teacher to Integrate Play and Group Discussion Techniques in Early Science Teaching and Learning
Cecilia Lingfen Chang, Ming Hsin University of Science and Technology, Hsin-Chu County, Taiwan
This research presents empirical data on how a student teacher work with a professor and a classroom teacher to integrate play and group discussions in kindergarten teaching and learning on a theme as where the insects are.


Saturday, April 15, 2006
Research Poster Session
11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

 

The Power of Collaborative Teacher Research in Confronting the Challenges of Diversity in Complex Times
Gillian Potter, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
This presentation will share aspects of a dynamic study that was undertaken with early years teachers engaged in a collaborative research and critical reflection on the challenges of responding to diversity in their classrooms.

Examining Play, Developmentally Appropriate Practices, and the Culture of Preschool Through a Mentoring Program that Trains High School Students to Teach 3 to 4 Year-Old Children
Mark Brown, Daemen College, Amherst, NY, USA
Preschool director instructed sixteen high school students to teach sixteen children (3-4 years of age) in the context of one-on-one instructional lessons, morning circle, and small/large group activities.

Does a London (UK) Student Teaching Program Measure up to US Teacher Education Standards?
Heather Bridge, State University of New York at Cortland, Cortland, NY, USA
Social working conditions, standardized teaching approaches, and self-awareness opportunities for candidates explain how a London student teaching program met INTASC teacher education standards.

ADALANTE Project: College Credit for Head Start Teachers
Lin Moore, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, USA
David L. Brown, Texas A&M University at Commerce, Commerce, TX, USA

A beginning look at classroom environments and child assessments investigates the effects of increased education for Head Start teachers working with Hispanic children.

Preschool Drug Culture
John Manning, Gina DiCerbo Burnet, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
To educate early childhood professionals regarding the nature and use of medication within childcare settings and the possible liabilities created by the ensuing gap and to aid ECE childcare providers and administrators to modify their current child medication policy in order to protect the health and safety of the children in their care and limit their legal exposure.

The Impact of a Book Flood Experience on Parents of At Risk Four-Year Olds
Dolores Stegelin, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
The impact of a book flood experience on the parents of at risk four year old children is presented. Positive outcomes of the book flood on the parents' knowledge and attitudes about early literacy routines and pre-reading skills are described.

Childhood Development: The Effect of a Full-Time 4-Year Old Junior Kindergarten Program
Yves Herry, Claire Maltais, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
This study examined the effects of a full-time 4-year old junior kindergarten program within a French minority setting in Ontario, Canada.

Teaching About Play: Professionals Share Thoughts
Stuart Reifel, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
This study describes how early childhood educators convey to students, teachers, and parents the meaning of play. Depending on audience, educators emphasize more about play activities, play theories, and the meaning of play in cultural context.

Perceptions of Self-Competence in Head Start Children
Delar K. Singh, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT, USA
A research study that looked at the perception on self-competence in Latino and White Head Start children. The presentation emphasizes social-emotional development of young children.

The Comparisons of Teaching and Evaluations in U.S. Kindergarten Classrooms Among Inner-Cities, Suburban, and Rural Areas
Hsin-Hui Lin, Chiuchu Chuang, University of Houston at Victoria, Victoria, TX, USA
The results of this study will be beneficial to ACEI conferees, particularly those with a special interest in learning more about the teaching and evaluation in U.S. kindergarten classrooms.

Educational Mandates Effect on Creative Play: An Oral History of Kindergarten Teachers
Cathryn Mitchell, Austin Independent School District, Austin, TX, USA
Robin H. Ramirez, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA

How three retired kindergarten teachers incorporated play in their classrooms even with mandates, low student maturity levels, and little administrative support.

Unable to attend: A Study on Early Childhood Physical Education Curriculum in Rural China
Nili Luo, University of Montana Western, Dillon, MT, USA
Early childhood education curriculum in China has its unique characteristics. This study intends to introduce the physical education curriculum in early childhood setting in rural China and make further implications on current issues in the United States.

Learning Through Play: An International Early Intervention Program for Infants, Children and Their Families
Annabel Bassin, Gerda Sumner, Hincks-Dellcrest Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
Will present research of the effectiveness of learning through play in a developing country.

All in a Days Work: Elementary School Students' Perceptions of Play and Work
Michael M. Patte, Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, PA, USA
This presentation explores fifth grade student's perceptions about play and work, how these activities were experienced throughout a typical school day, the daily time devoted to play and work activities during a typical school day, and the possible implications of reducing or eliminating time devoted to playful activities for elementary school students.