Matching Items (2)
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- All Subjects: anti-bias education
- Creators: Swadener, Beth Blue
Description
This small case study reviewed research literature and Arizona standards and assessments utilized in the early learning continuum, with a focus on holistic development, specifically in the areas of social-emotional development and approaches to learning skill development. This conversation has become especially prevalent in the state of Arizona in light of initiatives around school readiness, and policy changes reflected within the state. Much has yet to be determined concerning how the systems approach works in Arizona local education agencies, specifically the depth, consistency, and approach in which nonacademic areas of social-emotional development and approaches to learning skills are addressed in the Arizona standards, local practices and classrooms, and preschool and kindergarten assessments. The study included a content analysis, conducted as a word count, of standards and assessments, as well as a small case study of including high academic achieving district (including semi-structured interviews and classroom observations). Through the data analysis, it was affirmed a culture of learning, reflecting social-emotional development and approaches to learning skill development was created within this Local Education Agency. Three categories (environment, individual, and decision making) emerged as a way to describe this culture through a theoretical perspective of sociocultural theory. The study offers an opportunity for discussion of social-emotional development and approaches to learning skill development, connecting to a high academically achieving district, and makes recommendations for policy, practice and further research.
ContributorsZbyszinski, Lauren (Author) / Swadener, Beth Blue (Thesis advisor) / Enz, Billie (Committee member) / Nakagawa, Kathy (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
Early childhood educators' beliefs and practices regarding race and gender were examined via two, mixed-methods studies. Study 1 assessed 341 early childhood educators' beliefs and classroom practices regarding race and gender via an online survey. Educators filled out a largely multiple-choice survey about topics such as colorblindness, sexism, and multicultural teaching practices. Study 2 involved a case study of two preschool teachers who were intentional about addressing racial and gender diversity via anti-bias education. Study 2 explored how early childhood teachers use anti-bias practices, how teachers discuss race and gender with young children, and teachers' experiences using anti-bias curricula. Study 2 involved semi-structured teacher interviews, naturalistic observations of teacher-child classroom interactions, audio-recorded book reading activities, and observations of the classroom environment (e.g., classroom toys, posters). Findings from both studies indicate that educators feel more comfortable and skilled at addressing gender than race in their classrooms. Findings also indicate that there are discrepancies between educators’ beliefs and classroom practices with regard to race, gender, and anti-bias practices. Implications for children's prejudice and stereotype development, as well as for teacher professional development, are addressed.
ContributorsFarago, Flora (Author) / Swadener, Beth Blue (Thesis advisor) / Martin, Carol L. (Committee member) / Shivers, Eva Marie (Committee member) / Nakagawa, Kathyrn (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016