Date of Award
5-1-1991
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Center for the Advancement of Education
Advisor
Stewart McCord
Committee Member
Charles L. Faires
Committee Member
David S. Flight
Keywords
academic readiness, child-initiated curriculum, early childhood education, educational enrichment, family involvement, financial resources, four-year-olds, kindergarten students, language skills, parent involvement, preschool program, quality education, school readiness, socialization skills, student achievement, survey responses, twelve week preschool program, volunteer activities
Abstract
This report describes a program to increase the academic and social levels of incoming kindergarten students in a southwestern community. Problems originally noted included low achievement levels, limited language skills, lack of socialization skills and limited parent involvement. Records indicated the entry level skills were below the district average and parent involvement limited.
Analysis of problem symptoms revealed children did not have benefit of educationally enriched experiences and environments prior to entering school. Families did not have the financial resources, or understand the value of education. Actions included providing a quality early childhood education experience to children prior to entering kindergarten, developing a curriculum guide of appropriate activities for four-year-old's and strategies to involve parents in their child's education.
The successful implementation of a twelve week preschool program resulted in improved ore: language and socialization skills in participating students. Academic readiness levels were below the desired outcome. The child-initiated curriculum of the preschool was not rigorous enough to prepare the students for the academic skills that were assessed following the twelve week experience. Parent attendance records, survey responses and volunteer activities indicated that parents were actively involved and reacted positively to all aspects of the program.