Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Joan Mignerey
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
abused children, child development, classroom observations, classroom practices, daily communication, DAP, developmentally appropriate practices, early childhood education, learning transfer, mentoring programs, on-site training, parent education, preschool children, prekindergarten teachers, qualitative data, quantitative data, school budgets, teacher development, teacher support, training strategies
Abstract
This applied dissertation was designed to establish a method to increase the transfer of learning from on-site training to the classroom in order to increase the use of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP). The major goal was to have teachers consistently use DAP in the classroom, which would lead to establishing higher quality services to children at the writer’s work site.
The writer developed strategies to work with two prekindergarten teachers and one assistant teacher. On-site training, classroom observations, a system of daily communication, and a revised school budget were strategies used to address the problem. Monthly meetings were used to report successes, discuss the change process, voice concerns, and obtain knowledge of child development. The purpose for using these strategies was to educate teachers to become more effective in developing skills in young children using DAP consistently in the classroom. These strategies provided a consistent series of support and training for the participants.
The qualitative data showed that two participants increased the use of DAP in the classrooms. The quantitative data demonstrated that one teacher used DAP consistently and one teacher still needs a considerable amount of training and support to incorporate DAP consistently. This preschool will use one teacher to develop a mentoring program that will establish clear understandings of the expectations of DAP in the classrooms. This program will be extended to all teachers at the other sites.