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Introduction: An examination of preschool children's perceptions and attitudes towards the environment and forests has recently been conducted. However, little research has focused on preschool children's and their parents' perceptions of clean and dirty forests. Investigating these perceptions is essential to increase children's interest in and sensitivity to the environment, thereby fostering their development as responsible individuals who protect the natural world. Methods: This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by examining the perceptions of clean and dirty forests held by 40 5–6-year-old students and 40 parents, randomly selected from two preschools: one attended by children from high socioeconomic families and the other by children from low socioeconomic families, in a Mediterranean coastal city in southwestern Turkey. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic information and perceptions of clean and dirty forests. Additionally, drawing sheets were distributed to the students to illustrate their concepts of clean and dirty forests. Results: The results indicated that individuals with higher educational levels had more complex and conscious perceptions of clean forests. Children considered abstract concepts, such as supernatural forces and fossil fuels, while parents focused on awareness and conservation status. Conversely, parents and children with lower levels of education tended to concentrate on more concrete and everyday factors, such as litter and natural disasters. Individuals with higher socioeconomic status generally associated forest cleanliness with conscious behaviors and conservation, whereas those with lower socioeconomic status linked it more with polluting factors. Discussion: This investigation provides valuable insights into the management and control of local forests by incorporating the perspectives of children and their parents, promoting responsible and sustainable tourism practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Istanbul Aydin University Journal of Social Sciences / İstanbul Aydın Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi is the property of Istanbul Aydin University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research was based on the premise that in-service preschool teachers lack necessary knowledge and confidence in discussing works of art with preschool children most probably as a result of insufficient formal education within the early art education domain. Therefore we developed an experimental educational program for our students - future preschool teachers, with hypothesis that it could provide them with basic knowledge, skills, and self-confidence to implement art-viewing and art appreciation activities in preschool education. Results indicate that proposed approach to future preschool teachers' training in developing and implementing meaningful art-viewing activities with preschool children can effectively influence their knowledge, skills and confidence. However, it was also concluded, that in order to make it a regular element of preschool teachers' education program, it should be adjusted more efficiently in context of already existing syllabus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chairs of Conflict Resolution (CoCR) is a process developed for training children to discuss their conflicts constructively so they experience win-win outcomes. The present study examines the discussion taking place during the use of CoCR with young children 4–6-years-old. The discussion between the two children proceeded in four phases: (a) Describing the conflict where the 'protestor' blamed the other child and the 'reactor' accepts or denies his/her actions; (b) Discussing emotions; (c) Elaboration where they explain further their actions and intentions, evaluate their behaviour, recall class rules or CoCR rules, propose alternative ways of actions and (d) Resolution where children apologize and sometimes hug. Through teacher's scaffolding children were able to resolve their conflicts in a mutually beneficial way. The outcomes are discussed in relation to the development of perspective-taking and social understanding and recommendations are being made for its successful implementation in early year settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Ministry of National Education, 2013, children with diverse needs have the right to receive their education in environments designed to meet their needs and allow them to interact with their peers. Instructional programs that can meet all children's needs are one of the suggested programs during the implementation of inclusive programs. The Naturalistic Teaching Process is a recommended method in this context. The Naturalistic Teaching Process is a natural instructional process that allows children to acquire and reinforce new skills. This study aims to define the perspectives of preschool teachers who have children with diverse needs in their classrooms on the Naturalistic Teaching Process. Semi-structured interviews collected the data. Fifteen preschool teachers participated in this study. The data analysis employed an inductive approach based on content analysis. The study findings indicate that preschool teachers tend to follow a child's lead when setting educational objectives for children with diverse needs and developing an individualized educational program. Additionally, the study defines preschool teachers' abilities as inadequate for collaboration with families and specialists. Preschool teachers partially use the strategies and techniques, environmental arrangements, and prompts used in the Naturalistic Teaching Process, but they do not apply them systematically, indicating a need for teacher training in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Praxis & Saber is the property of Universidad Pedagogica y Tecnologica de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Interactive picturebook reading is an easily accessible and enjoyable activity that provides preschoolers with opportunities to practice problem-solving skills. Increasingly, preschool age is considered the ideal time to foster problem-solving skills. This paper examines the effect of interactive picturebook reading on the problem-solving skills of preschool children. A total of 130 preschool children between 4 and 6 years old participated in a pretest–posttest quasi-experiment with a non-equivalent control group. During five interactive reading sessions in small groups, preschoolers were invited to discuss possible solutions to the problems the book characters encounter. Problem-solving skills were measured with two Pictorial Multiple-Solutions Tasks. Multilevel analysis indicates that interactive picturebook reading can improve children's flexibility, fluency, and originality in coming up with possible solutions to a problem. In addition, we found that the picture that was used and the emotional reactions of the children to the test situation influenced the test scores. The results show that giving children the opportunity to discuss possible solutions to problems presented in picturebooks is an effective way to work on problem-solving skills in preschool. Further research is needed to explore the optimal conditions for effective interactive picturebook reading to develop preschoolers' problem-solving skills and the extent to which the skills demonstrated during interactive picturebook reading can be transferred to real-life problem solving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality teacher–child interaction is considered one of the primary mechanisms through which educational experience fosters the development of children's competencies. Teachers' self-efficacy and beliefs about developmentally appropriate practices influence the quality of classroom interaction. However, the findings are mixed, and more research must be done within the preschool teacher population. The present study investigated teacher-related factors influencing teacher–child interaction quality with preschool children. Two rating scales and one observation measure were used to survey and observe 55 preschool teachers in preschool centres of Arba Minch town, Ethiopia. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between teacher factors (i.e., teacher belief, self-efficacy, teaching experience) and teacher–child interaction quality (emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support). Teacher belief significantly predicted teachers' emotional support and classroom organization, while teaching experience significantly predicted instructional support. The findings of this study have implications for concerned bodies striving to achieve the 2030 sustainable development goals aimed at increasing the supply of qualified teachers to ensure all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development and care so that they are ready for primary education, especially in the least developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Trakya Journal of Education is the property of Trakya Journal of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Trakya Journal of Education is the property of Trakya Journal of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article views the need for integration of arts as a crucial factor for the overall aesthetic development of preschool children in the context of the synthesis between abstract painting and music. The purpose of the research is to clarify the existing direct relationship between the two types of art and their place in preschool education. Artistic perception and co-experience of abstract art are a starting point for the task of creating a non-figurative composition under the impact of a musical work. The paper includes a methodology for carrying out the specific visual form of work in preschool age and emphasizes in a systematized form the benefits of its impact that favour the development of associative thinking, creative imagination, creativity, and individuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While a number of studies have shown the potential and benefits of augmented reality (AR) technology for preschool education, less attention has been paid to the problem of children's deep learning and development of the competencies applying AR and to the pedagogy of AR. The aim of the study presented in this paper is to uncover the educational predictors of deep learning and competence development of 5–7-year-old children using AR technology. The research adopted a quantitative research approach and a survey design. The participants were 319 preschool teachers using AR technology for children's education. The study revealed that a statistically significant predictor of promoting deep learning in preschool children is teachers' roles, based on a constructivist and socio-cultural approach, when using AR. The research highlights the roles of the teacher as a creator of learning contexts and situations that engage children; the teacher as a proactive facilitator of children's learning; and the teacher as an educator who acts, thinks and reflects with children, among others. Statistically significant educational predictors of children's competence development were found to be: teachers' perceptions of AR technology, the roles assumed by teachers, and the areas of children's education in which AR technology is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investment in preschool education is increasingly seen as a policy priority in middle and high-income countries due to the early benefits it provides children in their educational journeys. This article discusses the impact of recent increased investment in preschool education in China which has served as a correction to relative historical neglect. In this study a parental satisfaction survey evaluated the cost-sharing, equity of enrollment and quality of preschool education in a local urban governmental-led and multi-participant public service system of preschool education. In the context of the continued challenges of bridging gaps between policy and practice, results show that Government investment is beginning to have positive effects in terms of cost-sharing of preschool education with benefits to family incomes and significantly increasing the quality of preschool education. Parents of children in public provincial kindergartens provided higher satisfaction ratings for students' development than parents of those in private provincial kindergartens. The article concludes by discussing the differing, but related roles of the Government and private providers in Chinese preschool education including the development of what is termed a "High-Quality Collaborative Education Ecosystem." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manner in which educators use commands, a form of language that serves to guide and regulate behaviour, constitutes an essential component of children's learning experiences in relation to language and social interactions. This study investigated nine Chinese and nine Japanese educators' use of commanding language in educator-child free play interactions. Totally, 4296 clauses generated by the educators were analysed, drawn on systemic functional linguistic theory that classifies command based on its semantic feature. The results show that Chinese educators generally uttered more commanding language than Japanese educators. The proportion of direct & non-suggestive commands (revealing speakers' authority) dominated in both cohorts, yet Chinese educators rated significantly higher than Japanese educators. The proportion of indirect and suggestive commands (carrying negotiation tones) in Japanese educators' language was significantly higher than Chinese educators. The effect of child age on the educators' commanding language was identified. Compared to the Chinese educators, Japanese educators uttered much less commands when interacting with children under four years, however, the gap was narrowed when communicating with children above four years. The findings illustrate how the educators create culturally-different language experiences for children in daily interactions, which has implications for worldwide preschool education in multicultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The value of early intervention is well demonstrated; however, less is known about the processes that initial evaluation teams use to evaluate and determine young children's eligibility for early intervention (EI) and preschool special education. The present study surveyed multidisciplinary early childhood providers (N = 1445) who conduct initial evaluations for young children. Quantitative survey data were analyzed using descriptive analyses to describe the location of initial evaluations, tools used, team membership, and approaches to eligibility determination for children with possible delays and disabilities. Evaluation practices varied greatly, but evaluation teams most often included early childhood special educators and speech and language pathologists, school psychologists or other specialists were less frequently involved. Eligibility approaches were also wide-ranging with percentage delay and standard deviation below the mean most often used; several challenges when determining eligibility were also described. Evaluations for EI and preschool special education were compared to look at variations. Statistically significant differences were found when comparing evaluations focused on eligibility for EI or preschool special education. Implications and future directions are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a unique advanced statistical approach based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to examine factors affective on phonological awareness and print awareness of preschool children. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models were created and correlations between the independent and dependent (outcome) variables were analyzed. The ANN models were trained using the data for phonological awareness and print awareness of children. According to the findings, the created ANN model had an excellent fit to the actual data (R2 = 0.934 and 0.940). Furthermore, the ANN model results were tested with a traditional analysis technique, Pearson correlation analysis. The ANN models yielded similar results to the Pearson correlation analysis but with more detail as expected. The ANN models were run for user-generated synthetic datasets and the relationships between the dependent and independent variables were discussed using model results. Demographic variables, namely, children's age, mother's age, mother's education, and family income were found to be not effective on children's print and phonological awareness skills. On the other hand, home literacy environment-related variables were found to be very effective. In conclusion, this paper introduces a methodology for implementing ANN modeling in educational data. A novel and powerful approach is provided to assess and estimate essential components of early literacy skills. The study has important implications for advancing our understanding of potential benefits of employing an AI-based modeling techniques in the field of education. The utilization of machine learning methods in educational research, as presented in this paper, has the potential to fundamentally reshape our approaches in categorizing and analyzing educational data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores educators' attitudes towards the 'Preschool of the Future' reform in Israel and its implementation. Focusing on preschool teachers, it investigated their perspectives and adoption of the reform, revealing a gap between attitudes and practices. Quantitative data from 208 teachers underscored the emphasis on social-emotional learning, while cognitive skills were considered less vital. The study highlights teachers' desire to incorporate more activities enhancing 21st-century skills than they currently do. It also indicates that pedagogical anchors positively influence children's skill and value development. Strategies are recommended to promote increased integration of activities fostering social-emotional, cognitive skills, and values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical research on number sense to date has been conducted with preschoolers and elementary school students. Despite their contributions to the literature, these studies have used variable-centered analytic approaches that may prevent distinct number sense profiles for preschoolers and first graders from being identified. This study aimed to determine the number and proportions of distinct number sense profiles, the variables influencing these profiles, and the characteristics of the children with different profiles in the transition from preschool to elementary school. We conducted a quantitative study using a cross-sectional design for this purpose and used latent profile analysis to identify and describe distinct number sense profiles for preschoolers and first-grade students. A total of 1688 children, 848 from preschool and 840 from the first grade of elementary school, took part in the study. A Number Sense Screener was used to determine number sense profiles. The data collection tool used in the study was found to be reliable. Based on the findings of the study, we identified three profiles for both the preschoolers and first graders, namely, moderate very low, moderate low, and moderate high. We examined family and household income variables to help predict the profiles. We then took the characteristics and components of number sense that caused the differentiation in the profiles as revealed by the results of the study and discussed them in light of the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Journal of Positivity & Well-Being (IJPW) is the property of International Journal of Positivity & Well-Being (IJPW) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of International Journal of Early Childhood is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of International Journal of Early Childhood is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aims to compare the psychological resilience of children who receive Montessori education with those who do not receive Montessori education(the group attends a school where education is provided according to the Preschool Education Programme of the Ministry of National Education). The study used the Relational Scanning Model Comparison Types to compare the psychological resilience of children who received Montessori education with those who did not. The research involved 99 children aged 3–6 years who received regular preschool and Montessori education during the 2021–2022 academic year. It is reported that no developmental or neurological defects were observed in any of the participants. The study group comprised 50 children aged 3–6 years from a private kindergarten affiliated with National Education in Nilüfer district and 49 children aged 3–6 years from a private Montessori kindergarten in Nilüfer district. According to the study, children who received Montessori education demonstrated comparatively higher levels of psychological resilience than those who did not receive Montessori education. It has been observed that there exists a weak but meaningful correlation between the psychological resilience of children and their social relationships/social performance, particularly in those who have received Montessori education for an extended duration. As a result, it can be inferred that Montessori education positively impacts children's psychological resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cukurova University Faculty of Education Journal / Çukurova Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Cukurova University, Faculty of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The majority of our country's population is young people. There is no doubt that the application of this vital project in the education of preschool children will have a great practical effect. After all, the future of Uzbekistan is created by today's young generation, It is a fact that our motherland, located at an important crossroads of the Great Silk Road, has been the cradle of world civilizations in the past. Our ancestors such as Muhammad Khorezmi, Abu Raikhan Beruni, Ibn Sina, Abu Nasr Farabi, Ahmad Farghani, Alisher Navoi, Mirza Ulugbek left behind a great scientific and spiritual heritage. Therefore, we must try to effectively use such advanced innovations and good ideas to provide them with modern education. "The state standard of preschool education and upbringing" states: The organization of a preschool education system based on modern requirements is aimed at introducing methods and educating a spiritually mature generation, healthy and comprehensively mature children, and effective forms of education. Expanding the network of preschool educational organizations, providing qualified teaching staff, radically increasing the level of preparation of children for school. Widespread implementation of the recommended innovative idea throughout the republic will create the basis for the emergence of great thinkers in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of this study is the analysis of questionnaire data using ontological modeling. The task relates to the fact that conventional methods for processing questionnaire data are often insufficiently effective when working with large volumes of information and do not make it possible to automate many analysis processes. As a result of the study, an ontology was designed that structures and analyzes questionnaire data, which allows for a more accurate identification of hidden relationships between variables. Using these theoretical provisions, an information system for assessing the quality of assimilation of preschool children's competencies was built. 150 children from various preschool organizations were involved in the study as respondents. The data integration method proposed in this paper significantly facilitated the process of data analysis both for a group and for an individual respondent. The key difference of the proposed methodology is the automation of routine data analysis operations based on the ontological structure, which significantly simplifies the processing of large volumes of information. This makes it possible to solve the problem of limitations in conventional analysis methods and makes data analysis more scalable and reproducible. The practical application of the results is possible in marketing for analyzing customer satisfaction, market segmentation, and evaluating the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. In the educational domain, the ontology could be used to evaluate the quality of programs and analyze respondents' opinions, and in sociology - to analyze public opinion and conduct research on social phenomena. Thus, the proposed ontology provides an effective tool for analyzing large volumes of questionnaire data, allowing organizations to make more informed decisions and improve their efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reveals the relevance of the problem of gender education and the development of this problem in modern Ukrainian research; gender education of older preschool children is considered as a problem of modern pedagogy. It is noted that the problem of gender education of children of older preschool age in the conditions of a preschool education institution is closely related to other types of education: national, moral, family, legal, labor, intellectual, and others; an analysis of the problem of gender education in pedagogical theory was carried out. It is shown that the preschool age is a decisive period of sex-role development, because it is in this period that the formation of gender identity is laid, which in turn connects the consciousness with the child's behavior and shapes his entire subsequent adult life. Attention is focused on the fact that in the process of gender education of older preschool children in the conditions of preschool education institutions, factors that can negatively affect the formation of genderrole identity of preschool children are singled out. A scientific analysis of the pedagogical aspects of the study of gender education of older preschool children is presented. It is noted that the complexity and multifacetedness of the problem of gender education, the high quality of gender education of older preschool children can be ensured by the joint efforts of management and methodical services, scientific institutions, practitioners and parents. It is emphasized that the prospects for further research of the problem are related to overcoming the low level of awareness of gender issues among older preschool children and leveling gender approaches to the program of training educators to work in educational institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes regulatory documents and theoretical and methodological research by Ukrainian scientists on the problem of gender education and gender upbringing of preschool children. The author revealed the topic of gender and the gender approach, which is a leading focus in the national system of preschool education. The article demonstrates that gender issues are interdisciplinary, forming the subject of scientific investigations in sociology, cultural studies, history, philology, psychology, and pedagogy. It is noted that gender is a complex concept used in several meanings (gender as social-role and cultural interpretation of personal traits and behavior patterns of men and women; acquisition of sociality by individuals; policy of equal rights and opportunities for men and women, etc.). Based on the analysis of scientific research, it is emphasized that the gender approach in preschool education is an individual approach to the manifestation of a preschool child's identity. It is proven that this approach creates personal conditions for freedom of choice, provides opportunities for self-realization, helps to be sufficiently flexible, and gives the ability to use various behavioral opportunities in the socio-cultural environment. The article proposes and characterizes the rules for organizing and structuring the content of ethical discussions with preschool children regarding the understanding of gender education (information should be age-appropriate and meet children's needs; the teacher should reflect their own attitude towards the topic of discussion; questions arising during the discussion should be answered, etc.). The article provides advice and recommendations for educators of preschool institutions and parents to effectively organize gender education in preschool institutions and families (establishing close cooperation in the context of pedagogical interaction between educator and psychologist, educator and family; thorough study of individual characteristics of preschool children, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, preschool enrollment has surged, but its quality is often poor. We evaluate strategies to improve quality of public preschools in Colombia. The first, designed by the government and rolled out nationwide, provided extra funding, mainly earmarked for hiring teaching assistants. The second also offered low-cost training for existing teachers. The first intervention had no effect on child development, while the second improved children's cognitive development, especially for more disadvantaged children. This pattern can be explained by the interventions affecting teachers' behavior differently. The first led teachers to reduce their classroom time, including learning activities, while additional training offset the adverse effect on learning activities and improved teaching quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All children, including emergent multilingual learners (EMLs), are primed to engage with science from an early age. Yet preschool educators traditionally have not been offered in-depth professional learning (PL) in science, how to teach it effectively to young EMLs, and how to communicate its importance to families. This quasi-experimental study investigated a partnership model designed to engage early educators, children's families, informal science educators, and STEM role models at an informal science learning environment (ISLE)in collaboratively supporting high-quality science experiences for young EML children at school, at home, and in the community. The study examined the effects of a multi-faceted PL program on educators' beliefs and attitudes toward science and their classroom instructional practices. Caregivers were surveyed and interviewed to assess their beliefs and attitudes around early science learning. Results indicated that educators in the treatment condition gained confidence in supporting science with EMLs and showed significant increases in instructional quality relative to comparison classrooms. Caregivers rated themselves as more confident in supporting science with their children. Promoting partnerships between preschools and ISLEs can be an effective way to power up educators' and families' capacities to activate young EMLs' science inquiry, learning, and language development across multiple contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of Ablai Khan KazUIRandWL: Series 'Pedagogical Sciences' is the property of Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations & World Languages and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article discusses the impact of integrated Turkish and science activities on children's environmental perception in preschool education. The study found that children who participated in integrated activities with illustrated children's books showed a significant change in environmental perception compared to the control group. The use of picture books was found to contribute to children's learning of scientific concepts and early literacy skills. The study emphasizes the importance of providing diverse learning environments and integrating activities in preschool education to enhance children's development. Additionally, the article provides a list of related academic sources that can be useful for further research in this area. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Education is the property of Mehmet Tekerek and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The interplay between teaching engagement and performance has garnered attention in both theoretical and empirical research, primarily due to its influence on student academic achievement, teacher well-being, and the realization of institutional goals. This is especially pertinent in the realm of preschool education, where the scope of learning extends beyond academic content to encompass the broader socialization of children. Drawing from Affective Neuroscience research, this study investigates the role of affective tendencies as mediators in the relationship between work engagement and job performance. Objective: The primary aim of this research is to examine a chain mediation model that hypothesizes the predictive role of teacher engagement. This model posits the intermediary influence of four basic emotions--CARING, SEEKING, ANGER, and FEAR--followed by the mediating effect of job satisfaction on teacher job performance. Method: The study utilized a sample of 842 Chinese preschool teachers. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, employing a time-lagged design. The analysis was conducted using Model 80 of the PROCESS Macros. Results: The findings reveal that both positive and negative emotions significantly predict teachers' job satisfaction. However, job satisfaction does not influence job performance. The analysis confirmed the direct and total effects of teacher engagement, as well as the indirect effects, particularly through the positive emotion of Caring. Implications: The results are instrumental in informing and refining interventions designed to enhance teacher engagement and performance, underscoring the importance of emotional factors in the educational environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing number of studies have revealed that teacher's math anxiety is related to the use of less effective pedagogical practices, which can lead to reduced math achievement among elementary school students. Children's math experience begins before formal schooling. However, there is limited information about the effect of preschool teachers' math anxiety on math‐related activities. In the current study, 209 in‐service preschool teachers were recruited to explore the relationship between math anxiety and their involvement in math activities within the classroom. Our findings showed that preschool teachers with high levels of math anxiety reported feeling less comfortable teaching math, leading to reduced engagement in math‐related activities and decreased interactions with their students. Building upon these insights, potential strategies are proposed to mitigate adverse effects of math anxiety among preschool teachers and cultivate a more positive learning environment for children. Practitioner Points: Children's math experience begins before formal schooling, but less is known about how preschool teachers' affective and cognitive apprehension about math plays a role in students' math learning environment.Preschool teachers with high math anxiety showed reduced competence in teaching math and interactions with students during math activities.Intervention programs focusing on mitigating teachers' math anxiety as well as improving math teaching efficacy may enhance a positive learning environment for early childhood education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous authors have reported a positive relationship between preschool enrolment and academic performance in later years, even helping to reduce the academic gap existing between students from different socio‐economic backgrounds. In this context, this paper goes further by analysing the impact that early childhood education (from 3 to 6 years) has on Spanish boys' and girls' reading achievement when they are in fourth grade (10 years). For this purpose, we take advantage of the 2006 Spanish education reform that promoted free second stage preschool education by using data from Progress in International Reading Literacy Study 2011 and 2016 and an instrumental variable approach, in order to get closer to causality than previous literature for Spain. We find that attending preschool has a positive influence on reading achievement, well above the impact found when using simple ordinary least squares estimates, being higher for girls than for boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to develop a valid and reliable scientific process skill test (SPST) for 60-72 months old preschool children. The study group of the research consisted of a total of 241 preschool children. 36 questions were prepared regarding scientific process skills. Test items were prepared with 3 options. The item visualized the options according to the level of the children. The prepared questions were presented to the opinion of two academicians who are experts in the field of science education and three preschool teachers. According to the expert opinions received, two items were excluded from the test. A preliminary pilot application was conducted with 114 preschool children with the remaining 34 items. Six items were removed from the test after pre-pilot application. A pilot application was made to 127 preschool children with the remaining 28 items. Three items were removed after the pilot application. As a result of the pilot application, the KR-20 reliability coefficient of the test was calculated as 0.786. The final version of the test was arranged to consist of 25 items. These results indicate that the test is highly reliable, meaning that the test results accurately reflect the measured property and are reproducible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education is vital for a person's development, especially from an Islamic perspective, where the first goal is to foster a servant attitude, talent, personality, and outlook on life. Preschool education is crucial in nurturing a child's nature, emotions, and cognitive and social skills in the first five years. However, the significance of a good school environment, particularly in moral formation, varies among institutions. Therefore, this article aims to build consensus among experts on the role of school environment and classroom management in preschoolers' moral development. Eleven-panel members validated the survey instrument with items and analyzed it using the Fuzzy Delphi method (FDM). According to the study, the experts agree that the physical school environment and classroom management are essential for promoting healthy moral development. Expert consensus was obtained on 19 out of 20 items in the physical school environment and classroom management dimension with an expert agreement level greater than 75% with an average (d) value less than 0.2. The undeniable consensus is that the school environment and classroom management play a crucial role in fostering the moral development of preschool children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Sport & Exercise / Türk Spor ve Egzersiz Dergisi is the property of Turkish Journal of Sport & Exercise and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A socioeconomic status (SES)‐related achievement gap in mathematics emerges in children from many countries before school entry, persists in primary school, and imposes challenges for education systems worldwide. In response, the United Nations' sustainable development goals include universal access to quality preschool education to support universal numeracy. A generalizability study of the effectiveness of an early mathematics intervention was conducted for low‐SES Turkish preschool children (33 boys, 27 girls; Mage = 4.32). Classrooms were randomly assigned to treatment (Pre‐K Mathematics) or control conditions. Children's early mathematical knowledge was assessed by the Child Math Assessment. A statistically significant positive impact was found (ES = 1.32). This indicates some generalizability of the intervention and supports the feasibility of using early intervention to achieve UN goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of this study is predetermined by the lack of models and algorithms for managing the formation of IT competencies in children of senior preschool age in the information and educational environment of a preschool organization. The object of the study is the process of managing the formation of IT competencies in children of senior preschool age. The problem under study is the need to build an effective system for assessing and managing the level of IT competencies, taking into account the uncertainty and subjectivity of assessments, as well as ensuring flexibility and adaptability of the process of developing competencies. The constructed model based on fuzzy logic takes into account the uncertainty of assessments and decomposes competencies into indicators of achievement (low, medium, high levels). The production model of knowledge representation based on fuzzy inference rules enables control adaptability. As a result, recommendations were compiled for assessing and developing competencies taking into account the individual characteristics of children and the educational environment. The approaches and tools proposed in this study help improve the quality of preschool education by providing teachers with effective tools for managing the educational process in the context of digitalization. The essence of the results is to build a model that makes it possible to integrate uncertain and subjective data into the process of assessing IT competencies, providing more accurate and objective assessments. The results could be used in the information and educational environments of preschool organizations, as well as in education systems that introduce modern technologies for assessing and managing competencies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swedish preschool science practice is confined to a unique educational setting where upbringing, care, and education are intertwined. This allows teachers to develop innovative cross-curricular and multidimensional science teaching. At the same time, society demands the digitalization of preschool practice, which has caused concern not only about negative effects on children's well-being but also the risk of foregrounding digital over analog tools in multidimensional and child-centered preschool practice. The aim of this study is to analyze how preschool teachers at the forefront of digitalization integrate digital and analog tools when teaching science and how this integration affects their practice. The data comprises documentation of digitalized science activities provided by ten preschool teachers and transcribed recall interviews with four of the teachers. Thematic content analysis and a framework for analyzing seven teaching dimensions of preschool science revealed the use of digital and analog tools as drivers for multidimensional science education. The findings show that the teachers primarily use digital tools to reinforce social learning, inclusion, and agency during science activities. Digital and analog tools were used to complement one another in pursuing the boundaries of multidimensional science. However, the content of this innovative and digitalized science teaching remained primarily within biology, the traditional scholarly discipline in preschool science. We conclude that the digitalization of preschool science seems to be used to strengthen and diversify teaching within the boundaries of overarching traditional preschool practice where nature encounters and children's interests and well-being are at the forefront. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there is increased interest in social and emotional competence and mental health in Croatia, there are currently limited measurement options available for early childhood settings. Thus, the SSIS SEL Brief Scales (SSIS SELb), an efficient measure of social and emotional learning competencies developed in the United States, was translated to Croatian and used by 49 early childhood educators to rate a sample of 685 children (average age 4.3 years) from several counties in Croatia. Regarding measurement invariance, the final model cohered substantially with a CASEL-inspired framework. Overall reliability was also high especially for the SEL Composite (a = .94), with notably lower reliability for subscales. Regarding cross-group concurrent validity, concurrent coefficients were largely similar across age and gender, but there were regional differences in validity. Likewise, validity correlations were in line with expectations, with moderate relationships observed between the SSIS SEL Composite and Child and Youth Resilience Measure scores. In sum, the high level of reliability provided a foundation for applied and research usage of the Croatian SSIS SELb, although further validation research will continue to be necessary before widescale implementation. Limitations to the study are discussed and also point to needed additional research before utilizing the Croatian translated SSIS SELb for applied decisions with young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Education, Theory & Practical Research (JETPR) / Eğitim Kuram ve Uygulama Araştırmaları Dergisi (EKUAD) is the property of Journal of Education, Theory & Practical Research (JETPR) / Egitim Kuram ve Uygulama Arastirmalari ) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Education, Theory & Practical Research (JETPR) / Eğitim Kuram ve Uygulama Araştırmaları Dergisi (EKUAD) is the property of Journal of Education, Theory & Practical Research (JETPR) / Egitim Kuram ve Uygulama Arastirmalari ) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Quiver application on science learning in the preschool period. The study was designed as an experimental design from the nice research type. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 40 children in two kindergartens in the same school determined by random assignment. Five different checklists determined by the researchers were used as data collection tools. Pre-tests and post-tests were conducted just before and just after the interventions with the preprepared checklists. The data were analyzed using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test used in the analysis of quantitative data. As a general result of the research, it was concluded that the activity processes planned with augmented reality application created a significant difference compared to the activity processes planned with traditional methods and provided higher learning. Looking at the themes separately, there was a significant difference in favor of the experimental groups in the themes of the cycle of water and rain formation, the life cycle of plants, and the food chain, while there was no significant difference between the knowledge levels of the experimental and control groups in the themes of the life cycle of the frog and sea creatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Associative anaphora refers to a discourse operation that links a definite determiner phrase (DP) to an antecedent that acts as an indirect referent of the definite DP. For example, in the sequence 'I bought a laptop. The keyboard was black', the definite DP 'the keyboard' is linked to 'a laptop', meaning 'the keyboard of the laptop'. The development of children's knowledge of associative anaphora has long been investigated in child language research, as it provides a unique window into the interaction between linguistic and nonlinguistic cognitive abilities. However, most prior research focused on Indo-European languages without looking at typologically distinct languages. To fill the gap, this study investigated children's knowledge of associative anaphora in Mandarin Chinese, a typologically distinct language, thus allowing for a better cross-linguistic understanding of the phenomenon. Ninety-one 3- to 5-year-olds were investigated using a truth-value judgment task. The findings were that Mandarin-speaking children exhibited a similar developmental trajectory and were impacted by the same cognitive factors as observed in children speaking Indo-European languages. The implications of the findings were then discussed in relation to the role of processing factors and language-specific properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infant malnutrition is an ongoing multi-causal problem with serious consequences for individual and public health worldwide. Preschool children in rural areas represent the most vulnerable group; however, there is no research focused on micro-regions to provide accurate information about their nutritional status and underlying causes. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of infant malnutrition in Tochimilco, Puebla, and to specify the factors that influence nutritional status, both internal and external. A nutritional evaluation based on anthropometry and clinical and dietary history was carried out on 61 preschoolers; a semi-structured questionnaire was applied to 38 children from this population to analyze social and environmental variables that referred to descriptive and multivariate statistics. It was found that 51% are at risk of malnutrition, 48% manifest height/age deficit and 35% are underweight. Furthermore, the type of rural/urban locality influenced nutritional status; government support also related to weight/height and weight/age, with particular reference to the scholarship program. Eating patterns provide sufficient energy and macronutrients, but of very poor quality. In conclusion, the infant population of Tochimilco is at greater risk of malnutrition than reported and the most efficient strategy to eradicate this is not only to improve living conditions and social deficiencies, but to include the component of nutritional education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Lusofona de Educacao is the property of Universidade Lusofona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, CEIEF and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Early childhood is an opportune time to begin teaching STEM, and preschool education provides the opportunity. How children experience and respond to STEM in community‐based preschools is our focus. Using the CIRCLE classroom observation system, we examined how frequently and in what contexts preschool teachers provided STEM learning opportunities, and how children responded using quantitative–descriptive methods. Data were collected in 39 low‐socioeconomic status (SES), community‐based preschool classrooms on a stratified sample of 117 children that included mono‐English speaking children, dual language learners, and children with a diagnosed disability. Results indicated that children were exposed to nonacademic content 71% of the observed time. In contrast, STEM instruction occurred only 7% of the time, or about 6 min of our 90 min observation on a given day. When teachers provided STEM content, the probability that children were academically engaged was 0.57 compared with only 0.08 during nonacademic content. There were no statistically significant differences in STEM academic content received between girls and boys, children with versus without an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and English‐only speakers versus dual language learners. However, dual language learners were significantly less engaged during STEM than English‐only speakers. Implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preschool education enables children to develop play skills and independent learning behaviors. This study aims to understand the association between preschool children's play skills and independent learning behaviors. The study was a relational survey model, with 380 children within the 5-year age group attending preschool and kindergarten school in Türkiye. The children were observed for one month. Teachers assessed their play skills and independent learning behaviors using "the Game Skills Scale (GSS)" and "Children's Independent Learning Development Checklist (CHILD 3-5)". The descriptive result of the study, the children's play skills, and independent learning behaviors were found to be high; there was a significant difference according to gender in favor of girls; and the mean score changed according to the school type (the mean of the children attending kindergarten were higher, but the difference was not significant). A positive and strong relationship was found between children's independent learning behaviors and play skills, indicating that children's play skills had a significant effect on their independent learning behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]