Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 2020
This study evaluated the impact of a pilot coaching project that included peer coaching in an ear... more This study evaluated the impact of a pilot coaching project that included peer coaching in an early childhood program in the Northeast. A total of 18 coaches provided coaching with 15 teachers. Peer coaches included a participant-selected teacher or a director-selected teacher; program administrators also provided coaching. A one-page coaching form included columns to document the coaches’ observations and notes on teacher strengths and suggestions for improvement. Reflection forms, completed by teachers following coaching, captured perceptions about the coaching process. Results suggested that, compared to other coaches, administrators were most likely to provide specific feedback to teachers. Teachers were most comfortable being observed by a self-selected peer coach and most comfortable receiving feedback from a director-selected peer coach. Participants shared perceived benefits of and challenges to engaging in the peer coaching process. Findings and implications for program-lev...
We surveyed early childhood personnel to explore reported practices during the initial evaluation... more We surveyed early childhood personnel to explore reported practices during the initial evaluation of young children for early intervention or preschool special education. One hundred early childhood personnel participated. Overall, reported evaluation practices and processes matched recommended practices and met legal guidelines, including gathering information from a variety of sources and the use of a family-guided and team-based approach. Reported challenges included not having enough time to collect information, struggles to arrange the evaluation, difficulties determining eligibility, and systems issues regarding working conditions, training, and collaboration across agencies. Translation and interpretation were the most commonly utilized culturally responsive practices; challenges working with translators and interpreters were noted along with the need to improve other culturally and linguistically responsive practices. Implications for practice are discussed, including ways t...
This study explored similarities and differences in how early childhood education (ECE) teachers ... more This study explored similarities and differences in how early childhood education (ECE) teachers (n = 947) and early childhood special education (ECSE) teachers (n = 160) provided remote learning to young children and their families following COVID-19 shelter in place orders in the spring of 2020. The most utilized remote learning activities for both ECE and ECSE teachers were the provision of activities for families to use at home, communication with families, online lessons, and singing songs and reading books. Both types of professionals spent more time planning and communicating with families than providing instruction to children. Results of chi-square tests of independence revealed differences in activities provided, how time was spent, and training received by professional role. Open-ended responses revealed particular challenges for ECE and ECSE teachers. Findings are discussed in the context of how the early childhood field adapted quickly to remote learning during COVID-19...
The promotion of Social emotional learning (SEL) in elementary schools has increased; however, li... more The promotion of Social emotional learning (SEL) in elementary schools has increased; however, little is known about early childhood teachers’ perceptions about the effectiveness of their elementary school’s approach to SEL. The present study used mixed methods methodology to explore the perceptions of 1154 preschool through second grade teachers working in elementary schools regarding the effectiveness of their school’s SEL approach. Study findings revealed that early childhood teachers overall viewed their classroom and school SEL approaches as effective. Eight themes emerged regarding key elements of effective SEL approaches. Participating teachers expressed specific concerns about SEL implementation when their unique early childhood classroom context was not considered or included in their school’s SEL approach. Findings are interpreted in the context of relevant literature and implications for practice are discussed.
This study used a nationally distributed survey to explore how classroom-based early childhood pe... more This study used a nationally distributed survey to explore how classroom-based early childhood personnel delivered remote services to young children with disabilities and their families during the early months of the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A concurrent equal status fully mixed-method approach was used to analyze 221 participants’ responses to closed- and open-ended survey questions. Findings indicated that children with disabilities received modified special education services during school closures; most comments noted that early childhood personnel shifted to provide remote coaching to families. Other comments mentioned one-on-one services and accommodations for remote learning. Personnel described some benefits of remote services such as improved partnerships with families. Top reported challenges included children not receiving the same quality of services and high levels of educator stress. These and other study findings are discussed regarding the implications...
Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth
Abstract Intervention efforts in turnaround elementary schools in the U.S. have focused on academ... more Abstract Intervention efforts in turnaround elementary schools in the U.S. have focused on academic interventions, missing the important link between students’ social emotional competence and academic outcomes. The current study describes implementation of a multi-tiered approach to support young students’ social emotional competence in an urban turnaround elementary school primarily serving students of color. Details regarding how the approach was rolled out in the school’s early childhood classrooms are offered. Lessons learned are described and discussed as part of large-scale efforts to turn around chronically underperforming urban elementary schools through a focus on improving young children’s social emotional competence.
This historical review explores the development of the literature base of single-case interventio... more This historical review explores the development of the literature base of single-case intervention research associated with the promotion of social outcomes for young children under the age of 9. Research studies are included from the seminal study conducted in 1956, continuing through 2019. Trends and patterns in study components are noted, such as changes over time in participant populations and the use of natural versus segregated and clinic settings. The evolution of research using particular social interventions is described as well as the various intervention agents used to impact social dependent variables across decades. Future research implications are discussed, including understudied components of social competence, the contextual variables that impact fidelity of implementation, and the need for continued research in natural settings using evidence-based social interventions that also are culturally and linguistically relevant for diverse and inclusive early learning set...
This conceptual article describes key considerations for elementary school personnel to ensure so... more This conceptual article describes key considerations for elementary school personnel to ensure social emotional multi-tiered systems of supports (MTSS) are adapted for kindergarten classrooms. Kindergarten represents a unique developmental period of early childhood when 5 to 6-year-old children transition into formal schooling and experience a learning environment that places greater emphasis on children’s independence, adherence to routines, and academic goals. This increase in demands may place stress on children’s social emotional competencies. School personnel may find existing practices associated with their elementary schools’ social emotional MTSS have not been adapted to meet the developmental needs of kindergarteners; this article describes ways to adapt existing universal, targeted, and intensive social emotional supports for kindergarten. Key considerations for administrative personnel are presented.
Intervention studies to reduce challenging behavior in young children below the age of 6 were rev... more Intervention studies to reduce challenging behavior in young children below the age of 6 were reviewed for participant characteristics, including gender, race/ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status, and language to evaluate the frequency of reporting and diversity of participant characteristics in this area of research. Interventions conducted in school, preschool, and home-based settings were included; 53 articles were reviewed. In these articles utilizing single case research or group designs ( n = 2,262 participants), most articles reported gender and disability. Slightly fewer than half of the studies reported participants’ race/ethnicity. Socioeconomic status and language were infrequently reported. Analyses of participant characteristics in studies that reported children’s gender and race/ethnicity found that boys and Black and Latino children were overrepresented. Implications are discussed, including the field’s use of research standards regarding the reporting of parti...
This conceptual article reviews current research on racial disparities in disciplinary practices ... more This conceptual article reviews current research on racial disparities in disciplinary practices in early childhood education and work to address these issues within a positive behavior support (PBS) framework. Building largely on the Pyramid Model, recommendations and a culturally responsive approach are suggested for use within a program-wide PBS framework in early childhood settings. Future directions are discussed to guide efforts toward reducing disparate racial discipline practices in early childhood programs.
Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, 2020
This study evaluated the impact of a pilot coaching project that included peer coaching in an ear... more This study evaluated the impact of a pilot coaching project that included peer coaching in an early childhood program in the Northeast. A total of 18 coaches provided coaching with 15 teachers. Peer coaches included a participant-selected teacher or a director-selected teacher; program administrators also provided coaching. A one-page coaching form included columns to document the coaches’ observations and notes on teacher strengths and suggestions for improvement. Reflection forms, completed by teachers following coaching, captured perceptions about the coaching process. Results suggested that, compared to other coaches, administrators were most likely to provide specific feedback to teachers. Teachers were most comfortable being observed by a self-selected peer coach and most comfortable receiving feedback from a director-selected peer coach. Participants shared perceived benefits of and challenges to engaging in the peer coaching process. Findings and implications for program-lev...
We surveyed early childhood personnel to explore reported practices during the initial evaluation... more We surveyed early childhood personnel to explore reported practices during the initial evaluation of young children for early intervention or preschool special education. One hundred early childhood personnel participated. Overall, reported evaluation practices and processes matched recommended practices and met legal guidelines, including gathering information from a variety of sources and the use of a family-guided and team-based approach. Reported challenges included not having enough time to collect information, struggles to arrange the evaluation, difficulties determining eligibility, and systems issues regarding working conditions, training, and collaboration across agencies. Translation and interpretation were the most commonly utilized culturally responsive practices; challenges working with translators and interpreters were noted along with the need to improve other culturally and linguistically responsive practices. Implications for practice are discussed, including ways t...
This study explored similarities and differences in how early childhood education (ECE) teachers ... more This study explored similarities and differences in how early childhood education (ECE) teachers (n = 947) and early childhood special education (ECSE) teachers (n = 160) provided remote learning to young children and their families following COVID-19 shelter in place orders in the spring of 2020. The most utilized remote learning activities for both ECE and ECSE teachers were the provision of activities for families to use at home, communication with families, online lessons, and singing songs and reading books. Both types of professionals spent more time planning and communicating with families than providing instruction to children. Results of chi-square tests of independence revealed differences in activities provided, how time was spent, and training received by professional role. Open-ended responses revealed particular challenges for ECE and ECSE teachers. Findings are discussed in the context of how the early childhood field adapted quickly to remote learning during COVID-19...
The promotion of Social emotional learning (SEL) in elementary schools has increased; however, li... more The promotion of Social emotional learning (SEL) in elementary schools has increased; however, little is known about early childhood teachers’ perceptions about the effectiveness of their elementary school’s approach to SEL. The present study used mixed methods methodology to explore the perceptions of 1154 preschool through second grade teachers working in elementary schools regarding the effectiveness of their school’s SEL approach. Study findings revealed that early childhood teachers overall viewed their classroom and school SEL approaches as effective. Eight themes emerged regarding key elements of effective SEL approaches. Participating teachers expressed specific concerns about SEL implementation when their unique early childhood classroom context was not considered or included in their school’s SEL approach. Findings are interpreted in the context of relevant literature and implications for practice are discussed.
This study used a nationally distributed survey to explore how classroom-based early childhood pe... more This study used a nationally distributed survey to explore how classroom-based early childhood personnel delivered remote services to young children with disabilities and their families during the early months of the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A concurrent equal status fully mixed-method approach was used to analyze 221 participants’ responses to closed- and open-ended survey questions. Findings indicated that children with disabilities received modified special education services during school closures; most comments noted that early childhood personnel shifted to provide remote coaching to families. Other comments mentioned one-on-one services and accommodations for remote learning. Personnel described some benefits of remote services such as improved partnerships with families. Top reported challenges included children not receiving the same quality of services and high levels of educator stress. These and other study findings are discussed regarding the implications...
Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth
Abstract Intervention efforts in turnaround elementary schools in the U.S. have focused on academ... more Abstract Intervention efforts in turnaround elementary schools in the U.S. have focused on academic interventions, missing the important link between students’ social emotional competence and academic outcomes. The current study describes implementation of a multi-tiered approach to support young students’ social emotional competence in an urban turnaround elementary school primarily serving students of color. Details regarding how the approach was rolled out in the school’s early childhood classrooms are offered. Lessons learned are described and discussed as part of large-scale efforts to turn around chronically underperforming urban elementary schools through a focus on improving young children’s social emotional competence.
This historical review explores the development of the literature base of single-case interventio... more This historical review explores the development of the literature base of single-case intervention research associated with the promotion of social outcomes for young children under the age of 9. Research studies are included from the seminal study conducted in 1956, continuing through 2019. Trends and patterns in study components are noted, such as changes over time in participant populations and the use of natural versus segregated and clinic settings. The evolution of research using particular social interventions is described as well as the various intervention agents used to impact social dependent variables across decades. Future research implications are discussed, including understudied components of social competence, the contextual variables that impact fidelity of implementation, and the need for continued research in natural settings using evidence-based social interventions that also are culturally and linguistically relevant for diverse and inclusive early learning set...
This conceptual article describes key considerations for elementary school personnel to ensure so... more This conceptual article describes key considerations for elementary school personnel to ensure social emotional multi-tiered systems of supports (MTSS) are adapted for kindergarten classrooms. Kindergarten represents a unique developmental period of early childhood when 5 to 6-year-old children transition into formal schooling and experience a learning environment that places greater emphasis on children’s independence, adherence to routines, and academic goals. This increase in demands may place stress on children’s social emotional competencies. School personnel may find existing practices associated with their elementary schools’ social emotional MTSS have not been adapted to meet the developmental needs of kindergarteners; this article describes ways to adapt existing universal, targeted, and intensive social emotional supports for kindergarten. Key considerations for administrative personnel are presented.
Intervention studies to reduce challenging behavior in young children below the age of 6 were rev... more Intervention studies to reduce challenging behavior in young children below the age of 6 were reviewed for participant characteristics, including gender, race/ethnicity, disability, socioeconomic status, and language to evaluate the frequency of reporting and diversity of participant characteristics in this area of research. Interventions conducted in school, preschool, and home-based settings were included; 53 articles were reviewed. In these articles utilizing single case research or group designs ( n = 2,262 participants), most articles reported gender and disability. Slightly fewer than half of the studies reported participants’ race/ethnicity. Socioeconomic status and language were infrequently reported. Analyses of participant characteristics in studies that reported children’s gender and race/ethnicity found that boys and Black and Latino children were overrepresented. Implications are discussed, including the field’s use of research standards regarding the reporting of parti...
This conceptual article reviews current research on racial disparities in disciplinary practices ... more This conceptual article reviews current research on racial disparities in disciplinary practices in early childhood education and work to address these issues within a positive behavior support (PBS) framework. Building largely on the Pyramid Model, recommendations and a culturally responsive approach are suggested for use within a program-wide PBS framework in early childhood settings. Future directions are discussed to guide efforts toward reducing disparate racial discipline practices in early childhood programs.
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Papers by Elizabeth Steed