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Graduation Term
Fall 2025
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Department of Educational Administration and Foundations: Educational Administration
Committee Chair
Elizabeth Lugg
Committee Member
Michael Curry
Committee Member
John Rugutt
Abstract
Within the Decatur Public School District, and in school districts across the United States, kindergarten children, particularly boys and children of color, are being over-referred for discipline, over-referred for special education, and underserved in their classrooms. There is a disconnect in the implementation of developmentally and culturally appropriate practices between pre-K and kindergarten teachers. Within a blended professional learning community composed of pre-K and kindergarten educators, shared readings and discussions around early childhood development and cultural responsiveness resulted in the identification of two potential barriers to the implementation of these practices in kindergarten, including lack of control over instructional planning and availability of resources. The data from this cycle of inquiry will inform the next cycle, specifically looking at principal perceptions related to this same topic.
Access Type
Dissertation-ISU Access Only
Recommended Citation
Knuppel, Sarah, "Culturally and Developmentally Appropriate Pedagogy in the Early Childhood Classroom: Exploring the Intersections of Practice" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 2234.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/2234