CHFD 3112: Supporting Diverse Young Learners (Birth-Eight)

Issues Paper Assignment Topics and Terminology

Basic search terms.Theses terms will be at the core of your research. If you start with the term preschool in the SU Descriptors field in the drop-down menu you will retrieve articles with all of the subjects that have the word preschool in it such as preschool children, preschool education, etc. If you only want information on preschool teachers then use that exact phrase and search for it in the SU Descriptors field.

• Preschool children
• Preschool curriculum
• Preschool education
• Preschool evaluation
• Preschool teachers
• Early childhood education
• Kindergarten
• Young children
• Child care centers
• Nursery schools

Below is the list of suggested topics along with suggested keywords (in Bold) and/or search strategies. All the key words or phrases should be ‘anded’ with preschool in the SU Descriptor field or one of the specific terms listed above.

1. Accreditation of early childhood education or preschool education. You do not need to use the word programs.
2. Quality rating systems for early childhood programs - Use evaluation criteria or evaluation methods
3. Teacher quality and licensure - Use teacher certification; teacher qualifications; teacher competencies
4. Universal prekindergarten - You can put this phrase in as a word search and you get some articles. A better approach is to use preschool education instead of prekindergarten. Also look at article on Head Start.
5. Standards and curriculum Use preschool curriculum. Also look at specific curriculums like Reggio, Montessori.  Standards setting is more specific but standards is also a subject.
6. Assessment in early childhood education - Use evaluation instead of assessment. Also look at specific types of evaluations
7. Accountability
8. Developmentally appropriate practices
9. Achievement of young learners - Use academic achievement and young children not learners
10. Relationships with families ?
11. Guidance/Challenging Behaviors - possible search topics behavior problems, hyperactivity. Try counseling instead of guidance.
12. Diverse learners - For diverse use cultural differences
13. English-language learners - use English Second Language or Second language learning
14. Play and learning - Also search in the PsycInfo database using the following subject headings Child Play Behavior, Child Play Development.
15. Creative Arts - use the specific arts like music, art, drama, etc.
16. Retention and delayed entry - DO NOT use the word retention, use grade repetition instead. Try school readiness for delayed entry
17. Early intervention
18. Technology and young children - Also search specific technologies like computers, television, iPads, e-books,etc.
19. Outdoor play - other possibilities playground activities, recreational activities, physical activities
20. Homeschooling - use Home Schooling
21. Preschool positive behavior support - possibilities positive reinforcement, social reinforcement, behavior modification, etc.

Sample Searches

Suggested Journals