Final DRAFT - IJWC Spring 2022 Issue 5 Introduction Tiffany Wilson, Editor This Spring issue provides readers with an array of information that includes social and emotional learning, supporting students with learning disabilities, problem-based learning, and a male’s perspective of working in early childhood education. The IJWC continues to be committed to promoting holistic learning and the development of the whole child. Article #1: Pre-Kindergarten Teacher’s Perceptions of Social and Emotional Learning Hillary Polchow Liesch, Karen Morrison, Rebecca Giles The authors of this article conducted a study to investigate SEL perceptions of prekindergarten teachers in an American urban, public preschool serving predominantly Black students. Though the results were statistically non-significant, the findings of the current pilot study have important and practical implications for implementing SEL in prekindergarten. Findings suggest that regardless of position and educational level, both veteran and novice early childhood teachers could benefit from explicit SEL training and adequate time and opportunity to become confident in providing effective social and emotional learning in their early childhood classrooms. Article #2: Using Children’s Literature as a Model for Problem-Based Learning Katherine Mangione, Shannon Harmon This article discusses how Problem-Based Learning (or PBL) is a teaching style that pairs beautifully with science and social studies. The authors detail how PBL allows students to drive their learning while providing autonomy to choose topics or issues that interest them. It scaffolds the development of desirable 21st century skills: collaboration, critical thinking, communication, creativity, flexibility, and higher levels of cognitive thinking. Using PBL can assist teachers and students in understanding the process and knowing where their work is taking them. This manuscript utilizes the children’s book Spring after Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement by Stephanie Roth Sisson (2018) and Design Thinking as a guide for implementing Problem-Based Learning with elementary level learners. Article #3 One Male Student Teacher’s Perception and Experiences of Student Teaching in an Infant Group Care Setting Jeesun Jung, Eugene Geist This qualitative case study explores in-depth how one male student teacher reflected on his care practice with infants and how he described his experiences of working with female mentor 6 teachers. The authors used the teacher’s daily journal entries, four individual interviews, and weekly team planning meetings as data sources. The data was collected over 15-week period. Findings revealed that the teacher’s caring sense gradually evolved through care practice and that he brought in his authenticity as a teacher, not just as a male teacher, while confronting with and critically reflecting upon himself as a teacher. Also, the weekly team planning meetings helped him build relationships with the female mentor teachers. He positively reflected upon his experiences of collaborative teaching. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of male students in early childhood teacher education programs. Article #4 Parent Reports of Executive Functions in Students with Learning Disability Lisa Morin, Jane Roitsch, Annemarie Horn The authors of this study examined the results of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-2) (Gioia et al., 2015) reported by parents of children with Specific Learning Disability (LD) and/or other comorbid disabilities. LD is most notably associated with comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Alloway & Stein, 2014; Westby &Watson, 2004; Willcutt et al., 2013). A total of 43 parents completed the BRIEF-2 rating scale. Findings suggested children with LD and ADHD display greater challenges with inhibition, working memory, planning, along with greater challenges in organization and metacognition. Parents of children with LD reported their children have greater levels of executive function difficulties in comparison to children with LD who do not have a secondary diagnosis of ADHD. Tech Talk Manuscript Make it Visible: Video Record Teaching and Learning Leslie Trail, Nancy Caukin In the Tech Talk article, “Make it Visible: Video Record Teaching and Learning,” the authors discuss how video recording offers realistic views of teacher practices because it captures the truth of classroom instruction. While teachers may find video instruction daunting at the onset, it offers a way to look at what is actually happening in the classroom and then make adjustments. This article discusses the benefits of video recording for both students and teachers. Children & Families: Health and Wellness A Family Systems Approach to Addressing Depression in Children William Feck In the Children & Families: Health and Wellness article, “A Family Systems Approach to Addressing Depression in Children,” the author discusses how structural family systems theory can be an effective approach to address depression symptoms in children. 7 Education by the Numbers Donald Snead The data provided by the author in “Education by the Numbers” discusses how teacher absences can significantly impact student achievement. STEAM Manuscript Holistic Identity Development in STEAM Brian Stone The author discusses how a broader conceptualization of identity in STEAM can influence the creation or progression of STEAM curriculum, environments, and programs to support the unique, organic construction of a child’s identity development across multiple disciplines. He further provides additional information for creating optimal conditions for holistic STEAM identity development utilizing an intersectional approach, developing meaningful integrated and relevant real-world exploration, utilizing inquiry interest, and play, using a flexible curriculum that allows for divergence and creativity. Page Turners: Books for Children Patricia Crawford, Maria Genest, Katrina Bartow Jacobs, Carla K. Meyer, Michelle J. Sobolak In this article, different children’s books are listed with descriptive summaries on each one. The books include The Complete Maus, The Grandude Green Submarine, The Heart of a Whale, Out of a Jar, Outside In, Patricia’s Vision: The Doctor Who Saved Sight, The Rock from the Sky, That’s Life! Thesaurus Has a Secret.