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Rowan University

How do first graders define a family?

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The goal of this study was to determine how first grade students define a family. Qualitative research was used as the methodology for this inquiry. The participants were thirteen first grade inclusion students in a school that is located in Southern New Jersey. An instructional unit depicting various family constellations was implemented along with authentic discussions, a student survey, an interactive bulletin board, a classroom library containing family books, and writing prompts contained in My Family Journal. The data collected and analyzed was from student discussion, the subjects' work, direct observation of pupils, the instructional unit, and a teacher research journal. It was found that the first graders define a family by love, skin color, and co-habitation although they were able to recognize that some family members can live in different places. Repeated use of the family terms would help in future instruction along with broadening the scope of family dynamics to include those with same-sex parents.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M.S.T. Teaching
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Teacher Education
Year dc:date.available
2010

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • McGrail, Kelly Ann
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Browne, Susan

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/47
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:rdw.rowan.edu:etd-1046

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Rowan University
Base URL
rdw.rowan.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

McGrail, Kelly Ann. How do first graders define a family?. Thesis thesis, 2010. https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/47