Zeynep Isik-Ercan, PhD

         My research interest and expertise lay in the field of early childhood education, that is, the education of children ages birth to 8.
         Three questions drive my work each and every day: a) How do we best teach young children (curriculum and instruction for young learners)?, b) How do we teach all young children, including children with exceptionalities, children who are culturally, racially, and linguistically diverse, children in poverty and young children with diverse talent?, and c) How do we grow a workforce that is exceptionally able to teach young children, and also grow leaders in building capacity of practitioners, organizations and systems in early childhood education?

       

         My research agenda is aligned with these questions and has three strands:    

• Cultural and Linguistic Diversity of Young Learners and Their Families: Development and learning of immigrant children, educational experiences of immigrant families, identity and advocacy.     

• Curriculum and Instruction in the Early Years: Best practices, science and technology integration, STEM education, project-based learning, young children’s intellectual growth

• Development of Early Childhood Workforce: Culturally responsive pedagogies, dispositional development, coaching and leadership.