Digital Commons at Buffalo State

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  Fine and gross motor (physical domain)

  Kathy R. Doody Ph.D.

  This module will provide an overview of the physical domain in early childhood, specifically, fine motor(small muscles such as those found in the hands and fingers) and gross motor (large muscles such as those found in arms, legs,and core) and its development. The module will also provide insight into how Sesame Street has stressed the importance of physical activity to young children, as well as how they have provided age appropriate activities,songs, and video segments to teach fine and gross motor skill development.

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  School Readiness (behavior)

  Kathy R. Doody Ph.D.

  This module will provide an overview of the social-emotional and adaptive skills required for kindergarten success. The module will also provide insight into how Sesame Street has prepared children for their first days of preschool or kindergarten and all that entails: following the rules, playing with others, taking turns, etc.

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  Sesame Street Seminar – Academic Readiness

  Kathy R. Doody Ph.D

  This module will provide an overview of the social-emotional and adaptive skills required for kindergarten success. The module will also provide insight into how Sesame Street has prepared children for their first days of preschool or kindergarten and all that entails: following the rules, playing with others, taking turns, etc.

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  Sesame Street Seminar – Autism Spectrum Disorders

  Kathy R. Doody Ph.D

  This module will provide an overview of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The module will also provide insight into how Sesame Street has raised awareness and acceptance of ASD through a Muppet named Julia who is on the spectrum.

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  Cognition

  Susan Geffen Ph.D.

  This module will explore various aspects of cognition, including such processes as memory, learning, attention, perception and problem-solving. Students will use topical readings and Sesame Street video clips to learn about the processes by which children acquire, integrate, and understand information about the world around them.

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  Divorce

  Susan Geffen Ph.D.

  This module will provide an overview of parental divorce, as well as its impact on children andthe family structure. Students will use topical readings and Sesame Street video clips to learnabout the impact of divorce on children (e.g. academic, emotional, social), as well as factors thatinfluence postdivorce outcomes (e.g., race/ethnicity, parenting styles, changes in familystructure, availability of noncustodial parent).

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  Executive Function

  Susan Geffen Ph.D.

  This module will explore the various aspects of executive function (inhibition, cognitive flexibility, working memory). Students will use topical readings and Sesame Street video clips to explore how executive function develops throughout childhood and adolescence, common methods for studying executive function (e.g., Stroop task, marshmallow task), and techniques that parents and teachers can use to help children develop executive function skills.

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  Language Development

  Susan Geffen Ph.D.

  This module will explore the various aspects of language development (phonetics, syntax,semantics and pragmatics). Using topical readings and clips from Sesame Street, students will consider the steps involved in learning language (e.g., learning word-object pairings), cues available in daily language, and techniques that parents and teachers can use to help children acquire language.

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  Incarceration

  Pamela Schuetze Ph.D.

  In this module, students will consider how having an incarcerated parent impacts children. Using clips from Sesame Street, students will consider how children cope with and understand having an incarcerated parent. Students will also how having an incarcerated parenting impacts socioemotional development.

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  International Conflict

  Pamela Schuetze Ph.D.

  In this module, students will consider how international conflict and associated traumas impact children.Using clips from versions of Sesame Street that air in countries experiencing violence and other children’s media, students will consider the impact of violence/trauma on neurological, cognitive and socioemotional functioning.

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  Parenting

  Pamela Schuetze Ph.D.

  In this module, students will consider various aspects of parenting impact children. Using clips from Sesame Street, students will consider how parenting decisions and communication may impact child development. Students will also explore parenting resources developed by Sesame Worksheet to support and educate the parents of young children.

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  Death & Dying

  Jill M. Swirsky Ph.D

  In this module, students will consider how to discuss the difficult topic of death and dying with children. Using clips from Sesame Street and other children’s media, students will consider children’s cognitive capacity related to their ability to understand the concept of death. They will also learn about the role of parents in using children’s media as a teaching tool.

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  Social-Emotional development

  Lisa Timmons Ph.D.

  In this module, students will consider the importance of fostering social and emotional skills (e.g., emotion regulation, how to positively initiate and maintain interactions with others) in early childhood and beyond. Students will discuss strategies used to teach social and emotional skills which can be used by parents, teachers, or other child development professionals. Students will specifically reflect on the potential value and impact of focusing on social and emotional skills in child-targeted media, such as Sesame Street.