Learning about Learning

Nerd alert: Spend an hour with us learning about Developmental Cascades on That Early Chidlhood Nerd with Heather Bernt-Santy.
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ThompsonCV Dec 2025 .PDF
My passion is to promote and protect child-like wonder and love of learning through play.
I wonder about you - what makes you curious about me, what makes you wonder about teaching and learning, about children and learners of all ages?

Teaching

Effective teaching can be demonstrated in a number of ways. “Value-added” is one method to enumerate growth, using pre- and post- measures to demonstrate change in the student. On the other hand, research has pointed toward the difference a TEACHER makes in effective teaching. That a teacher CARES turns out to be a significant factor in teaching effectiveness (Goldstein. 2002. Reclaiming Caring in Teaching and Teacher Education. NY: Lang.). I want to be known as a teacher who cares.

Spring 2026

ECE 321 Creativity in EC
ECE 358 Language Acquisition
Field Supervision in the Corsicana, Duncanville, Ennis, and Para Centers

Upcoming and Recent Presentations

Presentation proposals accepted:

Southwest Educational Reseach Association, New Orleans, LA, U.S., February 18-20, 2026

Presented:

Walker, K., Thompson, J., & Whitley, R. (2025). From guidelines to practice: Implementing playful learning in Texas PreK Classrooms. Texas AEYC Annual Conference, Round Rock, Texas.
McLellan-Bujnak, D., Stanković-Ramirez, Z., & Thompson, J. (June 12, 2025). Learning to see the child before me: Developmental Cascades. Virtual Conference, pre-recorded. Texas School Ready. https://tsrsummerinstitute.org/
Harper, M., Stanković-Ramirez, Z., McLellan-Bujnak, D., & Thompson, J. (June 9, 2025). Harnessing Developmental Cascades. Virtual conference, live. National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators. https://naecte.org/naecte-annual-conferences/
Stanković-Ramirez, Z., Harper, M, McLellan-Bujnak, D., & Thompson, J. (March 22, 2025). Image of the Child: Developmental Cascades. Annual Conference, Southern Early Childhood Association, Houston, TX, US.
Walker, K., & Thompson, J., with Whitley, R. (February 20, 2025). A Document Analysis of Play in the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines. Annual Conference, Southwest Educational Research Association, San Antonio, TX, US.
Wilson, L., & Thompson, J. (2024). Establishing Learning Communities That Welcome Black Dads. NAEYC Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA, US.
Thompson, J., Uribe Montserrat, D., Heinrich, M., Stanković-Ramirez, Z., with Rose, R. (2024). Ages, Stages & BEYOND! A New Framework: Developmental Cascades. Texas AEYC Annual. Frisco, TX, US.
Thompson, J. (2024 July). Child Development. Observation. (virtual). Dallas Montessori Teacher Education Program. Plano, Texas. http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jthompson/Montessori http://faculty.tamuc.edu/jthompson/observation
Stanković-Ramirez, Z., Walker, K., & Thompson, J., with Rose, R. (June 2024). DAP, Developmental Cascades, and Observation. NAEYC Professional Learning Institute, New Orleans.
Wilson, L., & Thompson, J., with Rachael Rose. (June 2024). Welcoming Black Dads. NAEYC Professional Learning Institute, New Orleans.
Hweta, K, Inderjith, A., Jones, G., Kejo, S., Motaung, M., Rosenow, N, & Thompson, J. (moderator). (April 2024). Gender in Early Childhood Education. World Forum for Early Childhood Education. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. PPTX
Uribe Montserrat, D., Walker, K, Heinrich, M., Murcia, C., Stanković-Ramirez, Z., & Thompson, J. (April 2024). Developmental Cascades in Early Childhood Development. World Forum for Early Childhood Education. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Uribe Montserrat, D., Walker, K, Heinrich, M., Murcia, C., Stanković-Ramirez, Z., & Thompson, J. (April, July, October 2024). Developmental Cascades in Early Childhood Development. Texas Rising Star Annual Conference. Arlington, Houston, and Frisco, Texas.
Thompson, J. (March 23, 2024). Playful Learning: Good for You! (Invited Keynote). Texas Early Childhood Play and Development Conference, Brazos Valley Chapter of Texas AEYC, Blinn College, Bryan, Texas.
Walker, K, Heinrich, M., Stanković-Ramirez, Z., & Thompson, J. (March 22, 2024). Research on Developmental Cascades in Early Childhood Teacher Education. Texas Early Childhood Summit, TAMU System Early Childhood Interest Group, College Station, Texas. US.
Thompson, J. (February 2024). Play as Equity. TAMUC IEL Social Change Conference. Commerce, TX, US.
Wilson, L., & Thompson, J. (February 2024). Welcoming Black Men into Higher Ed. Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education, Frisco, Texas.
Stanković-Ramirez, Z. & Thompson, J. (November 2023). How Does Change Occur? Shifting From Ages & Stages to Cascading Waves and Cycles of Development
Wilson, L. & Thompson, J. (November 2023). Black Dads are Welcome in the Learning Community of their Children. FEATURED SESSION. NAEYC Annual Conference, Nashville, TN.
Lee, C., Loewenstein, M., & Thompson, J. (November 2023). Power of Purposeful Play in the Early Childhood Classroom. Texas AEYC Annual Conference, Kalahari Resort, Round Rock, TX.
Thompson, J. (November 2023). Have we embraced DAP in Texas policy? Texas AEYC Annual Conference, Kalahari Resort, Round Rock, TX.

Faculty-led Study Abroad

Play, Evolution, and Societies, in Erice, Sicily, Italy, May 2023 https://centromajorana.it/playevol2023/#home

Doctoral Students

Beavers, Veronica. (2022). A Case Study of Black Men Fraternity Involvement and Its Influence on Sense of Belonging at a Predominantly White Institution. (Smith, Higher Ed & Learning Technologies).
Bolden, Joy. (2019). Parent Involvement and Language Development: A Comparison of Early Head Start and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships (Moore, Texas Woman's University, ECD&E)
Brown, Sophia. Topic of Interest. Intersection of Reading Instruction in Early Childhood Education.
Brumfield, Melissa. (2018 completed 2^nd M.Ed.). Topic of interest: Looping with kindergartners and first graders.
Clay, Shaleen. (2023). Examining educators’ attitudes toward trauma-informed care and educators' secondary traumatic stress. (Moore, CD&ECE, TWU)
Colón, Vanessa. (2023). Principals' Evaluation of Growth in Sociocultural Competence within their Dual Language Bilingual Education Program. (Chair)
Dominguez Mena, Yesenia. Topic of interest: Parental Involvement of Emergent Bilingual Students.
Ezell, Sonja. (2013). Early Head Start, Curriculum Intervention, and Outcome Measures (Brown, chair)
Fetter, Sherri. (2018). Characteristics of elementary students as predictors of enrollment in schools of choice in Texas. (Arrambide, EDL, chair)
Jones, Suzanne Stateler. (2011). Academic Red-Shirting: Perceived Life Satisfaction of Adolescent Males (Miller, chair)
Keddington, Holly. (2012). Complement Syntax, Mental Verbs, and Theory of Mind in Children who are Deaf (Ball, PSY, chair)
Kouhana, Hilary. (2017). Relationship Between Third Grade Retention of Male Hispanic English Language Learner Students on State Academic Assessments (R. Thompson, EDL, chair)
Meek, Darla. (defended Proposal Sept 2024). The Impact of Singing and Purposeful Movement on Music Listening Skills in Third Grade Students (Chair)
Murphy, Pamela. (2019). An Investigation of the Greeting Circle to Promote Social and Emotional Skills in Pre-Kindergarten Children (Moore, Texas Woman's University, ECD&E)
Roden, Tracie. (2022). Connecting learning sciences and early learning outcomes: A content analysis of preschool early literacy apps. (Brown, EDCI)
Spoon, Deborah. (2018). Perceptions of Beginning Teachers and Mentor Teachers: Case Study of a Campus Mentor Program (R. Thompson, EDL)
Stanković-Ramirez, Zlata. (2020). Prekindergarten Teachers’ Perspectives on Decision-Making Regarding Initial Set up of Classroom Environments, Modifications During the Academic School Year, and Barriers Associated with Creating Optimal Physical Environments (Vittrup, Texas Woman's University, CD&EE) MENTOR.
Summers, Stacie. (2019). Head Start Parents Perception of Family Literacy Activities (Moore, Texas Woman’s University, ECD&E)
Washington, R. (abd). Topic of interest: Factors that influence the retention of childcare workers who work in childcare deserts. (Persky, EDCI).
Welsh, Halie. (defending Spring 2025). Content Validity Study of a Subjective Well-Being Measurement Tool for Early Childhood (Sanders, PSY)
Yeh, Chia Jung. (2013). Effects of Peer Relationships and Child Behaviors on Preschoolers' Language Competencies (Moore, Texas Woman’s University, ECD&E)

Research https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5683-6518

Three main activities going on at present, here in 2026:

Educators Play Lab - examining the nexus of teachers who know how to utilize playful learning and administrators, some of whom don't
Co-Lab - collaborating with educators from Texas Woman's University, Casa de Paz Montessori, Technilógical de Monterrey, UT Dallas, North Orange County (CA, U.S) Community College, and ETAMU in summarizing DEVELOPMENTAL CASCADES from Developmental Psychology into Early Childhood Education www.developmentalcascades.org.
ABAR - exploring contrasts in teachers' understanding of family invovlement across gender and ethnicity, particularly welcoming Black fathers.

Within the community of child language acquisition researchers, it is known that more competent speakers transmit pragmatic competence to language learners; how they do so is still quite a mystery. The complex, interwoven connectedness of diverse elements and their influence on language acquisition remains unzipped; the double, triple, or infinite helix of pragmemes needs to be realized. Following Naomi Baron's (1990) structure of Five Language Functions (affection, control, information, pedagogy, and social exchange), my research examines the effectiveness of this structure to describe pragmemes in the early language learning environment of young children.

Early childhood educators are predominantly female; I am exploring gender differences in the ways men parent and teach. I join other researchers and early childhood practitioners (e.g. www.MenTeach.org) in seeking what is necessary to attract, recruit, retain, and promote men in early childhood education.

Publications

Wilson, L., & Thompson, J. (2026). Inclusive family celebrations and classroom connections. Dimensions of early childhood: Special issue on Sweet Home Celebrations.

Walker, K., Thompson, J., & Whitley, R. (2026). Analyzing play: A practical look at the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines for administrators. TEPSA leader, 29(1), 4-7.

Welsh, H., Saunders, K., Thompson, J., & Tang, S. (2025). Content Validity Study of a Subjective Well-being Measurement Tool for Early Childhood. Early Years: Journal of Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, 46(2), pp. 12-30.

Walker, K., Heinrich, M., Uribe Montserrat, D. A., Stanković-Ramirez, Z., & Thompson, J. (2025). Examining the role of developmental cascades in early care and education. Literature Reviews in Education and Human Services, 4(1).

Thompson, J., & Stankovic-Ramirez, Z. (2024). How We Embrace Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Texas. Early Years: Journal of Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, 45(2), 22-33. PDF

CARE Circle (Ingellis, Thornton, Thompson, Krieger, Harris, Dean, Findlay, Pollock, Rhodes, Haugen). (2024). Examining Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Centering People with the Core Competencies of DAP. Exchange, 46(1, no. 273), pp. 26-29. PDF

Wilson, L. & Thompson, J. (2022). Welcoming Black Dads: Action Steps and Reflections on Becoming Culturally Competent. Young Children, 77(4), 26-34. .PDF

Loewenstein, M, Sturdivant, T.D., & Thompson, J. (2022). Learning through play in teacher education. Young Children, 77(2) pp. 44-50. .PDF

Thompson, J. (2022). Maria Montessori. In V. Geneser (Ed), Scholarly snapshots: The importance of child play as a human right (pp. 19-26). Rowan & Littlefield.

Thompson, J. (2022). Forward. In V. Geneser (Ed.), Scholarly snapshots: The importance of child play as a human right (pp. xi-xii). Rowan & Littlefield.

Thompson, J., Geneser, V., & Walker, K. (2022). Why I teach: A content analysis of eight early childhood teacher vignettes. Early Years: Journal of Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, 43(1), 21-17. PDF

Stanković-Ramirez, Z., & Thompson, J. (2022, Spring).1 A new view of Developmentally Appropriate Practice: What early childhood educators know about waves, individuals, and equity. TEPSA Leader: Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association 35(2), 1-7. www.tepsa.org/publications/tepsa-leader/#

Thompson, J., & Pearce, N. (2022). A Toolbox for Engaging Children in Play and Creativity for Learning across the Domains. Dimensions of Early Childhood, 50(1), 37-43. PDF

Thompson, J., & Stanković-Ramirez. (2021, October). What early childhood educators know about developmentally appropriate practice. Phi Delta Kappan, 103(2), pp. 20-23. https://kappanonline.org/what-early-childhood-educators-know-about-developmentally-appropriate-practice/.

Wilson, L., & Thompson, J. (2021). From breadwinner to nurturer: Changing images of fathers in the media. Journal of Education and Social Justice, 7(1), 73-91. https://www.vul.edu/images/PDF/Journal_of_Education_and_Social_Justice_Fall_2021.PDF

Wilson, L. & Thompson, J. (20220). Critical race theory and African American fatherhood: Countering the mainstream narrative. Journal of African American Males in Education, 12(1), pp. 89-106.

Parks. L., Thompson, J., & Walker, K. (2020). Saying goodbye to Texas Child Care Quarterly: The Quarterly Journal for Caregivers Everywhere: An Interview with Louise Parks. Early Years: Journal of Texas Association for the Education of Young Children.

Thompson, J., & Bourassa, M. (2020). Ten ways a teacher copes, and thrives, during a pandemic. Early Years: Journal of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children 41(2), 21-23. .PDF

Pearce, N., & Thompson, J. (2019). A dynamic duo: A partnership between an early childhood center and a teacher education program (Feature Article, also translated into Spanish: Un dúo dinámico: Una alianza entre el Centro de primera infancia y el programa de educación de docentes, pp. 15-18). Early Years: Journal of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children 40(2), 11-14.

Thompson, J. (2018). Dads in the carpool lane. Early Years: Journal of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children 39(3), 29-30. .PDF

Stanković-Ramirez, Z. & Thompson, J. (2018). Rethinking developmental domains to improve classroom observations. Texas Child Care Quarterly, 42(2), 20-27. Available online https://www.childcarequarterly.com/PDF/fall18_domains.PDF.

Golden, F., Guthery, S. & Thompson, J. (2018). Chapter 10: Improving practice of pre-service teachers through inquiry. In L. A. Sharp, E. Hendrix, & L. M. Juarez (Eds..), Texas Association for Literacy Education Yearbook, Volume 5: Connections in the community: Fostering partnerships through literacy (pp. 84-88). Texas: Texas Association for Literacy Education. Available online www.texasreaders.org/yearbooks.html.

Thompson, J., & Walker, K. (2017). Rich Words for Free. ACEI Early Years Bulletin: Focus on Pre-K & K, 5(1), 1-5. Available online https://issuu.com/acei/docs/eybfall2017.

Wolff, K., Chapman, M., & Thompson, J. (2017). Exploring the Intersections of Social Identity, Popular Culture and Men in Early Childhood Education. In E. A. Janak & L. Sourdot (Eds..), Educating through Popular Culture: “You’re Not Cool Just Because You Teach with Comics” (pp. 265-286). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. PDF

Araujo, J., & Thompson, J. (2016). A Place for Children of Poverty. Early Years: Journal of Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, 37(2), 78.79.

Lee, D., Reid, M. J., & Thompson, J. (2016). Teachers Who Stay. Early Years: Journal of Texas Association for the Education of Young Children 37(2), 74-77.

Thompson, J. (2016). Why I Teach. Early Years: Journal of Texas Association for the Education of Young Children 37(2), 82-83.

Thompson, J., & Walker, K. (2016). One summer day: Play at Parker-Chase. Play, Policy, & Practice CONNECTIONS XVII(1), 26-28.

Hammack, B.J., Foote, M., Garretson, S., & Thompson, J. (2012). Family Literacy Packs: Engaging Teachers, Families, and Young Children in Quality Activities to Promote Partnerships for Learning, in Young Children 67(3) 104-110. PDF

Thompson, J. & Garretson, S. (2011). Encouraging men in their conversations with children, in Perspectives on gender in early childhood education (Tamar Jacobson, Ed.). St. Paul: Redleaf Press.

Thompson, J. & Stryker, A. (2010). Tale of two talents: How two teachers use peer-reflection to better prepare for class. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education.

Thompson, J. (2008). Table talk: Taking dinner conversation into the classroom, In P. Dam & M. T. Coward (Eds..), Current Issues and Best Practice in Bilingual and ESL Education (pp. 54-64). Denton, TX: Federation of North Texas Universities.

Thompson, J. & Leeds, L. (2006). Infant crying: To soothe or not to soothe. Montessori Life: Journal of the American Montessori Society 18(1) 26-31. PDF

Leeds, L. & Thompson, J. (2005). Tears as Tools. Early Years: Journal of Texas Association for the Education of Young Children 27(1) 5-6. PDF

Thompson, J. (2003). Hundred Language Zoo. Dimensions of Early Childhood, 31(1) 13-20. .PDF or DOC

Accepted for publication

Manuscripts submitted to refereed journals

Manuscripts in progress

Effects of systemic racism on students in higher ed and on faculty – collaboration with Mercado-Sierra and Stanković-Ramirez

Montessori Works - Objects in Developmental Planes – expected to submit to Montessori Life by November 2022.

Girls and boys need to talk with men and women: Gendered conversations help children learn more ways that language works – expected to submit to Childcare Exchange by December 2022.

Playing with Grades – with Geneser – expected to submit January 2023.

Exploring waves and cycles of child development – with Stanković-Ramirez – expected to submit by June 2023.

The Impact of Men on Children's Outcomes: Re-conceptualizing the Roles of Males in Children's Lives, at Home and in Schools

Language acquisition classroom practice

Support scholars contrasting teaching styles

Editor

Consulting Editor, Young Children, and NAEYC Publications, 2022-2025

Brown, D.L., Geneser, V., & Thompson, J. (Eds..). (2012-2016). Early Years: Journal of Texas Association for the Education of Young Children. Austin, Texas: Texas Association for the Education of Young Children.

Vol. 37, No. 2: Special Issue on Pathways of Becoming an Early Childhood Professional

Vol. 37, No. 1: Winter 2016

Vol. 36, No. 3: Fall 2015

Vol. 36, No. 2: Summer 2015

Vol. 36, No. 1: Winter 2015

Vol. 35, No. 4: Fall 2014

Vol. 35, No. 3: Summer 2014

Vol. 35, No. 2: Special Issue on Play

Vol. 35, No. 1: Winter 2014

Vol. 34, No. 3: Winter 2013

Vol. 34, No. 2: Summer 2013

Vol. 34, No. 1: Winter 2013

Vol. 33, No. 3: Fall 2012

Vol. 33, No. 2: Summer 2012

Grants & Awards

2022, CCAMPIS Child Care Access Means Parents in School, submitted by Vieira, McCrary, and Thompson, requsted $447,694, submitted July 11, 2022.
2022, Teaching Playful Learning, submitted by Corp, Pearce, Sturdivant, & Thompson. Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts Research Support at TAMU-C, requested $10,000, granted $5,000
2022 Dr. Harry Wade Senior Faculty Award. Academic Life Committee of TAMU-C Faculty Senate and Commerce Chapter of Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education
2021, Students as Avatars: Virtual reality simulations to enhance learning, submitted by Pearce, McCrary, Thompson. Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts Research Support, requested $10,000, not awarded
2021 Ronnie Brooks Mentoring in Education Award, TAMU-C Chapter of Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education.
2021 CCAMPIS up to $185,000, with Hortman, McCrary, & Pearce
2021 Opening Eyes to Early Learning, proposal, submitted February 2021, $200,000
2020 CCAMPIS up to $185,000, with Hortman, McCrary, & Pearce
2020 Men in Education Network M.E.N. Interest Forum $900 membership grant from National Association for the Education of Young Children
2019 Texas AEYC www.TexasAEYC.org President's Trust Fund $500 for Multi-cultural Literature for ECE 358.
2019 CCAMPIS up to $185,000, with Hortman, McCrary, & Pearce
2018 <Awarded October 1, 2018> CCAMPIS Child Care Access Means Parents in School, with Hortman, McCrary, & Pearce $185,000 for 4 years = $740,000.
2017, Texas Affiliate Grant, for highlighting benefits of NAEYC accreditation in DFW Metroplex, from Texas AEYC, $500
2016, Texas Affiliate Grant, for recruiting membership in Dallas AEYC, from Texas AEYC, $500
2015, Master Leadership Recognition, Childcare Exchange Leadership Initiative, www.childcareexchange.com/eli-directory/nggallery/page/12.
Bill Martin Jr Memorial Symposium, May 2014, $500. Early Childhood Committee of the Federation of North Texas Universities.
2013, International Travel Research & Presentation Grant, to Nairobi, Kenya, http://receinternational.org/2013.html Texas A&M University-Commerce Faculty Development Committee, $2000.
2013, Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program (CCAMPIS), U.S. Dept. of Education, http://www.ed.gov/programs/campisp/index.html. $67,000.
Bill Martin Jr Memorial Symposium, May 2013, $500, Early Childhood Committee of the Federation of North Texas Universities.
2012, Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program (CCAMPIS), U.S. Dept. of Education, http://www.ed.gov/programs/campisp/index.html. $67,000.
Bill Martin Jr Memorial Symposium, May 2012, $1500, Early Childhood Committee of the Federation of North Texas Universities.
2011, Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program (CCAMPIS), U.S. Dept. of Education, http://www.ed.gov/programs/campisp/index.html. $67,000.
Bill Martin Jr Memorial Symposium, May 2011, $2000, Early Childhood Committee of the Federation of North Texas Universities.
Bill Martin Jr Memorial Symposium, May 2010, $2000, Early Childhood Committee of the Federation of North Texas Universities.

Education

Ph.D. (2001). Humanities, The University of Texas at Arlington. Dissertation: Adaptations of Language Functions in Caregiver Speech: Nurturing the Acquisition of Pragmatic Competence. Dissertation Chair: Dr. Nancy Hadaway. Major Adviser (Early Childhood Education): Dr. Carol Sue Marshall.
M.Ed. (1986). Elementary Education, Dallas Baptist University.
B.M. (1980). Piano Performance, Trinity University. Student of Karl Leifheit.

Associations

Texas Association for the Education of Young Children Co-Chair, Publications Committee (2012-2016)
Dallas Association for the Education of Young Children Co-President (2015-2017)
MIGHTY! Men for Young Texans - MyT
National Association for the Education of Young Children, Men in Education Network M.E.N. Interest Forum
National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators www.naecte.org
www.MenTeach.org
International Reading Association www.Reading.org
Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group http://clrsig.org/nbgs.php
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics www.nctm.org
American Montessori Society http://amshq.org/
Dallas Montessori Teacher Education Program www.DallasMontessori.com
Dallas Audubon Society Dogwood Canyon and Cedar Ridge Preserve

Josh Thompson cis-/he/him

Department of Curriculum & Instruction