About this srcd poster session

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Panel information
Panel 18. School Readiness/Childcare

Abstract

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Learning Through Exploration is a community-developed, anti-bias, Reggio-inspired curriculum approach to working with toddlers. Developed in conjunction with a team of experts and child care providers in the field, Learning Through Exploration offer developmentally appropriate activities that both meet the needs of children and align with the interests and skills of the early care and education workforce. Bringing this group of experts together to design the curriculum and pilot in their programs has helped to fill a niche in high quality toddler instruction. The play-based curriculum incorporates culturally inclusive and responsive activities to provide toddlers with playful and engaging learning experiences that addressed social emotional skills, language and learning. The curriclum also provides a support materials for educators regarding child observation, documentation, and family engagement. Recognizing the need in the child care field for a strong toddler curriculum, the curriculum is available in both English and Spanish and can be downloaded for free. To assess the efficacy of the curriculum and a curriculum-based coaching model to support implementation, observations using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) were conducted at baseline and at two additional timepoints in 6-month intervals. Significant differences in quality were noted for both of the CLASS toddler domains of Emotional and Behavioral Support (t = 1.85, p < .05) and Engaged Support for Learning (t = 2.38, p < .05). T-tests from baseline to time point 3 found significant differences on most CLASS dimensions comprising these domains. Specifically, significant differences were found on the dimensions of Positive Climate (t = 3.78, p < .05), Teacher Sensitivity (t = 2.16, p < .05), Regard for the Child Perspective (t = 2.80, p < .05) and Behavioral Guidance (t = 3.26, p < .05), Quality of Feedback (t = 3.16, p < .05) and Language Modeling (t = 3.60, p < .05). The poster presentation will highlight the curriculum development process, key components of the curriculum and provider supports offered to build practice and support implementation. Methods for offering curriculim based coaching will also be shared. Data regarding changes to quality practics will be presented and discussed in greater detail.

Author information

Author	Role
Joanne Roberts, Brazelton Touchpoints Center	Presenting author
Binal Patel, Neighborhood Villages	Non-presenting author
Pamela Thompson, Neighborhood Villages	Non-presenting author
Alina Lopez Thomas, Neighborhood Villages	Non-presenting author

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