Expectations for increased conceptual outcomes in the early childhood education sector have foregrounded a need for more evidenced-based practice in support of children's play. One such avenue for researching models of play practices that support cognitive outcomes is to study the implementation of Playworlds. Grounded in cultural-historical…

"Partners in School" is a consultation model adapted from Conjoint Behavioral Consultation where parents and teachers identify a mutual concern for children with Autism and then implement the same evidence-based practices (EBPs) across home and school. Adding parent-teacher communication training ("School Talk") may bolster the…

Increasing child engagement and improving social-communication (SC) and play skills for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may provide a foundation for future academic and social development; yet preschool practitioners may not have the resources to successfully identify and target these skills for all children in their classrooms.…

High-quality professional development can lead to increased and sustained implementation of evidence-based practices. This study examined the effects of practice-based coaching (PBC) paired with scripted supports on teachers' use of shared book reading strategies. The primary dependent variable was percentage of strategies correctly implemented;…

The acquisition of reading skills is a critical component of early education in the United States, beginning with the introduction of pre-literacy skills to children as young as pre-school age. Students are tasked with developing the ability to decode and comprehend text across various subject areas. However, national reading data indicates that a…

Research shows that that children learn science and engineering subjects best by engaging from an early age in the kinds of practices used by real scientists and engineers. By doing science and engineering, children not only develop and refine their understanding of the core ideas and crosscutting concepts of these disciplines, but can also be…

Research consistently shows that among young children, poor social skills and problem behaviors can lead to poor relationships with teachers and peers (Boivin et al., 1995), higher risk of academic failure (Buhs et al., 2006), and higher school dropout (Gilliam, 2005). Moreover, prekindergarten (PreK) and kindergarten (K) teachers report feeling…

Evidence-based strategies for play, such as the application of systematic prompting techniques, require education and collaboration between occupational therapists and classroom educators to support implementation and carryover. Educating teachers and paraprofessionals regarding systematic prompting strategies to increase play within the classroom…

Successful early childhood inclusion uses multitiered systems of support (MTSS) to support children's development and learning. MTSS is a multitiered, educational, data-based decision-making framework that facilitates collaboration across general and special education to support all learners (Sailor et al., 2018). MTSS implementation requires…

More than 120 years ago, Dr. Maria Montessori implemented an individualized curriculum rooted in meeting the needs and building on the strengths of children (Montessori, 1964). Currently, children from infancy through adolescence attend Montessori schools in both private and public settings. Though no statistics have been compiled on the number of…

Aim: This program evaluation examined the effects of occupational therapy (OT)-led fine motor centers (FMCs) on the fine motor skills of typically-developing preschool-aged children. Methods: This program evaluation was completed with 29 children from two preschool Great Start Readiness Program classrooms. The experimental group received OT-led…

While recent reform-based efforts have shifted the emphasis towards engaging children in science practices, little research has considered how preschool-age children take first steps towards engagement in evidence-based explanations or modelling practices nor the role museum-settings might provide. Using a theoretical perspective that science…

Earlier identification, advancements in hearing technology, and more widespread enrollment in early intervention programs have led to improved speech and language outcomes for many young children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) using listening and spoken language (LSL). One cascading effect of these outcomes is that many young children who…

Social-emotional skills are essential for preschool children's mental health and later school success. Considering the variety of school-based interventions aiming to target SEL development, it remains unclear what programs can be considered evidence-based, and what features characterize well-established programs. Hence, the current systematic…

This study examined the efficacy of the TELL preschool curriculum for promoting the acquisition of oral language and early literacy skills in preschool children from low-income families. National assessment results indicate a sustained and persistent achievement gap in the reading skills of children from more- versus less-advantaged backgrounds…