Quality In Early Childhood Settings Research Articles

Hypotheses in adult-child interactions stimulate children's reasoning and verbalizations

Adult-child interactions can support children's development and are established as predictors of program quality in early childhood settings. However, the linguistic components that constitute positive interactions have not yet been studied in detail. This study investigates the effects of hypotheses proposed by adults on children's responses in a dyadic picture-book viewing situation. In 2 experiments, adults’ use of hypotheses (e.g., “Maybe this is a dwarf's door”) was tested against the use of instructive statements (“This is a dwarf's door”) and in combination with open questions (“What do you think, why is the door so small?”). In Experiment 1, hypotheses differed from instructions only by the modal marker “maybe”. Children's responses to hypotheses were longer and contained more self-generated explanations as compared to responses to instructions. The use of hypotheses also seemed to encourage children to attach more importance to their own explanations. In Experiment 2, combining hypotheses with open-ended why questions elicited longer responses but no more self-generated explanations in children than open-ended questions alone. Results indicate that subtle differences in adults’ utterances can directly influence children's reasoning and children's contributions to dialogues.

Researcher intersubjectivity: a methodology for jointly building an interactive electronic early childhood quality involvement/rating scale

ABSTRACTResearching quality in early childhood settings has been operationalized in many ways, within and across countries. Nevertheless, despite some consensus on what might constitute a universally recognized view of what is considered essential for young children’s development, there are strong indicators that locally developed assessment tools are likely to give more contextually relevant results. Yet, little appears to be known about how to develop localized tools for assessing quality, especially in culturally diverse research contexts. Further, it would seem that not much is understood about the ways researchers and research participants have worked together to achieve reciprocal outcomes. In drawing upon cultural-historical theory, this paper goes beyond the traditional binary of an emic–etic perspective and instead describes a dialectical model for creating conditions for generating research intersubjectivity. An example of how researchers and participants worked together to develop an interactive e-quality rating scale in Vietnam is presented with the research exchange methods of Dialogue through the technology, Capturing moments of localized quality, Community walk, and Research selfies. These methods together acted to underpin the methodology that foregrounds what we have termed research intersubjectivity.

Using bifactor models to measure teacher–child interaction quality in early childhood: Evidence from the Caregiver Interaction Scale

Bifactor models have great promise to support the measurement of adult–child interaction in early childhood settings but are not frequently used in the field. This study explored whether a bifactor model fit teacher–child interaction data gathered from the Caregiver Interaction Scale (CIS; Arnett, 1989) in four cohorts of the recent Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) study (1997–2006). Analyses also examined concurrent validity of this approach using several teacher- and child-level variables. In total, 1422 Head Start classrooms were observed with the CIS. Factor analyses found that a bifactor model, featuring one factor for overall positive teacher–child interaction as well as two methodological factors accounting for whether items targeted appropriate or (reverse-coded) inappropriate behaviors, fit the data well, consistent with other recent work. Further, evidence of concurrent validity for this bifactor model of teacher-child interaction emerged with lead teachers’ background factors (experience and CDA credential) and their global classroom quality, as well as children’s prosocial skills. Overall, results illustrate both the utility and logistics of the bifactor model approach to measuring interaction quality in early childhood settings.

“My Teacher Helps Me”: Assessing Teacher-Child Relationships From the Child’s Perspective

ABSTRACTThe current study is one of the first to investigate children’s perceptions of quality in teacher-child relationships using a narrative measure. It is also one of the first studies to investigate how the child’s report is associated with the teacher’s report and with an observer’s report of quality in teacher-child interactions. Participants included 45 students and nine teachers in preschool, kindergarten, and 1st-grade classrooms. Results indicated the child’s report of teacher support was positively associated with the emotional support observed in the classroom but was not significantly associated with the teacher’s report of relationship quality. Child language and gender were associated with quality in teacher-child relationships, but child ethnicity was not. Girls and children with higher language scores reported receiving more support from their teachers. This study has important implications for teachers and for research. The child’s report provides a unique perspective on teacher-child relationship quality and could be used to enhance teachers’ reflections on their practice, as well as to inform future research on quality in early childhood settings.

The performance of compliance in early childhood: Neoliberalism and nice ladies

In this article, we propose to critique the way in which a hegemonic understanding of quality in early childhood settings is imposed upon practitioners, families and children through legislated quality assurance processes. The reality of neoliberalism is played out in the establishment and maintenance of the Australian early childhood quality assurance processes as they operate up to 2015, and the definition of approved qualifications for those working in early childhood. In both cases a tightly defined, top-down approach is used to assure quality. This has the effect of limiting flexibility and de-professionalising the work of early childhood professionals. It is our contention that in this neoliberal climate, early childhood practitioners have failed to construct their arguments in ways that could be better understood by outsiders to the profession; instead they are focusing on how best to be compliant. Challenging these hegemonic positions may even be perceived as being ‘anti-quality’ and not in the best interests of the early childhood sector. We analyse the current context in Australia (which reflects international trends) and explore possible strategies to re-empower the early childhood profession.

Contextually Appropriate Approach to Quality in Early Childhood Settings

Contextually Appropriate Approach to Quality in Early Childhood Settings

Pre-Packaging Preschool Literacy: What Drives Early Childhood Teachers to Use Commercially Produced Phonics Programs in Prior to School Settings

Language-rich environments are key to overall quality in early childhood settings, including frequent child—staff interactions around picture books and dramatic play. In a language-rich environment, explicit teaching of literacy concepts, such as phonics, is embedded in authentic and meaningful situations where alphabet letters and sounds are taught in a context meaningful to the child. Recent research, however, suggests that the use of commercial pre-packaged phonics programs (such as Letterland and Jolly Phonics) is widespread in prior to school settings in Sydney, Australia. Little is known about why early childhood teachers choose to use such programs with children aged five and under. In the present study, thematic analysis of data from interviews with five early childhood teachers using commercial phonics programs found that their reasons were pragmatic rather than pedagogical. Motivations included the idea that the programs reduced their workload, provided tangible evidence to parents of their child's ‘school readiness’, and served as a marketing tool to attract parents. Further analysis found that the teachers were unable to articulate what phonics and phonological awareness are and how they are learnt in early childhood.

Quality of Early Childhood Programs in Inclusive and Noninclusive Settings

This study assessed factors that contributed to global program quality in early childhood settings. The sample consisted of 180 community-based child care centers from 12 geographically and economically diverse regions in North Carolina. The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) total mean score was used as the primary measure of global program quality. The study found that 62 (34%) of the early childhood programs reported enrolling at least one child with disabilities. The study also found that inclusive early childhood programs scored significantly higher on the ECERS overall than did noninclusive programs. Results of an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) indicated three other predictors of global program quality: teacher education, professional experience, and teacher self-ratings of knowledge and skill.