This study focuses on developing an innovative teaching model that integrates situational and collaborative learning for third-grade Chinese language classes. Its goals are to enhance students' reading comprehension and social skills, re-define teachers' roles, account for individual differences, and improve overall teaching quality. The study…

This study examines the association between class size, teacher characteristics and five non-cognitive student outcomes (i.e., self-control, interpersonal skills, approaches to learning, externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors) in grades K-3. Individual fixed-effects, that control for observed and unobserved time-invariant factors,…

High-quality early childhood education provides children with opportunities for engaged learning. Yet there are currently no classroom-level measures that focus specifically on how teachers support engagement in the classroom, a key underlying dimension of playful learning. We introduce the Playful Learning Across the Years (PLAY) observational…

The linguistic, mathematical, social-emotional, and cognitive precursor competencies are important predictors of learning success already at kindergarten age. A systematic analysis of the state of research on the actual interrelationships of the focused precursor competencies brings together results of a meta-analysis. The literature search…

Historically, Finnish early childhood education has been largely based on Friedrich Froebel's pedagogy. However, Froebelian pedagogy is no longer as well known in Finland as it once was. We at the Kindergarten Museum in Helsinki wanted to increase awareness of the Froebelian tradition. Together with artist Alexander Reichstein, we came up with the…

In the Scandinavian tradition, "how" children learn is of much greater importance than "what" children. However, this study seeks primarily to investigate "what to learn" as opposed to "how to learn." The matter of what topics are most valued is under-researched, particularly in regard to kindergarten…

The aim of this research was to study how children's play behaviour was related to their cognitive skills and vocabulary development in integrated early childhood special education (ECSE) groups. The longitudinal study is part of the LASSO research project, which concerns children's stress regulation, learning and quality of early childhood…

This study aims to investigate the usability of the design thinking model for the education of pre-school children and the effects of the activities performed in line with the design thinking model on children. This research was conducted as a case study of 16 teachers working in a private school. Research data were collected through interviews…

School communities in both urban and rural settings need trauma-informed (TI) supports; however, the adversities experienced and access to student supports may be unique to rural school communities. In addition, the contextual challenges experienced by rural schools and communities, as well as the strengths that can be drawn from them, will…

A large body of research has examined the quality of educational processes in preschools, but it has usually been studied at the group level. Thus, there is a lack of research on the quality of educational processes as experienced by individual children. Therefore, this study investigated the quality of educational processes in preschools at the…

Research Findings: National policy today is on the brink of defining preschool experiences as essential for children's academic success. Indeed, many children's classroom experience begins as they transition from infant/toddler care to a preschool classroom. This study examined developmentally relevant skill domains among 36-month-olds (effortful…

This study investigated how and when teachers used music in preschool classrooms throughout the day. Direct classroom observations were conducted to determine preschool teachers' use of music in four Head Start classrooms and one private preschool classroom for a total of 24 hours of observation in each classroom. Music was observed to be used 6.5…

Research and education law support the use of routines-based interventions for young children with disabilities in the children's natural environments. However, systematic training and practice can provide individuals with the strategies and skills that can enhance these interventions. This article provides guidance for implementing intervention…

This paper reports on qualitative research on the use of ICT in four foundation stage (3-5 years) classes in two state-maintained schools in the UK. The case study involved observations of and interviews with children between 4 and 5 years of age, as well as interviews with practitioners. Interpretation of the data drew on an editing analysis…

Finnish curriculum guidelines for early education emphasise play and creative activities as significant factors in healthy child development. Constructivist theory loosely frames the guidelines, but the recommended approach lacks precise developmental goals. Since 1996, we have carried out a narrative learning project with vertically integrated…