Purpose: In this project, the research team proposed to assess the efficacy of Project Construct, a curriculum shaped by research about children's thinking. Project Construct was based on the idea that children actively construct their own knowledge through "hands-on, minds-on" learning experiences. In this study, the investigators intended to examine the impact of Project Construct on students' general knowledge, language, mathematical, and socio-emotional development.

Structured Abstract

THE FOLLOWING CONTENT DESCRIBES THE PROJECT AT THE TIME OF FUNDING

Classrooms in full-day, private daycare centers will be randomly assigned to use either Project Construct or the teachers' current regular curricular approach. In addition to examining child outcomes, the researchers are examining teachers' beliefs and practices and the ways in which teachers' prior experience (e.g., level of education) and professional development are related to child outcomes. Teachers using Project Construct receive the standard training for the project, including instruction in three training modules, two follow-up workshops, and four half-day on-site consultations. Teachers not using Project Construct will continue to use the curricular approach already in place. The researchers are interviewing teachers to find out how their beliefs change over time, particularly when trained to use Project Construct. The children and teachers in the study come from diverse racial, ethnic, and income levels. The study includes 288 children in 24 pre-kindergarten classrooms. Participating schools are located in one metropolitan and several other Missouri communities.

Products and Publications

ERIC Citations: Find available citations in ERIC for this award here.

WWC Review: Avellar, S. A., Glazerman, S., & Sprachman, S. Effects of Preschool Curriculum Programs on School Readiness: Report from the Preschool Curriculum Evaluation Research Initiative (No. 8a6ba505e4d043a09f867250c1f24ca1). Mathematica Policy Research. [WWC review]

Select Publications:

IES published report (GPO)

Preschool Curriculum Evaluation Research Consortium (2008). Effects of Preschool Curriculum Programs on School Readiness (NCER 2008–2009). U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Research. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. (IES published report GPO)