Regularly providing intentional, engaging instruction and practice focused on social-emotional skills is crucial. This approach helps children develop self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Such skills are foundational for academic success and overall well-being.
Strengthening children’s executive function skills using specific games and activities is also important. Activities that promote working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control can significantly enhance a child’s ability to focus, plan, and problem-solve. These executive functions are essential for learning and adapting to new situations.
Providing intentional instruction to build children’s understanding of mathematical ideas and skills is necessary. A solid foundation in early math concepts, such as number sense, patterns, and spatial reasoning, prepares children for more advanced mathematical thinking later on. This instruction should be developmentally appropriate and build upon children’s existing knowledge.
Engaging children in conversations about mathematical ideas and supporting them in using mathematical language is also beneficial. Encouraging children to explain their thinking and use mathematical vocabulary helps them to deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts and develop their communication skills. This can be achieved through open-ended questions and collaborative problem-solving.
Intentionally planning activities to build children’s vocabulary and language is another evidence-based practice. A rich vocabulary and strong language skills are essential for reading comprehension, writing, and overall academic success. Activities such as story time, dramatic play, and language-rich conversations can help children expand their vocabulary and improve their communication skills.
See an instructional example in the classroom:
Video 4: Play-Based Interactions with Teacher Guidance from IES. This video depicts a preschool class engaging in play-based interactions intentionally planned by the teacher to build children’s vocabulary and language (9:47).
Video 3: Engaging in Multiturn Conversations from IES. This video shows a teacher and teacher assistant engaging preschool children in multiturn conversations throughout the day by restating, expanding, asking open-ended questions, and providing opportunities for peer-to-peer interactions (6:59).
Building children’s knowledge of letters and sounds is a critical step in early literacy development. Explicit instruction in phonological awareness and phonics helps children to decode words and become fluent readers. Activities such as rhyming games, letter-sound matching, and blending sounds into words can support this development.
See an instructional example in the classroom:
Video 2: Small-Group Explicit Instruction Using Sound Bags (M and S) from IES. This video shows a teacher explicitly teaching letters M and S to a small group of preschool children (6:00).
Video 8: Small-Group Explicit Instruction for the Letter M from IES. This video shows a teacher explicitly teaching upper- and lowercase M with a small group of preschool children (4:13).
Using shared book reading to develop children’s language, knowledge of print features, and knowledge of the world is another effective practice. Shared reading experiences expose children to new vocabulary, concepts, and genres of literature. They also help children to develop an understanding of how print works and how books are organized.
See an instructional example in the classroom:
Video 7: Print Referencing During Read Alouds from IES. In this video, preschool children notice various aspects of print as the teacher makes verbal and nonverbal references during a read aloud (5:56).
Video 3: Dialogic Reading with Expository Text from IES. This video shows clips of a preschool teacher across several days implementing Dialogic Reading to support vocabulary development (22:05).
By implementing these evidence-based practices informed by the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Practice Guides, educators can create a supportive and stimulating learning environment that promotes children’s social-emotional, cognitive, and academic development. The WWC is a valuable resource for identifying and implementing effective educational practices. Consistently reviewing and integrating WWC recommendations ensures that teaching strategies are grounded in the best available evidence, ultimately benefiting student outcomes.
