abecedarian approachjoseph sparling professor, melbourne graduate school of education university of...

© 2016 Joseph Sparling

Abecedarian Approach

Joseph Sparling Professor, Melbourne Graduate School of Education

University of Melbourne

Senior Scientist Emeritus, FPG Child Development Institute

University of North Carolina



The Abecedarian Approach has been

scientifically studied for over 35 years

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Abecedarian Approach Educational attainment:

percent university graduation by age 30

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Campbell et al., (2012). Developmental Psychology.



JOINT ATTENTION is one of the key concepts of the Abecedarian Approach

Joint attention

begins early!

Theoretical basis of the Abecedarian

Approach


Abecedarian Approach Joint attention skills appear to be critical to early

social, cognitive and language development

• In 14- to 17-month-olds, one type of joint attention

skill, the tendency to follow the gaze and pointing of

an adult, was a significant predictor of receptive

language development

• Responding to the joint attention bids of others

(gaze shift, pointing, and vocalizing) across the first

and second year is related to subsequent

vocabulary acquisition.

Morales, et al. 2000. Jour. of Applied Devel. Psych.

Studies at the University of Miami:



…increases adult-child joint attention

3N strategy supports joint attention

• Educators and parents can

use 3N to make sure they

coordinate their attention

with the child’s

• Then they can sometimes

gently direct the child’s

attention


Abecedarian Approach The 3N strategy keeps “going around”

The 3 parts of the strategy can be used in an ongoing cycle, with many repetitions of the cycle during any single teaching/caring event

Español: Notar, Invitar, Narrar


Abecedarian Approach 3N animation

Animated video courtesy of the Northern Territory Government, NT, Australia



Say

Show

See

The 3S strategy supports joint attention

Mencionar

Mostrar

Mirar

3S en español = 3M


Abecedarian Approach Use these 3 levels of child response

like stair steps

see

show

say


Abecedarian Approach What processes do the 3 levels represent?

input

production

comprehension

see

show

say


Abecedarian Approach Using joint attention and 3S during book

reading is like a “conversation”

It goes back and forth…

You do

something

You do

something

The child does

something

The child does

something


Abecedarian Approach Why is joint attention important?

• One of the of the most frequent things that the young

child does in effective early educational experiences is

to coordinate his or her attention with the adult’s.

• A high percent of later learning difficulties in school are

the result of problems of attention.


Abecedarian Approach The 3S strategy supports joint attention

At first you coordinate your

attention with the child’s.

Then you gently draw the

child’s attention to where yours

is focused.



In the following videos, notice how the adult watches

the child to get information on what he is attending to

In the Abecedarian Approach, adults notice

where the child’s attention is focused



Joint attention:

At first follow the

child’s lead –

match your

attention to his.

Later, see if the

child will follow

your lead and

match his

attention to yours.

Joint attention: Canada



Chinese

father

joins his

attention

to the

child’s

Joint attention: China


Abecedarian Approach 3S animation

Video courtesy of the Northern Territory Government, NT, Australia


Abecedarian Approach 3C strategy supports joint attention

3C Strategy

Each routine or activity has CARE, CONNECTION, and CONTENT

+

Enriched Caregiving

= +

CARE CUIDADOS

CONTENT CONTENIDO

CONNECTION CONEXIÓN


Abecedarian Approach The 3C strategy

• Usually, there is no need for

specific materials.

• Child are always learning,

whether we intend to teach or

not.

…integrates learning into the child’s daily

routines and activities

• Learning is more natural and has a context.

• Opportunities occur throughout the day – no extra time

needed.


Abecedarian Approach Caregiving routines

Happens in care

events of the day

• Changing Nappies & Toileting

• Eating & Mealtimes

• Sleeping & Nap time

• Getting Dressed & Undressed

• Putting Away Toys and other Things

Contains

educational content

• Colors

• Counting

• Sizes

• Shapes

• Processes

• Emotions

• Rhyming

• Vocabulary



• Joint attention

during a caregiving

routine

• This example has

uses the 3C

strategy

• It employs joint

attention



Do the child and

adult attend to

the same toy?

Does the child

hear the toys

being counted?

Does she hear

the name of

each toy as she

picks it up or

puts in the

basket?

Joint attention during Enriched Caregiving


Abecedarian Approach Abecedarian home visiting in

India, Pakistan, and Zambia

Model-adjusted Bayley MDI scores by family resources and intervention

Bann, Wallander, Do et al. (2016). Pediatrics.


Abecedarian Approach Massachusetts Family Day Care Study

We believe these adult behaviors in the

Abecedarian Approach were supporting

joint attention.

ACF. (2010). Massachusetts Family Child Care Study.



[email protected]

abecedarian approachjoseph sparling professor, melbourne graduate school of education university of...

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