Development of an Early Literacy and Language Three-Tiered
Model in Early Intervention
Collaboration between the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project/University
of Kansas and the University of Nebraska/Center for Children, Youth, Families
and Schools
Abstract
The project is a collaboration among researchers from Juniper Gardens Children’s
Project and the University of Nebraska’s Center for Children, Youth,
Families and Schools . The project employs an iterative product development
design to develop and test the feasibility of a preschool 3-tiered (Pre-3T)
model in authentic pre-kindergarten settings. In the project’s first
two years, key components of existing 3-tiered models designed for early elementary
grades will be translated for preschool settings. These components include:
- universal delivery of evidence-based intervention to all students;
- progress monitoring;
- data-based decision-making;
- differentiated grouping and instruction;
- family involvement.
Based on input about feasibility from experts and consumers, these components
will be revised and pilot tested in 6 preschool settings in Kansas and Nebraska.
Children between the ages of 4 and 6 years and their teachers and parents,
will participate. Individual model components will be pilot tested with relevant
and formative process data collected and analyzed to carry out another refinement
of the model. In the third and final year of the project, the entire model
will be implemented with a new set of 6 preschool classes in Nebraska and
Kansas. Primary analyses are concerned with feasibility of the model and
its components as determined by consumer feedback and with fidelity of model.
In addition, measures used to monitor child progress and gauge child responsiveness
to interventions in the Pre-3T model will provide information about language
and early literacy instruction in the classrooms, children's individual responses
to instruction, and children's development in language and early literacy
across the school year.
