ABSTRACT
A growing evidence base demonstrates the effectiveness of teacher training and coaching interventions to improve teacher- and child-level outcomes in high-income countries. However, more information is needed to show the benefits of these interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To provide an evidence base for LMICs, we conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of a teacher training and coaching intervention for promoting children's social, emotional, and behavioral competence, Reaching Educators and Children (REACH) Classroom Check-Up (CCU), on teachers' behaviors, teacher-child relationship quality, and children's social competence and problem behaviors. Participants included 20 early childhood teachers and 175 children (4-6 year olds) in Turkey. Findings indicate that REACH CCU increased teachers' positive behaviors and teacher behaviors that support social, emotional, and behavioral competence of children, while reducing teachers' negative behaviors. Teachers in REACH CCU demonstrated an increased level of closeness and reduced levels of conflict with children in their classrooms. Furthermore, REACH CCU improved teacher-reported social competence and reduced problem behaviors of children. Results provide evidence that REACH CCU is a promising approach for improving teachers' behaviors, teacher-child relationship quality, and children's social, emotional, and behavioral competence, especially in LMICs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
ABSTRACT
The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of coding activities on children's mathematical reasoning skills. In the study, the pre-test - post-test control group quasi-experimental design was used. The participants of the study consisted of 29 children (17 in experiment group and 12 in control group) aged between 57 - 68 months attending a public kindergarten in Adana, Turkey. Coding Education Program prepared by the researchers was administered to the children in the experiment group while the children in the control group received the regular program. Evaluation Instrument for the Early Mathematical Reasoning Skills was administered to children both in the experimental and control group as pre-test and post-test. Data was collected by individual interviews conducted with the children. Results of the study showed that there is no significant difference between experimental and control group in the pre-test, whereas a significant difference in favor of the experimental group was observed in the post-test. Therefore, it was determined that the coding activities have a significant effect on mathematical reasoning skills of children.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the impact of an empathy training program developed by the researchers to promote perspective-taking abilities of preschool children. Participants were 34 children from two different kindergartens. Children in the treatment group attended an empathy training program that consisted of 30 activities and lasted for 10 weeks, whereas those in the nonintervention group attend the regular preschool program. Data were obtained through individual interviews with children. Perspective-Taking Test for Children, designed by the researchers, was used to assess children's perspective-taking abilities. The results of the study demonstrated that the training program significantly improved perspective-taking performance of children in the treatment group compared to their peers in the nonintervention group, and this effect persisted one month after the intervention.
