We Use Intentional Teaching Approaches with Young Children.

• There are lasting and positive effects for children when programs are of high quality and allow for both teacher and child directed learning. Research shows larger gains in learning for children which have learning activities that are teacher directed. It encourages the understanding of new information that has direct links to what children will need to succeed in kindergarten.

• This means allowing young children to have hands-on experiences in an environment purposively planned by the teacher, so that children can learn and practice skills and concepts. The use of educational technology is now known to have a major, positive impact on the social, emotional, language, and cognitive development of children.

• The research demonstrates preschoolers who used computers with supporting activities for key learning goals had more gains than children without computer experiences. Among others, these included gains in knowledge, long-term memory, verbal skills, problem solving, and manual dexterity. Young children who had access to a computer, compared to those who did not, performed better on measures of cognitive development and school readiness. The findings suggest that “computer access during the preschool years is associated with the development of school concepts and cognition”.

But it takes a trained teacher experienced with using technology to intentional direct the learning by the child. This is what our program here at the center does.