An Investigation of the Features and Effectiveness of the Full-Day Early Learning Kindergarten Program in Ontario

This dissertation includes two studies. Study 1 is a qualitative case study that describes enactment of the main components of a high fidelity Full-Day Early Learning Kindergarten (FDELK) classroom, specifically play-based learning and teacher-ECE collaboration. Study 2 is a quantitative analysis that investigates how effectively the FDELK program promotes school readiness skills, namely self-regulation, literacy, and numeracy, in Kindergarteners. To describe the main components of an FDELK classroom in Study 1, a sub-sample of four high fidelity case study schools were selected from a larger case study sample. Interview data from these schools’ administrators, educators, parents, and community stakeholders were used to describe how the main components of the FDELK program enabled educators to meet the individual needs of students and promote students’ SR development. In Study 2, hierarchical regression analyses of 32,207 students’ self-regulation, literacy, and numeracy outcomes using 2012 Ontario Early Development Instrument (EDI) data revealed essentially no benefit for students participating in the FDELK program when compared to peers in Half-Day or Alternate-Day Kindergarten programs. Being older and female predicted more positive SR and literacy outcomes. Age and gender accounted for limited variance in numeracy outcomes. Results from both studies suggest that the Ontario Ministry of Education should take steps to improve the quality of the FDELK program by incorporating evidence-based guidelines and goals for play, reducing Kindergarten class sizes to more effectively scaffold learning, and revising curriculum expectations to include a greater focus on SR, literacy, and numeracy skills.

Kindergarten bilingual resource handbook /

Bibliography: p. 187.

Plan de estudios, programa e instrucciones para el kindergarten.

Mode of access: Internet.

Kindergarten en español : a report /

Cover title.

The Kindergarten-primary magazine.

Contains music.

Transitions to kindergarten in American schools /

"Contract no. LC88089001."

Manual for the kindergarten : including I, General helps and hints for the teacher: II, Bible stories ... /

Mode of access: Internet.

Visual instruction, course of study for the elementary schools, including the kindergarten and first six grades.

Mode of access: Internet.

Mother Truth's melodies : Common sense for children. A kindergarten /

Without music.

Der kindergarten in Amerika : Entstehung, wesen, bedeutung und erziehungsmittel des Frœbel'schen systems, und seine anwendung auf hiesige verhältnisse. Für eltern, lehrer und kinderfreunde kurz dargestellt.

Page 32, advertising matter.

Music for the child world [music] : a collection of pianoforte music form the masters and modern writers, especially adapted to the needs of the kindergarten and graded schools.

Mode of access: Internet.

A kindergarten book of folk-songs. [music] /

With piano accompaniment.

A guide to teaching poison prevention in kindergarten & primary grades.

Cover title.

Music activities and practices in kindergarten and elementary grades,

"Provides teaching plans and suggestions for the classroom use of the following books ... Sing a song ... Play a tune ... Listen and sing ... Tuning up ... Rhythms and rimes ... Songs of many lands ... Blending voices ... Tunes and harmonies."--Foreword.

Early childhood education in Illinois: focus on kindergarten.

Bibliography; p. 34-37.