Six Steps to Inclusive Preschool Curriculum: A UDL-Based Framework for Children's School Success

How can inclusive early educators plan and deliver challenging instructions to help all young learners succeed in kindergarten? This guide has authoritative answers from some of today's most renowned names in early childhood education. Presenting the Children's School Success+ (CSS+) framework, for building a UDL-based plan for inclusive pre-school instruction, this book is a powerful tool for using your existing curriculum to address each child's unique learning needs. Through practical, evidence-based strategies and guidelines, you'll discover how to equalise access to curriculum content while giving learners multiple ways to access and possess new knowledge. Keep this resource at your fingertips to guide your curriculum and instruction—so all young children have the skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

Learn how to:

• Identify a developmentally appropriate scope and sequence for your students' learning objectives
• Ensure a coherent, engaging curriculum that continuously builds on the knowledge and skills your students acquire
• Develop UDL-based activity plans that support every child's learning
• Use differentiation and individualisation strategies for students who need extra supports
• Select and implement successful progress monitoring strategies
• Improve your teaching through a continuous loop of planning, instruction, and monitoring
• Work and play well with your colleagues
• Engage in partnership with families to support their children's success

Practical Materials:

• a wealth of downloadable online resources for implementing the framework
• specific tips and strategies on addressing key topics such as behaviour, classroom organisation, and collaboration with families.
• see the framework in action, with recurring vignettes in diverse early childhood settings, including a public pre-school, a Head Start classroom, and an early childhood special education classroom.

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Table of Contents

About the Authors

About the Contributors

Foreword

Sam Odom, Karen Diamond, and Marci Hanson

Preface

I. Laying the Foundation

1. Introduction - Eva Horn, Susan Palmer, Gretchen Butera, and Joan Lieber
2. The CSS+ Curriculum Planning Framework - Eva Horn, Susan Palmer, Gretchen Butera, and Joan Lieber
3. Foundations of Components of Challenging Curriculum - Joan Lieber, Amber Friesen, Susan Palmer, Debra Drang, Alina Mihai, Jill Clay, and Potheini Vaiouli Appendix 3A: Curriculum Content Checklist
4. Integration of Challenging Curriculum Content - Eva Horn, Joan Lieber, Gretchen Butera, Jean Kang, and Susan Palmer
• Appendix 4A: Example Activity Set, Theme-All About Me
• Appendix 4B: Small and Large Group Activity Plan Form
• Appendix 4C: Literacy Activity Plan Form
5. Foundations of Universal Design for Learning - Eva Horn, Jean Kang, Audra Classen, and Susan Palmer
• Appendix 5A: UDL Guiding Questions
6. Foundations of Differentiation and Individualization - Eva Horn, Jean Kang, Audra Classen, and Joan Lieber
• Appendix 6A: Matrix Development Checklist
• Appendix 6B: ELO Activity Matrix
• Appendix 6C: ELO At-A-Glance Form
7. Components of Progress Monitoring - Susan Palmer, Gretchen Butera, Amber Friesen, and Jill Clay
• Appendix 7A: Decision-Making Checklist for Class-wide Progress
• Appendix 7B: Goal Attainment Scaling Form

II. Implementation: Key Elements for Supporting Childrens’ School Success

8. Organization of the Learning Environment - Joan Lieber, Eva Horn, Debra Dang, and Gretchen Butera
• Appendix 8A: Example Activity Set, Theme-Let’s Explore Our World
9. Addressing Challenging Behaviors - Susan Palmer, Gretchen Butera, Audra Classen, and Jean Kang
10. Adults Working and Playing Well Together - Gretchen Butera, Amber Friesen, Eva Horn, Susan Palmer, and Potheini Vaiouli
• Appendix 10A: Collaboration Planning Form
• Appendix 10B: Improvement and Action Planning Form
11. Connecting with Families to Support Children’s School Success - Gretchen Butera, Amber Friesen, Alina Mihai, Potheini Vaiouli, and Jill Clay
12. Summing it Up–The CSS+ Curriculum Framework - Gretchen Butera, Eva Horn, Susan Palmer, and Joan Lieber

References

Index

"Horn and her colleagues provide a detailed framework to meet the needs of every child and to guide the planning and teaching of every teacher. They build on a strong foundation and incorporate research-informed teaching practices to help children engage with and master a challenging early childhood curriculum."
- Susan Sandall, Professor, University of Washington

"This book is an indispensable roadmap for individuals seeking to provide an evidence-based approach for designing curriculum, ensuring that it meets the needs of all learners, and monitoring children’s progress."
- Judith Carta, Senior Scientist and Professor, Institute for Life-Span Studies/Department of Special Education, University of Kansas

"The book offers an approach that should be helpful to teachers working in inclusive preschool classrooms. The planning forms will be particularly useful to preschool teachers, as they consider how to follow the principles of UDL, differentiate instruction, and design embedded learning opportunities for young children."
- Dr. Jennifer Grisham-Brown, Professor, Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, Director, University of Kentucky Early Childhood Laboratory

"A valuable evidence-based resource that demystifies individualized planning and provides teachers with a step-by-step framework to ensure each and every child’s success."
- Sarika Gupta, Johns Hopkins University

"A wonderful, evidence-based resource that will help all early educators provide high-quality, inclusive learning environments for each and every child with whom they work."
- Laurie Dinnebeil, University of Toledo; Editor, Journal of Early Intervention