Review

Professional Development: Big Day for PreK™ offers one standardized initial training that is included in the cost of the curriculum. It is offered as either a half- or full-day training, which can be provided in person or as a webinar. Furthermore, Big Day for PreK™ provides a range of courses that programs can use to support their ongoing professional development needs. They run a free professional development webinar series that focuses on domain-specific teaching practices. They also offer several half- and full-day in-person courses available at an additional cost that focus on a range of training topics, such as family engagement. Finally, Big Day for PreK™ can provide individualized coaching sessions that include collaboratively setting goals and thinking about the specific needs of children and teachers in a program.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: Big Day for PreK™ includes a comprehensive set of materials to support implementation. The Professional Handbook offers specific guidance for implementation of the curriculum, such as how to set up the learning environment, an overview of the Teaching Guides, how to differentiate instruction for all learners, and how to implement best practices in each of the learning domains. Each Teaching Guide includes daily lessons that clearly describe how to implement learning experiences, with lists of materials, specific teaching practices, and learning goals. The online Teacher Space provides additional helpful resources for teachers, such as a "Lesson Planner," assessment tools, and a "Family Space."

• Fidelity Tool: Big Day for PreK™ offers the In-Classroom Observation Checklist, which can be used to assess fidelity of implementation. The tool guides observation in different areas, such as classroom environment, instructional materials, family involvement, and classroom management.

Professional Development: C4L provides standardized initial training and ongoing professional development. The online portal houses two types of online modules. Six one-hour, unit-specific modules are included in the cost of the curriculum. In addition, programs can purchase two implementation training modules that address a variety of topics (e.g., curriculum overview, core concepts of project-based learning, teaching strategies, family engagement) for an additional cost. According to the publisher's website, C4L offers a variety of in-person and online training opportunities for administrators and teachers. Content of the trainings includes adapting the curriculum for special needs, boosting emergent writing, and using formative assessment to inform instruction. Some training components (e.g., mid-year training that gives teachers opportunities to reflect on their successes, questions, and observations) suggest that professional development can be tailored to programs' individual challenges and needs.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: C4L provides a comprehensive set of materials to support implementation. The Teacher's and the Director's Handbooks include an overview of the curriculum, its disciplinary approach, and key elements (e.g., learning centers, lessons, formative assessment). Two online modules, available at an additional cost, focus on curriculum implementation. The six Units offer detailed information about each of the curriculum's learning experiences, including materials and set-up. They also include guidance on implementing each learning experience, prompts and questions to engage and support children during learning experiences, assessment checkpoints, and strategies for individualizing based on children's strengths and needs. The Formative Assessment book and online portal provide forms for teachers to document and track their observations for children's progress toward curriculum learning goals. The assessments are referenced with the Teacher's Handbook, Director's Handbook, and Units.

• Fidelity Tool: The curriculum offers the Curriculum Fidelity Checklist, which can be used to assess fidelity of implementation. The form includes a checklist and areas for comments on key elements of the environment, teaching methods, and lessons. Supervisors and coaches can use this tool to support teachers as they implement C4L.

Professional Development: Core Knowledge® offers multiple options for standardized initial training. Examples include a two-day "Leadership Institute" and "Getting Started with the Preschool Sequence." The curriculum offers ongoing professional development and training through "turnkey professional development kits," on-site training, and annual conferences. These opportunities include a range of topics, such as supporting language development or assessment and planning to meet children's needs. Additionally, sites may request diagnostic visits and plan individualized supports based on their needs.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: Core Knowledge® provides materials to support implementation, including the Handbook and the Core Knowledge® P-8 Implementation Resources Guide (available online). The Handbook includes general information on lesson planning, classroom environment, routines, and teaching practices. However, it lacks sufficient information about learning experiences.

• Fidelity Tool: Core Knowledge® includes Snapshot: Implementation and Observation Checklists, a fidelity tool for monitoring curriculum implementation. The tool addresses areas such as classroom environment, classroom practices, and daily routines. While the "Getting Started with the Preschool Sequence" professional development kit introduces the fidelity tool, it is not referenced within the Handbook.

Professional Development: The Creative Curriculum^® for Preschool offers two free standardized initial trainings online. One is a 10-hour introduction to the learning objectives, and the other is a two-hour exploration of the curriculum. Initial in-person trainings are offered at an additional cost. Ongoing professional development opportunities include a range of courses, offered both online and in person at an additional cost. Some training topics include supporting domain-specific learning in the classroom and effectively implementing interest areas. Finally, the publisher offers to work with programs to customize trainings based on program needs.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: The Creative Curriculum^® for Preschool includes a comprehensive set of materials to support implementation. It provides a Guide to The Creative Curriculum^® for Preschool, which orients teachers to the curriculum materials and how they fit together. The curriculum offers six volumes to support teachers as they implement the curriculum (e.g., Volume 1: The Foundation, Volume 2: Interest Areas). Finally, the Daily Resources provide teachers with detailed guidance on what to do each day (e.g., Teaching Guides, Intentional Teaching Cards).

• Fidelity Tool: For an additional fee, programs can purchase The Fidelity Tool for Administrators and The Fidelity Tool Teacher Checklist. Both tools assess the fidelity of implementation of the Daily Resources, The Foundation, and Teaching Strategies GOLD. Additionally, programs can purchase Coaching to Fidelity, Preschool Edition, which is a coaching guide for fidelity with specific strategies linked to items from the teacher checklist.

Professional Development: The curriculum developer provides a two-day "program introduction" training. Facilitators or coaches (e.g., Success for All coaches) offer support for initial training and professional development throughout the year. The curriculum suggests that teachers meet regularly to share their experiences and problem-solve together. In addition, sites are encouraged to establish a Leading for Success program that includes Component Teams (composed of teachers) that meet monthly and discuss specific topics such as math, supporting emergent writers, and social and emotional skills. Various types of training such as site visits, on-site and telephonic coaching, and Component Teams facilitate individualized supports based on teacher and program needs.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: Curiosity Corner includes a comprehensive, systematic set of user-friendly materials that are embedded throughout the curriculum. The Teacher's Manual provides information about the program philosophy, objectives, instructional components, and classroom organization and management. Eighteen Theme Guides describe, in detail, the learning experiences for each day over the course of the two-week theme. The Success for All Snapshot is embedded within the Teacher's Manual and serves as a reflection tool for teachers and a method for monitoring curriculum implementation. The Curiosity Corner Reporting and Planning Guide helps sites collect and report data on children's progress, set goals to improve child outcomes, plan and evaluate interventions, and prepare team and committee reports to share at quarterly data review meetings.

• Fidelity Tool: Curiosity Corner offers the Success for All Snapshot to monitor curriculum implementation and fidelity.

Professional Development: The curriculum's website identifies a team of national trainers who offer customized implementation trainings for an additional fee. The publisher also provides a three-hour online course for an additional cost, which includes topics such as brain development, social and emotional development, and learning environments. While other professional development can be obtained through the publisher, it is not curriculum-specific. Overall, initial training is not standardized, and professional development opportunities are limited in scope.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: Learn Every Day™ provides materials to support implementation. Foundations for Learning includes an overview of curriculum materials, sample daily schedules, chapters on specific topics (e.g., learning centers, teaching children who are DLLs and children with special needs). The Volumes offer lesson plans that describe learning experiences (e.g., large group, small group, learning centers) for the curriculum's 36 units. "Resources for Teachers" repeats some information from Foundations for Learning as well as other materials, such as samples of a classroom layout, a daily lesson planner, and parent letters. Though Foundations for Learning mentions the Learn Every Day™ website, it does not identify the curriculum resources available online. Hence, supports for implementation are not organized or presented systematically.

• Fidelity Tool: Learn Every Day™ does not include a fidelity tool.

Professional Development: Galileo® Pre-K offers a large number of free learning on-demand webinars, such as "Overview of Galileo Pre-K Online," "Using the Galileo G3 Assessment Scales," and "Using Galileo's Model Curriculum." The users' site includes "Help Files" that provide a searchable library to access professional development resources, such as Quick Reference Guides and recorded video tutorials. The curriculum also offers a two-day implementation training that is available on-site or online, at an additional cost. Implementation training topics include learning how to set up Galileo for program use, using Galileo for documenting and evaluating children outcomes, and using information to inform learning opportunity decisions. Ongoing training and professional development feature customizable courses, offered in person or online, for an additional fee.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: Galileo® Pre-K includes a variety of online resources to support implementation of the curriculum. For example, the Curriculum Overview (located under the Help Tab) provides links to resources such as the Curriculum Guidebook, Galileo G3 Activities Book, and Galileo G3 Lesson Plans. The Curriculum Guidebook offers specific guidance for implementation (e.g., how to set up the learning environment, how to use assessment to plan for activities and experiences, and how to support children who are DLLs, children with disabilities, or children with other special needs). Though all of the G3 Activities and G3 Lesson Plans are accessible through the online system, the curriculum also provides printable versions in the Galileo G3 Activities Book and Galileo G3 Lesson Plan Book. While the curriculum provides comprehensive materials and support for implementation, navigating through different online pieces of the curriculum may be challenging, as the organization of materials does not appear to be systematic or user friendly.

• Fidelity Tool: Galileo® Pre-K offers the Assessment and Curriculum Fidelity Tool to monitor and evaluate the fidelity of implementation. Divided into four focus areas—Monitoring Galileo Use, Physical Environment, Professional Practices, and Management and Instruction—the tool can be used to identify areas where support, feedback, training, and professional development can contribute to continuous improvement.

Professional Development: The publisher, HighScope, offers comprehensive standardized initial training and ongoing professional development. They offer two in-person courses for standardized initial training for a fee: a four-week training on implementing the curriculum and a one-week training that covers a variety of topics, such as content areas, assessment, and adult-child interactions. HighScope offers ongoing professional development opportunities through a range of short- and long-term courses, offered both online and in person at an additional cost. Finally, HighScope offers customized trainings for programs.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: The HighScope Preschool Curriculum provides a comprehensive set of materials to support implementation. The HighScope Curriculum Kit User Guide provides step-by-step instructions for teachers and program administrators to begin implementing the curriculum. Additionally, the curriculum includes two central books that introduce the HighScope approach and provide guidance on how to set up the learning environment, establish daily routines, and plan learning experiences (HighScope Preschool Curriculum and Essentials of Active Learning).

• Fidelity Tool: The curriculum offers the Program Quality Assessment (PQA) tool. This tool measures the quality of different aspects of program implementation, and the information gathered from this tool can be used to understand how teachers are implementing the HighScope Preschool Curriculum.

Professional Development: The DLM Early Childhood Express® offers one 35-minute online presentation for standardized initial training. The presentation briefly introduces the curriculum materials. Ongoing professional development is no longer offered for this curriculum.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: The DLM Early Childhood Express® provides some materials to support implementation, including a Teacher's Edition for each of the eight themes. The Teacher's Editions include information on daily lesson planning, learning centers, and teaching practices to support child development. However, there are limited resources for getting started with the curriculum. Additionally, the Teacher's Editions lack both sufficient information on the context for activities (e.g., how to set up an activity outside) and adequate support for transitions (e.g., how to start or end an activity).

• Fidelity Tool: The DLM Early Childhood Express® does not offer a fidelity tool for monitoring curriculum implementation.

Professional Development: Frog Street Pre-K offers two full-day, in-person courses for standardized initial training at an additional cost. Training topics include implementing the curriculum with fidelity, the content areas, and teaching practices. Ongoing professional development opportunities feature several courses that cover a wide range of content, including half- and full-day courses offered in person for an additional fee. The curriculum also offers professional learning webinars that can be customized to meet the needs of programs using a pre-webinar questionnaire to identify challenges and share successes.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: Frog Street Pre-K includes a comprehensive set of materials to support implementation. The Welcome to Frog Street Pre-K introductory guide provides an overview of the curriculum materials, such as the Teacher Guides, resource guides, CDs, manipulatives, and books for children. It includes information on setting up the learning environment and designing learning centers. The Teacher Guides provide daily lesson plans for each theme that describe the content and strategies for implementation (e.g., goals for the activities, questions to ask, and scaffolding strategies).

• Fidelity Tool: Frog Street Pre-K offers the Administrator Classroom Observation Tool, which can be used to monitor quality or assess fidelity of implementation. This tool guides observation in different areas, such as the teacher's sensitivity to social and emotional needs, teaching practices in small and large groups, the classroom environment, lesson plans, and learning centers.

Professional Development: Frog Street Threes offers in-person courses for standardized initial and ongoing training at an additional cost (e.g., Frog Street Threes Curriculum Implementation, Frog Street Threes Curriculum Follow-Up). The courses can be half- or full-day. Training topics include scope and sequence for math and literacy; science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) activities; and family engagement. The publisher also offers train-the-trainer opportunities and one-on-one training that can be customized to meet the needs of programs (e.g., discussing challenges and areas of growth, providing classroom observations based on needs).

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: Frog Street Threes includes a comprehensive set of materials to support implementation. The Welcome to Frog Street Threes introductory guide provides an overview of the curriculum materials, such as the Teaching Guides, CDs, manipulatives, and books for children. It includes information on setting up the learning environment and designing learning centers. The Teaching Guides provide daily lesson plans for each theme and describe the content and strategies for implementation (e.g., goals for the activities, questions to ask, and scaffolding strategies).

• Fidelity Tool: The curriculum's Administrator Classroom Observation Tool can be used to monitor quality or assess the fidelity of implementation. It guides observation in different areas, such as the teacher's sensitivity to social and emotional needs, instructional strategies implemented in small and large groups, the classroom environment, and learning centers.

Professional Development: The curriculum provides comprehensive standardized training to support World of Wonders implementation. There is a large selection of professional development videos, which are limited in duration but address a wide range of initial and ongoing training through coaching and classroom videos, digital resources, and administrator support. The publisher provides a range of customizable professional training options, such as program implementation training for teachers, support staff, and administrators. These trainings are designed to meet teacher and program needs. 
 

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: Embedded throughout the curriculum is a comprehensive, systematic set of user-friendly materials to facilitate understanding and implementation of the curriculum. Curriculum support includes schedules for full- and half-day programs, differentiated instructional pathways, weekly planning outlines with classroom materials, and family newsletters. 

• Fidelity Tool: World of Wonders provides the Classroom Observation Tool with specific guidance for observing five components: classroom environment, classroom management, teaching and learning, interactions with families, and professionalism and growth. 

Professional Development: OWL offers both one- and two-day in-person Product Implementation trainings at an additional cost. Ongoing professional development and trainings feature a range of courses, including half-, full-, and multiple-day courses offered in person for an additional fee. The publisher provides free online webinars on topics such as modeling positive behaviors. Coaching and Modeling, Lesson Study, and Consultative Services are also available at an additional cost.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: OWL includes a comprehensive set of materials to support implementation. The Planning and Assessment Teacher's Guide with Professional Development Handbook provides an overview of the curriculum components, such as the Teacher Guides, Units 1–8, literature to read aloud, digital resources, teaching cards and posters, and manipulatives (optional for purchase). It includes information on setting up the learning environment, schedules and routines, and designing learning centers. The Teacher Guides provide daily lesson plans for each theme that describe the content and strategies for implementation (e.g., goals for the activities, vocabulary, and scaffolding strategies).

• Fidelity Tool: OWL does not include a fidelity tool.

Professional Development: The curriculum does not offer standardized initial training or ongoing professional development opportunities.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: Pre K for ME provides some materials to support implementation. The Guiding Documents include weekly material lists, learning center resources, and opportunities for technology use to support learning. The curriculum includes guidelines on how to introduce and set up learning centers. It also offers suggestions for transitions and extensive information on the purpose of multiple reads of the books introduced in the curriculum. Each learning experience provides guidance on implementation, lists of materials, related vocabulary, and scripted lessons. Even so, the guidance for the learning centers and learning experiences is not systematic across the units. 

• Fidelity Tool: Pre K for ME does not include a fidelity tool.

Professional Development: InvestiGator PreK 2018 provides online and onsite options for implementation training, including materials for programs to conduct their own one- or two-day implementation training. The Implementation Facilitators' Guide notes that the training can be self-guided or led by an outside facilitator. The curriculum developer offers a large number of ongoing professional development opportunities for an additional cost. Examples of topics include, but are not limited to, Developmentally Effective Approaches to Teaching and Learning, Center-Based Learning for the Preschooler, and Literacy and Learning for English Language Learners (ELLs). In addition, the website for teachers offers a number of free webinars and bulletins that include research-based information and practices on specific topics (e.g., Young Children and the Environment: Building a Connection, Inspiring Good Behavior). Upon request the publisher offers customized workshops.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: InvestiGator PreK 2018 provides materials to support implementation, including the Research and Professional Guide, Teacher Guides for each of the seven units, a PreK implementation webinar, and Implementation Facilitator Guide, Participant Workbook, and DVD. The Research and Professional Guide includes an overview of the curriculum as well as general information on program philosophy, classroom environment and management, the role of the family, and cultural and linguistic diversity. The Teacher Guides offer detailed lesson plans with step-by-step instructions for activities and guidance for teacher-child interactions. The Implementation Facilitator Guide, Implementation Participant Workbook, and DVD help programs organize their implementation efforts and support teachers to understand the curriculum. A limitation is that the Social and Emotional Kit and Investigate Math Activity Kits are not referred to in any of the other curriculum materials.

• Fidelity Tool: InvestiGator PreK 2018 offers the InvestiGator Club Monitoring Tool, which can be used to support teacher success and continued professional development and to assess fidelity of implementation. The tool guides observation in different areas, such as classroom environment, assessment, daily routines, and language and literacy instruction.

Professional Development: The publisher provides online and onsite options for initial training and ongoing professional development opportunities. The curriculum includes a one-hour Just for Threes 2018 Implementation Training webinar as well as materials for programs to conduct a one- or two-day on-site implementation training. The Facilitators' Implementation Guide notes that the training can be self-guided or led by an outside facilitator. The curriculum developer offers a large number of ongoing professional development opportunities for an additional cost. Examples of topics include, but are not limited to, Developmentally Effective Approaches to Teaching and Learning, Center-Based Learning for the Preschooler, and Literacy and Learning for English Language Learners (ELLs). In addition, the website for teachers includes a number of free webinars and bulletins that provide research-based information and practices on specific topics (e.g., Young Children and the Environment: Building a Connection, Inspiring Good Behavior). Upon request, the publisher offers customized workshops. 

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: Just for Threes 2018 provides materials to support implementation, such as the Research and Professional Guide, Just for Threes 2018 Teacher Guide, Let's Investigate Teacher Guide, and the Implementation Facilitator Guide, Participant Workbook, and DVD. The Research and Professional Guide provides general information on program philosophy, classroom environment and management, the role of the family, and cultural and linguistic diversity. The Just for Threes 2018 Teacher Guide offers 30 weekly plans for Opening Circle, Everyday Literacy, Small and Whole Group, and Closing Circle Time, as well as extension activities; songs, chants, rhymes, and games; and book suggestions. The weekly plans reference lesson plans from the Let's Investigate Teacher Guide, and lesson plans describe how to implement learning experiences, list required materials, and articulate teaching practices. The Implementation Facilitator Guide, Participant Workbooks, and DVD help programs organize their implementation efforts. A limitation is that the Implementation Facilitator Guide, and Participant Workbooks do not address implementation of Just for Threes 2018; they specifically reference the materials in InvestiGator PreK.

• Fidelity Tool: Just for Threes 2018 offers the InvestiGator Club Monitoring Tool, which can be used to support teacher success and continued professional development and to assess fidelity of implementation. The tool guides observation in different areas, such as classroom environment, child assessment, daily routines, and language and literacy instruction.

Professional Development: Tools of the Mind^® provides a comprehensive system of training and support. Initial training includes four "CORE" trainings workshops for a fee. The first is offered in person, over two days, prior to the start of the school year. Each of the remaining three sequential workshops is a one-day session, delivered in person or virtually, in fall, winter, and spring of the first year. In addition, the curriculum offers varied opportunities for ongoing professional development on a range of topics through webinars, "PreK Beyond the Core" workshops, and online modules. Tools of the Mind^® also offers customized training for programs and individualized coaching sessions.

Curriculum Materials to Support Implementation: Tools of the Mind^® provides a comprehensive set of materials to support implementation. The Tools of the Mind^®: Introduction, Background, and Theory; Pre-K Manual, 7^th Edition (Introductory Manual) includes a rich overview of the background, theory, and key elements of the curriculum. The primary Training Manual offers detailed information about each of the curriculum's activities, including materials and set-up, steps for implementing each activity, and detailed guidance for teachers about engaging and supporting children during the activity ("Flow and Process"). The Additional Scaffolds Appendix Manual describes strategies for supporting specific learning needs (e.g., developmental delays, self-regulation supports, fine motor supports) and for supporting children who are DLLs. iScaffold, available to curriculum users through the publisher website or app, is a multimedia teaching tool that provides a range of assistance on demand (e.g., learning experiences, learning trajectories, scaffolding ideas). In addition, the Pre-K Assessment appendix provides assessment instruments to identify baselines, document children's development over time, and identify areas of individual need to target scaffolding and intentionally plan instruction.

• Fidelity Tool: The curriculum offers Teacher Self-Reflection forms, which can be used to assess fidelity of implementation. The forms provide detailed checklists with key elements for each set of activities in the curriculum (e.g., Opening Group, Make-Believe Play, Literacy Time Block, Story Lab, and Math/Science Small Group Time Block). Teachers can use this tool independently to reflect on their own implementation of activities, or collaboratively with a coach to identify areas of support.