1. The Abecedarian Project: Implications for Programs in the First 3 Years of Life
May 14-18, 2007, Washington DC, USA
Thank you for inviting me to Norfolk. It’s always a pleasure to talk about the Abecedarian Program.

2. Abecedarian Investigators
Craig T. Ramey, Ph.D.
Joseph J. Sparling, Ph.D.
Barbara H. Wasik, Ph.D.
Donna M. Bryant, Ph.D.
I want to acknowledge my colleagues. Especially Dr. Craig Ramey who was the principal investigator on all of the Abecedarian studies.

3. Research evidence comes from 3 longitudinal research projects
Abecedarian Project,
Project CARE,
Infant Health and Development Program,1985 –
All are “Gold Standard” research
These are the projects that Dr. Ramey directed. I’ve had the pleasure of being an investigator and the curriculum developer on all 3. All of these are Abecedarian studies.

4. What does it mean? a·be·ce·dar·i·an (a´bē·cē·dâr´ē·ən)
noun, adjective
one learning the rudiments of something (as the alphabet) Etymology: Middle English abecedary, from Medieval Latin abecedarium alphabet, from Late Latin, neuter of abecedarius of the alphabet, from the letters a + b + c + d
People sometimes ask me if Abecedarian (or Abecedarian) is a real word. Indeed it is. It comes from Latin and means one who is learning the rudiments – such as one who learns the alphabet. You’ll notice that it has the letters a, b, c, d

5. What does it mean? a·be·ce·dar·i·an (a´bē·cē·dâr´ē·ən)
noun, adjective s.
(learner) persona que aprende el abecedario
(novice) novicio, novato
adj.
(of the alphabet) alfabético
(elementary) rudimentario, elemental
People sometimes ask me if Abecedarian (or Abecedarian) is a real word. Indeed it is. It comes from Latin and means one who is learning the rudiments – such as one who learns the alphabet. You’ll notice that it has the letters a, b, c, d

6. Key Findings from the Abecedarian Project
18 Months to 21 Years of Age
Intelligence (IQ, including language)
Reading and math skills
Academic locus-of-control
Social Competence
Years in school,
including college
Full-time employment
Grade Repetition
Special Education
placement
Teen Pregnancies
Smoking and drug
use
So let’s get right to the research findings. On the left are features that have been increased and on the right are features that have been decreased through our intervention. I think you would probably agree that these are desirable outcomes that almost any program would like to produce.
Plus benefits to mothers of these children (education, employment)
Ramey et al., 2000

7. Why aren’t results like these commonplace?
So why aren’t these results commonplace? I believe it’s because programs typically don’t do the things that are necessary to produce these results. The NCEDL recently looked into preschool classrooms in 6 representative states…

8. FPG CDI, 2005, Early Developments
Cómo pasan su tiempo la mayoría de niños de pre-kindergarten How most pre-k children spend their time
…and found that children were using 21% of their time in routine activities and only 6% in more productive small group instruction. If you follow a single child looking at the teacher-child interaction, the…
FPG CDI, 2005, Early Developments

9. FPG CDI, 2005, Early Developments
Interacción típica entre el maestro y el niño Typical teacher-child interaction
…picture is even more bleak. For 73% of that child’s day there is no teacher-child interaction. And in only 8% of the time is there the kind of rich, elaborated interaction that results in rapid learning.
FPG CDI, 2005, Early Developments

10. What do the teachers do in a birth to age 3 Abecedarian Child Development Center?
So that’s what we have tried to do in the Abecedarian Program from 4 months to 4 years. We expect the teachers to be having frequent, rich, productive interactions with the children using a systematic but playful curriculum.

11. Atención y cuidado integral
Lessons
Learned
Currículo Creativo
Atención y cuidado integral
AprendamosJugando
Lectura con conversación
Creative Curriculum
Enriched Caregiving
LearningGames
Conversational Reading

12. Atención y cuidado integral Enriched Caregiving
Lessons
Learned
Atención y cuidado integral Enriched Caregiving
Bonjour! I’m glad to be in Montreal this morning where things of significance are being discussed.

13. Atención y cuidado integral Enriched Caregiving
Alimentación / Lunch or snack time
Vestirse y desvestirse / Dressing and undressing
Lavado de la cara y las manos / Washing hands and face

14. Atención y cuidado integral Enriched Caregiving
Paseos / Going for a walk
Cantar una canción / Singing a song
Conversación / Conversation

15. The 3N (NMN) Strategy
notice
nudge
narrate
notar
motivar
narrar

16. The 3N Strategy
Lessons
Learned

17. Notice
I can tell that you’d like to zip your own coat today.
Nudge
Zip with one hand and hold your coat with the other.
Narrate
You’re making that zipper go up, up. Nice work!

18. Disclaimer: Joseph Sparling has a financial interest in LearningGames
The LearningGames curriculum has been a key component of all 3 of our longitudinal research projects
The LearningGames curriculum has been used in all of our research projects – and so is very closely linked with our research outcomes. At this point I need to make a disclaimer: I am part owner of MindNurture, the company that publishes LearningGames and provides LearningGames training.
Disclaimer: Joseph Sparling has a financial interest in LearningGames

19. 0 a 12 meses 0 to 12 months Lessons Learned
If you were to look in on an Abecedarian infant group you would expect teachers to…

20. Imite los pequeños ruidos que ella hace.
Copy the little sounds she makes.
Photographs © 2005 by MindNurture, Inc.

21. Use palabras y objetos para decirle lo que sucederá luego.
Use words and objects to tell what will happen next.
And you would expect to hear the teachers using language in very specific ways. Many caregivers just pick up children like a bag of potatoes and move them from one activity to another. But in the Abecedarian Program, the caregiver might say, “Here are the keys, we’re going in the car.” This language paired with objects helps the child begins to anticipate the next event, and, the child gets smarter.
Photographs © 2005 by MindNurture, Inc.

22. 12 a 24 meses 12 to 24 months Lessons Learned
In the 1-year-old Abecedarian class you would expect to see…

23. Cuando él señale una foto, dígale lo que es.
When he points to a picture, say what it is.
…adults using books in sensitive ways. (You’ll notice that some of these photos are of parents rather than caregivers or teachers. That’s because all the LearningGames activities are designed to be used in the home as well as at the Child Development Center.) In this activity the adults name the particular thing that the child happens to point to. They name that because it is what the child is currently paying attention to.
Photographs © 2005 by MindNurture, Inc.

24. Do an action while you are saying the word for it.
Acompañe la palabra que le diga con una acción
In the age-1 group you would also see the teachers acting out words with the children – to make sure the meaning is clearly understood.
Do an action while you are saying the word for it.
Photographs © 2005 by MindNurture, Inc.

25. 24 a 36 meses 24 to 36 months Lessons Learned
Now, let’s look at an age-2 group. About half of the LearningGames activities focus on social-emotional development so…

26. Provéale palabras para lo que él está sintiendo ahora
Give him words for how he’s feeling now.
…you would expect to hear adults helping the children understand their feels. “That big dog scared you. Let’s snuggle for a minute until you feel calmer.”
Photographs © 2005 by MindNurture, Inc.

27. Hágale preguntas usando “que pasa si”
Ask her “what if ” questions.
And you would hear “what if” questions that are designed to stimulate cognitive growth. “What if we put you shoes on before your socks?”
Photographs © 2005 by MindNurture, Inc.

28. Lectura con conversación Conversational Book Reading (Interactive Book Reading)
So, what does the Abecedarian approach do regarding reading? A lot.
Photographs © 2005 by MindNurture, Inc.

29. Levels of Child Response
The 3S (3M) Strategy
Lessons
Learned
see     mirar
show mostrar
say mencionar
Levels of Child Response

30. Use these 3 levels of child response like stair steps
Lessons
Learned
SAY
SHOW
SEE

34. Once you learn to use the 3S Strategy with the Conversation Books…
Lessons
Learned
Once you learn to use the 3S Strategy with the Conversation Books…
…you can apply the 3S Strategy to almost all other books

35. What are the research results from a program like this?

36. Preschool Results (Birth to Age 5)
Lessons
Learned
Preschool Results (Birth to Age 5)

37. % of Sample in Normal IQ Range (>84) by Age (longitudinal analysis)
Abecedarian Project
% of Sample in Normal IQ Range (>84) by Age (longitudinal analysis)
Martin, Ramey, & Ramey, 1990, American Journal of Public Health

38. Post-High School Education for Teen Mothers
Abecedarian Project
Post-High School Education for Teen Mothers
Ramey et al, 2000, Applied Developmental Science

39. Lessons
Learned
School Results

40. Reading Achievement Over Time
Abecedarian Project
Reading Achievement Over Time
Campbell & Ramey, 2001, Developmental Psychology

41. Retentions and Special Education Placements by Age 15
Abecedarian Project
Retentions and Special Education Placements by Age 15
Ramey & Ramey, 1999, MR/DD Research Review

42. Lessons
Learned
Early Adult Results

43. Abecedarian Project Risk-taking and Criminal Activity
(Self-reported Data)
Campbell, Ramey, et al, 2002, Applied Developmental Science

44. Percent in Skilled Job or Higher Education at Age 21
Abecedarian Project
Percent in Skilled Job or Higher Education at Age 21
Campbell, Ramey, et al, 2002, Applied Developmental Science

45. Age at Birth of First Child
Abecedarian Project
Age at Birth of First Child
Campbell, Ramey, et al, 2002, Applied Developmental Science

46. Our Most Recent Research Results
Lessons
Learned
Our Most Recent Research Results

47. LearningGames Research in 8 US Cities
Infant Health and Development Program
LearningGames Research in 8 US Cities
Their product is a LOT cheaper than the one you mentioned.
Their product is a LOT cheaper than the one you mentioned.
Pediatrics, Volume 117, Number 3, March 2006

48. LearningGames Research in 8 US Cities
Infant Health and Development Program
LearningGames Research in 8 US Cities
Low birthweight babies
Home visiting from birth – 12 months
Home visiting & Abecedarian child care from 12 – 36 months
Enriched caregiving, LearningGames curriculum, and Conversational reading

49. LearningGames Research in 8 US Cities
Infant Health and Development Program
LearningGames Research in 8 US Cities
Positive effect for the LearningGames group with bwt. of g. seen at:
24 months
36 months
5 years
8 years
18 years

50. LearningGames Research in 8 US Cities
Infant Health and Development Program
LearningGames Research in 8 US Cities
Positive effects seen at age 18 in:
Math
Vocabulary (cognition)
Fewer risk-taking behaviors

51. Infant Health and Development Program
Curriculum (LearningGames) Variables Predict Positive 36-month Child Outcomes
High parent interest in the games
Child mastery of games
Number of games implemented with child
Sparling et al., 1991, Topics in Early Childhood Special Education
Liaw, Meisels, & Brooks-Gunn, 1995, Early Childhood Research Quarterly

52. McCormick, et al., 2006, Pediatrics
Infant Health and Development Program (Children born between 2000 and 2500 grams) Cognitive Development to Age 18
McCormick, et al., 2006, Pediatrics

53. Lessons
Learned
“The heart of early education is a series of stimulating, playful, adult-child interactions”
Joseph Sparling

54. Each LearningGames activity describes an adult-child interaction (on a single page, front and back)
Lessons
Learned

55. Lessons
Learned

56. Lessons
Learned

57. Lessons
Learned

58. A A B Shanker: Noticing patterns
Lessons
Learned
A A B Shanker: Noticing patterns

59. Lessons
Learned

60. El programa Abecedario puede implementarse en:
Lessons
Learned
Centros de cuidado infantil
Hogares de cuidado y educación infantil
Programas de Visitadores de Hogares
Clases educativas para padres
Cuidado a cargo de miembros de la familia, amigos y parientes
Campañas de información pública

61. You can use all or parts of the Abecedarian program in:
Lessons
Learned
You can use all or parts of the Abecedarian program in:
Child care centers
Family child care homes
Home visiting programs
Parent education classes
Family, friends, and relative care
Public awareness campaigns

62. Lessons
Learned
Investment in child development in the first 5 years of life can yield significant, long term benefits for children, families, and community

63. Joseph Sparling, Ph.D. Georgetown University & University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill MindNurture, Inc. phone: