High-quality early childhood education is more than just a warm, nurturing environment, it’s a place where young children are guided to think deeply, communicate clearly, and build the skills they need for lifelong success. One of the most critical elements of a strong early learning experience is instructional support, defined as, how teachers and caregivers apply scaffolding strategies both inside and outside the classroom to optimize motivation, instruction and student learning in an academic environment.
Instructional support, as measured by tools like CLASS® (Classroom Assessment Scoring System), includes Concept Development, Quality of Feedback, and Language Modeling.
Concept Development: Encouraging Thinking, Not Just Knowing
This dimension focuses on helping children go beyond rote learning. Instead of simply naming colors or counting objects, strong Concept Development involves asking open-ended questions like, “Why do you think the leaves fall in autumn?” or “What do you notice about the size of these blocks?”
Children are encouraged to:
- Make predictions and test ideas
- Solve problems
- Connect learning to real-life experiences
These kinds of experiences promote critical thinking, a skill that improves decision-making and enhances problem-solving, increases creativity and better self-understanding and can be attributed to lifelong success.
Quality of Feedback: Building Confidence and Understanding
Children learn best when they feel their ideas are heard and valued. Quality feedback means teachers don’t just say “good job”, they respond in ways that extend learning and deepen understanding.
For example:
- “You’re right, that puzzle piece fits because the shapes match, can you find another one with the same curve?”
- “Yes, that’s a big tower. What would happen if we added another block on top?”
This kind of feedback encourages persistence, supports learning from mistakes, and builds resilience, the ability to recover from difficulties and challenges in life and bounce back stronger, a crucial trait for school and life.
Language Modeling: Igniting Communication and Brain Development
Strong language modeling helps children develop the vocabulary, grammar, and communication skills they need to express themselves and understand others.
Effective teachers:
- Use rich, descriptive language
- Repeat and expand on what children say
- Engage in back-and-forth conversations
These practices help develop a child’s verbal reasoning (the cognitive ability to understand, interpret and evaluate written information) which is closely linked to reading and literacy outcomes later.
Create Impact!
Instructional support isn’t something that just happens in classrooms, it’s a partnership.
Families can nurture these same skills at home by:
- Asking open-ended questions during play and meals
- Encouraging children to explain their thinking
- Using rich language in everyday conversations
When educators and families work together to provide strong instructional support, children benefit in ways that reach far beyond the early years. They become curious thinkers, confident communicators, and enthusiastic learners.
As a community committed to young children, let’s recognize and celebrate the role of instructional support in shaping bright futures. Together, we can ensure every child can not only learn, but think, connect, and thrive.