Bottom-Up View of Quality

In her article, "Looking at the Quality of Early Childhood Programs," in our CD Book, Taking Stock: Tools and Strategies for Evaluating Programs, Directors, Teachers and Children, Lilian Katz observes...

"The characteristics of a program that really predict its outcome are the answers to the bottom-up question, which is:  What does it feel like to be a child in this environment?

"Obtaining answers to this question is not easy!  It requires making the very best guess one can about how each individual child in this group experiences the program.  We can proceed by asking about the environment on behalf of each child:

• Is it welcoming rather than merely captivating?
• Do I belong in the group rather than merely have a good time?
• Am I usually accepted by adults rather than scolded?
• Am I taken seriously rather than just precious or cute?
• Am I usually accepted by some peers rather than isolated, neglected, or rejected?
• Are the activities meaningful rather than mindless?
• Are the activities engaging rather than amusing?
• Are the activities interesting rather than boring?
• Do I usually come here willingly rather than reluctantly?

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