2 Educational Effectiveness of a Vygotskian Approach to Preschool Education: A Randomized

The effectiveness of the Tools of the Mind (TOM) curriculum in improving the education of 3- and 4-year old children was evaluated by means of a randomized trial. The TOM curriculum, based on the work of Vygotsky, approaches learning as socially mediated by peers and teachers through a focus on play. The control group experienced an established district-created model described as a “balanced literacy curriculum with themes.” Teachers and students were randomly assigned to either treatment or control classrooms. Children (88 TOM and 122 control) were compared on cognitive, linguistic, and social-emotional growth. TOM was found to yield higher classroom quality and more growth in children’s language and social development. 1