3a is an evidence-based approach to teaching and learning that supports early childhood educators and parents to improve educational outcomes for children from birth to five.
Elements of the Abecedarian Approach Australia (3a)
The 3a approach consists of four elements embedded within the overarching concept of Language Priority.
Language Priority
Commitment to make every interaction an opportunity for talking, listening, and learning language
Enriched Caregiving
Intentionally adding educational content to daily care routines, rituals, and transitions
Conversational Reading
Individual and paired reading that emphasises back and forth communication and joint attention
LearningGames®
200 Learning Games that engage an adult and one or two children in play-based learning
Professional Learning
The Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne is at the forefront of 3a strategy Australia-wide and offers three levels of 3a professional learning delivered by FoE specialists.
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3a Practitioner
In person/Online
3 days
Become certified and skilled in implementing 3a strategies to support quality teaching and strong child learning outcomes.
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3a Affiliate Trainer
In person/Online
1 day
Pre-requisite: certified 3𝑎 Practitioner training
3a Affiliate Trainers are able to lead practitioner-level training within their organisations to build and maintain the quality of 3a at an organisational level.
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3a Coach
In person/Online
1 day
Pre-requisite: certified 3𝑎 Practitioner training
3a Coaches are well equipped to coach and mentor early childhood professionals in the implementation of 3a within your organisation.
Organisational Coaching and Implementation Support
3a specialists from the University of Melbourne can offer customised coaching support to certified 3a Practitioners, Coaches and organisations to implement 3a strategies with fidelity.
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3a Practitioner coaching
Pre-requisite: certified 3𝑎 Practitioner training
Dedicated support for 3a Practitioners to plan for and implement 3a teaching strategies.
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3a Coach coaching
Pre-requisite: certified 3𝑎 Coach training
Coaching sessions for certified 3a Coaches supporting educators in their organisation to effectively implement 3a teaching strategies.
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Organisational 3a coaching
Pre-requisite: certified 3𝑎 Practitioner or Coach training
Organisations work with 3a specialists to develop an evidence-informed approach to embedding and sustaining 3a strategies.
Customised 3a coaching programs
University 3a specialists can offer bespoke evidence-informed support to organisations to implement 3a. Make an inquiry to discuss this with a university 3a specialist.
About the program
The Abecedarian Approach Australia (3a) are a suite of evidence informed adult-child interactions that are proven to impact young children’s learning outcomes and the quality of adults’ interactions with children. 3a is based on the Abecedarian Approach, an a landmark study in North Carolina that provided Ianguage rich play-based adult child interaction strategies for children and their families from birth to five years of age. The approach is made up of conversational reading, enriched caregiving and learning games which use portable, intentional and play-based interactions that have positively shaped children’s holistic development and engagement in learning in early years education and throughout their educational journeys.
In Australia, the approach has been adapted to reflect a range of local contexts, and is implemented in a range of early childhood education and care settings including playgroups, long day care and kindergartens to support educational programs and practices and partnerships with families. The intent and content of the program reflects and aligns with contemporary national, state and local early childhood policy frameworks and priorities.
The 3a approach provides structure and purpose to our FaFT program, enabling us to intentionally support families to learn and grow together. Tanika Collins (Family Educator) Minyerri FaFT