Dr. Yash Bhagwanji is an Associate Professor and the CCEI Coordinator of Early Childhood Programs at Florida Atlantic University. He received his Ph.D. in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to FAU, Dr. Bhagwanji coordinated the Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education Programs, served as the Co-Director of the Family Support Center, and was the recipient of several national and state-funded grants to conduct research and improve access to quality early care and education while at the University of Louisville in Kentucky.

Dr. Bhagwanji’s research is clustered around:

• The complex associations among families and wider social systems that impact children’s health, development, and education ( Early Academic Learning Problems of Jamaican Children: Possible Family Influences, Enabling Families of Children with Disabilities to Better Access Quality Child Care, Parent Involvement in Preschool Programs for Children At Risk for Academic Failure, Stress Profile of Peruvian Parents Caring for Children with Autism)
• Professional development of educators in early childhood and special education (An Innovative Cross-Cultural In-service Training Model: Findings from a Multi-Year Project)
• Early childhood environmental education, investigating strategies and policies that impact the well-being of all (Early Childhood Environmental Education Rating Scale)

Links of interest of his involvement in academic and public communities:

• Executive Editor of the International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education
• Advisory Editor for Asia Pacific Education Review Journal
• Culturally and Linguistically Sensitive Practices in Motor Skills Intervention for Young Children
• Digital Writing in the Literacy Curriculum: An Engaging Tool?
• Outreach Site for Project SPIES (Strategies for Preschool Intervention in Everyday Settings)
• Children Count 2012 Conference Presenter: Let’s Go Outside!
• National Grant Recipient to help low-income parents attend postsecondary education
• Community Outreach: Pine Crest School student field work
• Evaluator for National Grant: Ready to Read Project
• Webinar Presentation for NAAEE - National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education

Syllabi

EEC 3214 - Designing and Implementing a Blended Curriculum: Birth to Age Eight: This course focuses on designing and implementing developmentally appropriate, “blended,” curriculum and materials for young children birth through age 8, both typically developing and those with delays and disabilities. 10 hours of field experience required. (Sample syllabus)

EEC 4313 - Blended Early Childhood Methods: Birth-5: This course explores an organized approach to teaching young children with and without disabilities developmental, educational, and functional skills useful in natural environments including home and educational settings. Field Experience Required. (Sample syllabus)

EEX 3603 - Positive Behavioral Supports in Inclusive Early Childhood Settings: This course focuses on promoting positive behavior and reducing challenging behavior in children with and without disabilities from infancy to grade 3.  Methods and materials using research based developmentally appropriate practices will be covered. 8 hours of field observation are required. (Sample syllabus)

EEX 3754 - Building Family, Community, and School Partnerships: This course focuses on the skills necessary to create positive working relationships with families. Different approaches, methods and materials using research based developmentally appropriate practices will be covered. (Sample syllabus)