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Tabea Grad M.A.

Department of Early Childhood Education

Research Associate

Address
Habelschwerdter Allee 45
Room KL 23/209
14195 Berlin

Office hours

Office hours are held by appointment.

Curriculum Vitae

M.A. Tabea Grad

2016–2017

Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr in a nursery (children under 3 years)

2017–2022

Bachelor of Arts in Educational Science, specialisation in Early Childhood Education, Universität Koblenz-Landau

2018–2021

Bachelor of Arts in Educational Science, specialisation in Early Childhood Education, Universität Koblenz-Landau

2021–2022

Student research assistant at the Institut für Bildung im Kindes- und Jugendalter, Universität Koblenz-Landau, in the project "Mit Kindern im Gespräch – Reflexionskreislauf", a structuring aid for analysing interaction behaviour in daycare centres and schools, and production of videos in language-promotion situations with children for the further training of educational professionals

2022–2025

Master of Arts in Educational Science, specialisation in Early Childhood Education at the Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität (RPTU)

2022–2023

Support at the Institut für Bildung im Kindes- und Jugendalter, Early Childhood Education department at RPTU, providing feedback and recording submissions in a tutoring capacity for student assignments across various Early Childhood Education seminars

2022–2023

Qualified pedagogical professional in a childcare centre (children aged 1 to 6 years)

2023–2024

Student research assistant at pädquis Stiftung b. R., contributing to projects including the "Evaluation des Landesprogramms zur Förderung von Kindertagesstätten mit sorbischen/wendischen Bildungsangeboten in Brandenburg", the implementation of the pilot phase of the observation instrument "Meine Kompetenzen auf dem Weg zum Schulanfang" (Mika) in the state of Brandenburg, and the evaluation of the Kindertagesförderungsgesetz (KiTaG) in Schleswig-Holstein

2024–2025

Research assistant at pädquis Stiftung b. R., contributing to projects including an expert report commissioned by the BMBFSFJ on "The effects of daycare attendance on children's development", the evaluation of the KIFA educational programme, and a quality and impact study on the "ABC der Tiere – Fit für den Schulbeginn" materials

Seit 2025

Research associate at Freie Universität Berlin in the Early Childhood Education and Care department and the General Educational Science department

Memberships

Associate member of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Erziehungswissenschaft (DGfE), Section 2: Allgemeine Erzeihungswissenschaft, Section 8: Sozialpädagogik und Pädagogik der frühen Kindheit

SoSe 2026

Co-decision-making and Co-thinking: Participation and Democracy Education in Early Childhood - Seminar

Children have a right to participate, yet there is often a significant gap between this legal entitlement and the reality of daily life in childcare centers and educational settings. This seminar explores the theoretical, legal, and empirical foundations of participation and democracy education in early childhood and in childcare centers: from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child through concepts of participation and democracy education to methods (how participation succeeds), its limitations (where participation degenerates into a mere gesture), and the question of how and where children participate in decision-making, contribute their ideas, and are taken into account. In the final third of the seminar, (small) groups will develop a practical tool for active participation—such as an informational brochure for parents/guardians, a workshop for early childhood educators, or a daycare website on participation and/or democracy education in early childhood—and present it (the format and style are fully negotiable). Participation becomes a guiding principle: The seminar itself serves as a space for negotiation between students and the instructor and employs participatory teaching formats.

WiSe 2025/26

Institutionalization of Education - Seminar

The seminar provides an overview of key learning environments in early childhood - early childhood education settings (Kita) and the family. On the one hand, it examines the historical development of these learning environments. On the other, it discusses current developments in the early education system.

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Development and Education - Seminar

This seminar covers fundamental terms, theories, and concepts in general education. The focus is on the core concepts of upbringing, education, and socialization, as well as their interrelationships.

The seminar begins with the students’ everyday understanding of the three core concepts and concludes with a theory-based understanding of these concepts, drawing on the conceptual understandings discussed at the beginning of the block seminar. Based on classic texts in educational theory (including Kant and Humboldt), fundamental ideas about education and socialization are placed in their historical context and critically examined. In addition, more contemporary educational science perspectives are examined, such as education as influence/interaction, parenting styles in different social milieus, education as transformation, and socialization theory(ies). In this way, the historical perspective is linked to more recent academic debates.

The block seminar provides space for individual questions and in-depth discussions.


Publications

2024

Kluczniok, K., Grad, T., Schneider, M., & Faas, S. (2024). Expertise „Auswirkungen von Kindertagesbetreuung auf die kindliche Entwicklung“. pädquis Stiftung. https://www.fruehe-chancen.de/themen/qualitaetsentwicklung/auswirkungen-von-kindertagesbetreuung-auf-die-kindliche-entwicklung