The importance of learning new movement skills is shown in relation to learning folk dances. Folk dancing not only improves physical skills, but also results in an understanding and appreciation of the richness of other cultures. (JN)

This study describes responsibilities and training needs of paraeducators in physical education. Paraeducators (n = 138) employed in 34 midwestern schools received a 27-item questionnaire. Of the 138 paraeducators contacted, 76 responded, resulting in a 55.1% response rate. Only 16% of the total respondents (n = 76) reported receiving specific…

Technology tools that are used to help apply standards and benchmarks motivate physical educators to use new methods of teaching, and create new ways to provide students with direct formative feedback, the number one motivator for students. Direct formative feedback refers to verbal communication between the teacher and/or parent and student. The…

This document consists of four papers on the acquisition of writing skills by young children. The first paper provides a historical and developmental perspective on early writing. Children's development of manual dexterity is briefly overviewed and aspects of the educational approaches of Pestalozzi, Montessori, Chomsky, Rogers and Ashton-Warner…

Intended for the educator and recreator working with normal and exceptional children, the book provides an overview of perceptual motor terminology, development, and resources in addition to a state of the art paper. Presented are definitions of such terms as motor development, sensory motor development, and perceptual motor development.…

This book deals with the following areas: (a) basic motor development and readiness of the young child for movement activities, (b) learning and developmental theories commonly used in early childhood education, (c) instructional approaches for using movement as a learning modality, and (d) general educational implications which can be ascertained…

This booklet, designed for early childhood educators, describes young children's developmental sequences as they are related to music education and gives suggestions for age-appropriate musical activities. Special music environments, sound plays, and the teacher's role in helping a child discover music are examined. (SET)

Suggestions are offered to teachers with deaf-blind children in their classrooms. Guidelines touch upon general curriculum development principles and approaches for improving communication skills, cognitive development, social and emotional development, motor and self care skills, and sensory development. (CL)

The Orff Schulwerk Approach is an ordered framework in which children create speech, movement, and music as part of their daily learning processes. The approach entails movement training and movement forms, improvisation, dance, and music and language play. (JN)

Compares auditory/visual practice to visual/motor practice in spelling with seven elementary school learning-disabled students enrolled in a resource room setting. Finds that the auditory/visual practice was superior to the visual/motor practice on the weekly spelling performance for all seven students. (MG)

The study evaluated positional concepts and balance performance in 67 blind/visually impaired children, age 6-13, to determine the most important conditioning factors. The study also evaluated the effects of 2 pedagogical situations: 1 with more cognitive activity and less motor activity, and the other with more motor activity and less cognitive…

Relevant orientation and mobility (OM) skills for visually impaired infants foster sensory, motor, and conceptual development. OM personnel need to consider alternative teaching models, personnel preparation needs, sensory aids issues, and research issues. (DB)