These six theme-oriented newsletter issues present specific curriculum planning ideas and activities for teachers of young children. The theme of the January/February 1996 issue is "Children's Literature." This issue focuses on library utilization, props, telling and creating stories, and bookmaking for children. The theme of the…

This paper examines the prevailing theoretical orientation of the "free play" curriculum in New Zealand child care centers. It also introduces an alternative way of understanding how children learn and discusses a literacy-centered curriculum that uses aspects of the free play and alternative curricula. Child care centers in New Zealand…

El Arco Iris is a supplementary pre-school program for Hispanic 4- and 5-year-old children and their parents. The Brownsville (Texas) Independent School District operates the program. Ninety-five percent of the kindergarten children in this district begin school speaking little or no English and median family incomes are among the lowest in the…

An Oklahoma program trained preschool teachers to interact with families of Seminole and Chickasaw children enrolled in Head Start. The program focused on integrating American Indian culture and mathematics. Head Start staff were trained in developmentally appropriate mathematics instruction, with an emphasis on employing culturally relevant…

This study of 119 preschool programs in 5 states was designed to describe the classroom experiences of economically or educationally disadvantaged 4-year-old children and to examine linkages between characteristics of early childhood programs and the activities of the children and teachers in the classroom. Chapters 1 and 2 describe the context…

"Second Step" for preschoolers and kindergartners is a curriculum kit designed to reduce impulsive and aggressive behavior in young children and to increase their levels of social competence by teaching skills in empathy, impulse control, and anger management. The kit, which is part of a series that includes curricula for grades 1-3,…

This report describes a course on early childhood education methodology and practice that was held at the Ministry of Education in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for 35 Ethiopian early childhood educators and administrators. In addition to presenting developmental profiles of preschool children, the 3-week course addressed philosophies of early childhood…

This preschool curriculum was developed by a local task force in Lower Kuskokwim School District, Alaska. The task force based their work on the book "Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8," on input from district parents of young children, and on the recommendations of a…

The Sam Houston State University Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa used a 32-item questionnaire to collect discrete data on early childhood programs in Texas. Also collected were individuals' impressions, attitudes, and readiness plans for early childhood program expansion. The survey was a response to legislative developments, particularly a 1990 Texas…

This program is designed to be an extension of the regular curriculum providing preschool children with a firm foundation and life-long appreciation for space and space-related topics. The program delivers both classroom and at-home family activities which emphasize age-appropriate language, math, art, science, nutrition, and health concepts…

Many more bilingual preschool programs are needed. Bilingual programs provide an environment where language minority students acquire English. Bilingual educators use innovative as well as time-tested methods to expose students to the English language. Instruction in and through the minority language assists students in developing the academic…

The purpose of this paper is to provide information about the current status of available programs, research findings related to quality programs, and issues surrounding programs for 4-year-old children. The paper is intended as a resource for multiple audiences, including decision makers, legislators, regulatory administrators, advocates,…

The concept for the piloting of a contemporary early childhood kindergarten in China was visualised by the chief executive officer of TMC Academy, Dr Chin, in July 2002 when he participated in a Singaporean-led mission to Liaoning Province in China. Shenyang Creative Kindergarten is the result of that concept. It opened for children in September…

Incorporating elements of humanist, Piagetian, psychodynamic, and behaviorist perspectives of child development, this guide for preschool teachers explores several topics related to curriculum planning for 4-year-old children. Chapter 1 points out the significance of the curriculum study, defines terms, and identifies assumptions and limitations…

Developed by the United States Department of Agriculture's SPEAC (Student Parent Educator Administrator Children) for Nutrition Demonstration Project, these four nutrition education curriculum components are designed to promote health and beneficial nutrition practices among preschool children. The SPEAC Preschool Unit is divided into three…