This brief document provides information about the nationwide reading initiative, Reading First, in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Reading First is a focused effort to improve reading skills of students in kindergarten through third grade. First, information is provided on unique characteristics of the Reading First program and requirements…

Based on the policy premise that good quality preschool education is an important contribution to children's emotional, social, and intellectual progress, this book reports the findings of the Scottish Officer Educational Research Unit's research program, which looked at various aspects of preschool education in Scotland. The areas investigated…

The International Symposium on Early Childhood Education and Care for the 21st Century was held in Ruschlikon, Switzerland in 1999. Attending were 83 early childhood education professionals from 28 nations to develop international guidelines for the education and care of young children. This document contains shortened versions of the guidelines…

Noting ongoing difficulties in identifying the fundamental role of social studies in educating young children, this chapter focuses on how children begin to develop historical and geographic understanding. The chapter considers age-appropriate and developmental concerns and the role of national standards in history and geography. The chapter…

Assessed the relative effects through age 23 on young participants born in poverty of the High/Scope, Direct Instruction, and traditional Nursery School preschool curriculum models. Found against using Direct Instruction in preschool programs and for using a well-defined curriculum model based on child-initiated learning activities. (Author)

Reports on the development of a comprehensive education program "Step by Step: A Program for Children and Families" in Eastern and Central Europe and the former Soviet Union. Designed for young children from birth to age eight and their families, this program attempts to share U.S. teaching methods that promote democratic principles…

Examines definitions of inclusion, mainstreaming, and integration, focusing on developments within the United States. Reviews legislation leading to inclusion, the debate about use of inclusion in early-childhood special education, and the rationale and research supporting inclusion. Describes factors necessary for successful inclusion, including…

Reflects on purposes of education, emphasizing that motivation, locus of control, self-esteem, and causal attribution are vital components of a sensitive curriculum. Discusses the role of formal education and the state, ambiguities underlying formal education, and the need for a person-centered approach to curriculum. Concludes with assertions…

The curriculum presented in this guide focuses on enhancing the mental health of children in Head Start or in other comprehensive early childhood programs. The guide begins with two introductory sections: "Stress and Children," describing stressors in young children's lives, how children manifest stress, and teachers' role in mediating…

This report describes the first 3 years of three Excellent Beginnings projects from 1991 to 1994 funded by the Plan for Social Excellence, a private nonprofit foundation that creates or supports innovative pilot projects in education. Programs that are flexible and responsible to needs of individuals and communities, rather than system-wide…

This second volume of the Assessment, Evaluation and Programming System (AEPS) test and its associated curriculum describes the AEPS curriculum components for the developmental range from birth to three years. Section I describes the relationship between the AEPS test described in Volume 1 and the corresponding curriculum. Procedures for general…

Daycare directors in northern Canada, with little or no post-secondary education, face the difficulties of programming for children from diverse cultures. Directors often feel isolated in their small communities, and a lack of programming expertise and early childhood development training for them has become a concern. This practicum designed,…

Noting that a high-quality preschool program is one that promotes learning through rich play experiences, this book gives parents information needed to select the right preschool for their children. Chapter 1, "Thinking about Preschool," discusses questions parents ask, practical considerations, beginning the search, and the screening phone call.…

This study examined the decision-making processes of preschool teachers in creating developmentally appropriate practices. Five teachers of 4-year-old children in 3 private schools participated; these teachers' classrooms scored high on both the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale and the Classroom Practices Inventory. A model of preschool…

Preschool programs can and should be designed to incorporate comprehensive health and physical education. This monograph presents information which is useful to adults interested in increasing their knowledge of health, movement, and physical education as these areas relate to young children. The publication is organized into 14 chapters as…