This study examined parental actions that contribute to the highly academic education of young children. Findings showed that mothers who believed in early adult-directed instruction and high performance standards selected out-of-home activities that supported those beliefs. These mothers brought a notable degree of directiveness to bear on their…

Examines the changes in one preschool program's organization and daily routines as a beneficial result of a sudden loss of the program's site and subsequent movement into portable facilities. Concludes that the more relaxed and cooperative atmosphere, and simpler, more open-ended materials led to fundamental rethinking of the relationship of…

Presents suggestions for integrating children's literature with mathematics and science activities for early-childhood settings. Delineates project topics and curriculum ideas for coordination with six children's books. Includes list of 39 books appropriate for young children and related to mathematics and science. (KB)

Examined impact of three preschool models identified through cluster analysis of teacher-survey responses on 4-year olds' development and basic-skill mastery. Found that children in the child-initiated model demonstrated greater skill mastery than children in programs emphasizing academics and skill instruction. Children in the combination model…

Discusses the Montessori music curriculum, describing a series of lesson plans to present a comprehensive view of music in the classroom. Describes selecting simple melodies, integrating music into the day, using songs to initiate deeper studies in all parts of the prepared environment, teaching singing, and encouraging children to write their own…

Summarizes research on the impact of all-day kindergarten on academic achievement and behavior. Examines parents' and teachers' attitudes toward all-day kindergarten. Reviews research on curriculum in all-day kindergartens. Concludes that all-day kindergarten impacts positively on academic achievement and behavior and that parents and teachers…

Recounts a unique literacy project for the early childhood classroom that integrated pictures, oral histories, and print to create a name storybook. Notes how children began to recognize their own names in writing and the names of their fellow students, were exposed to diverse cultures, and encouraged parental involvement. Includes written…

Describes six projects used in a Hong Kong kindergarten to illustrate key ingredients of the project method. Shows how a thematic approach combined with the use of projects can enable children to be self-motivated learners equipped with the skills to conduct in-depth investigations. Includes list of children's books for projects about shoes and…

Discusses how "cute" projects--as offered in traditional early childhood classrooms--insult children's intellects, mistake doing with learning, often miseducate, and undermine professionalism and educational equity. Describes a continuum of professional development ranging from cute learning experiences to those that are more…

Presents a historical overview of preschool education in Singapore. Focuses on the custodial services of the creches organized through the social-welfare department and on the postwar development of kindergartens as a community service offered through the Ministry of Education and child-care centers under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of…

Asserts that regardless of the method used to teach reading, children first need a strong basis in phonemic awareness. Describes phonemic awareness, differentiates it from phonics, and presents available research findings. Advises on the development of phonemic awareness and creation of a classroom environment supportive of its development. (SD)

"Ready, Set, Leap!"[R] is a comprehensive preschool curriculum that focuses on early reading skills such as phonemic awareness, letter knowledge, and letter-sound correspondence using multi-sensory technology that incorporates touch, sight, and sound. The "Ready, Set, Leap!"[R] curriculum is available in English and Spanish.…

A survey was conducted to measure the attitudes and beliefs of parents of preschoolers about child sexual abuse prevention programs. Surveys were distributed to parents at various programs serving 3- to 5-year-old children in a Colorado community. The survey gathered information on parents' demographic characteristics, involvement in prevention…

This practicum paper describes a fantasy play program designed for 3- and 4-year-old preschoolers with Barbie dolls that could be used as a tool in regularly scheduled center play activity. Because of strong biases held by teachers against commercial toys, children were not afforded the ability to experiment with these tools, or discover the role…

This study sought to compare educationally-oriented preschools and care-oriented preschools in Bahrain. Children's progress was compared in an effort to measure the relative quality of the preschools. Twelve preschools were assessed through observations of child and staff behaviors utilizing the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS).…