This paper describes a 2-year project establishing an interpretive community of field-based teacher researchers and a university-based teacher researcher at four urban preschools in San Francisco, California. The primary research focus of the project is an examination of practical and theoretical connections between current notions of…

Introduces the Preschool Outdoor Environment Assessment Scale, an instrument to measure the quality of outdoor preschool child care environments that is being field-tested at 50 sites. Describes characteristics of five domains: (1) physical environment; (2) interactions; (3) activity areas; (4) program; and (5) teacher/caregiver role. (KB)

Teachers of preschool and kindergarten children from low-income families used the I Can Problem Solve (ICPS) program to help the children learn to think through and solve typical interpersonal problems with peers and adults. Compared to nontrained controls, the children exhibited fewer instances of impulsive and inhibited behaviors as observed in…

Reviews research on the use of computers in preschool and kindergarten classrooms and their effect on social development. Also discusses gender differences in computer use among young children and the effects of computer-based activities on the inclusion of children with disabilities. Implications for preschool curriculum are examined. (MDM)

Describes a study that employed a focus sample, cross-sectional design to explore the types of preschool experience available (preschool activities equating broadly to curriculum approaches) and whether variation in preschool experience affects core curriculum (English, science, mathematics) performance and classroom behaviors throughout primary…

Sixty-two preschool and kindergarten programs were examined with regard to various instructional practices. An observations protocol was developed to assess social and motivational effects of instructional practice in early childhood education programs. Program participants who had relatively high scores on the social context subscales had…

Stuffed animals provide comfort and security to children, and many Head Start teachers are putting this knowledge to work in the classroom. This article shows how to incorporate stuffed animals and puppets into the Head Start curriculum to help children deal with conflict resolution, separation anxiety, grief and loss, safety, and cultural…

Describes the development of a Head Start-public school partnership in Oregon from space sharing and mutually planned activities to coordinating a seamless transition between programs. Focuses on the joint use of the First Steps reading, writing, spelling, and oral language developmental continuums. Concludes that the newly articulated curriculum…

Assesses effectiveness of three preschool curriculum models by examining the lives of 68 23-year-olds randomly assigned to one such group as economically disadvantaged preschoolers. Young people experienced fewer emotional problems and felony arrests if they had attended a preschool program based on child-initiated learning activities geared to…

Presents six articles on brain research and child development: "Brain Research, Infant Learning, and Child Care Curriculum" (J. R. Lally); "The Thinking Brain" (P. Schiller); "Early Experiences Shape Social Development" (B. Caldwell); "Facing the Challenge of Motor Development" (P. Weikart); Language…

Discusses how to use computers to facilitate learning with young children in early care and education settings. Includes discussion of software selection, website selection, connections of software and websites to the curriculum, and computer selection. Lists strategies for facilitating equitable access, improving computer availability, and…

Documents the process of exploring the Reggio Emilia approach in Head Start classrooms in Iowa. Describes areas of exploration, including revising the classroom environments and daily schedules, using more documentation, instituting child-initiated projects, and collaborating on a deeper level with colleagues. Includes excerpts from children's…

Details a study of early-childhood-education teachers' practices and attitudes toward integrating multiculturalism in their classrooms. Discusses teachers' ratings of multiculturalism in education as an issue, their knowledge of multicultural issues and resources, the use of teacher-support agencies, and the effectiveness of programs. (JPB)

Explored philosophical bases of care and education among 41 British early childhood professionals. Found that child care staff's guiding principles tended to be specifically child-centered, while early childhood teachers and managers generated a broader range of principles incorporating aspects of curriculum and partnership. Found that…

Describes developmental interventions, attachment issues, curricular ideas, and nutritional considerations that can facilitate successful integration into U.S. early childhood environments of children adopted from overseas. Asserts that early childhood educators can nurture adopted children's development by arranging a conducive environment,…