This article examines the patterns and meanings of innovation in the activities of a group of retirees with an eye toward understanding the place and value of innovation in the aging process. Starting with a consideration of continuity theory, as a perspective that simply describes typical patterns of activity, and activity theory that prescribes…

For many young people, the "pipeline" to educational and economic success is truly broken. This report describes how some of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's education grantees in Atlanta are working to mend the pipeline for young people in their communities by connecting standards and expectations for learning from early childhood to college entry…

The purpose of this study was to determine if teachers who participated in a professional development program continued to learn about inquiry and inquiry teaching as they implemented inquiry in their classrooms. A qualitative design utilizing inductive analysis was used to investigate teachers' understanding and classroom implementation of…

Using previously unanalysed data from Norbert Elias's lost study of young workers in Leicester--the "Adjustment of Young Workers to Work Situations and Adult Roles" (1962-1964), and data from a subsequent restudy of the same respondents in 2003-2005, this paper focuses on three main themes. First, we critically examine the concept of…

This invited special issue of "Early Education and Development" presents research related to the Early Development Instrument (EDI; Janus & Offord, 2007), a community tool to assess children's school readiness at a population level. In this editorial introduction, we first sketch out recent trends in school readiness research that call for a…

This article is a commentary for the special issue on the Early Development Instrument (EDI), a community tool to assess children's school readiness and developmental outcomes at a group level. The EDI is administered by kindergarten teachers, who assess their kindergarten students on 5 developmental domains: physical health and well-being, social…

Applied research in psychology not only has contributed directly to societal advances but often has fostered basic research as well. Prominent examples are the programs directed by Yerkes in World War I to develop the Army Alpha test and several programs in World War II, including "The American Soldier" that assessed soldiers' attitudes during the…

The West Virginia Early Childhood Transition Initiative is an interagency systems change effort started in 1993 to develop a seamless system of service for children, ages birth to 5 years. The initiative's training and technical assistance component is known as Operation Tadpole. A state level steering committee coordinates the initiative on an…

Discusses various ideas being used to help children of European migrant workers adjust to frequent moves, often to new countries. Includes (1) reception teaching, (2) teaching language and culture of the native country, (3) educational reintegration, (4) development and distribution of teaching materials, and (5) teacher training. (CH)

A comprehensive curriculum-development program which covers grades K-12 can ensure a meaningful scope and sequence of experiences for gifted learners. The experience of the Gary Community School Corporation and other Indiana communities with such an approach is described. Eight steps from needs assessment to implementing the model are presented.…

Home/kindergarten transition activities comprise two distinct categories: those involving coordination or communication between school and preschool levels and those including parents as participants. Transition activities are more often found in schools with a prekindergarten program, a high poverty level among families served, and considerable…

Children of 8 and 11 years and college students were tested for reorientation of visual attention to a target following a cue. The first, but not the second, experiment showed an interaction between distance of target from fixation and stimulus onset asynchrony. The second experiment suggested children can orient attention through valid, neutral,…

The whole concept of articulation between elementary, middle level, and senior high foreign-language instructional programs is questioned, and a call is made for stronger examination and definition of such issues as instructional value, attrition rates, interdisciplinary instruction, and program continuity. (CB)

Summarizes the four planes of development and the role of Montessori education in each plane. Notes that there has been no full implementation of Montessori's ideas for adolescents. Maintains that adolescents will benefit from a Montessori adolescent program only if they have participated in previous Montessori programs. Describes how…

The curriculum continuity for students in isolated rural areas is affected due to the difficulty in getting teachers. Thus, there is a lack of cultural events such as musical performances that hinder students' horizons as a result of this geographical isolation.