This book reviews the contemporary state of knowledge on developmental transitions between 5 and 7 years. Contributions are: (1) "Interpreting Developmental Transitions" (Arnold Sameroff; Marshall Haith); (2) "The Child's Entry into the 'Age of Reason'" (Sheldon White); (3) "Is There a Neural Basis for Cognitive…

Case studies are presented of the induction and professional development of five young teachers, specifically focusing on the impact of structural and policy changes (external workplace environment) on the ideas of young teachers in schools (internal workplace environment). The case studies investigate issues of continuity and change in teachers'…

This report puts California's current efforts to find solutions to its problems of transfer and articulation in the broader context of national concerns. Following a brief summary and overview, part 1 sets forth a seris of conclusions and six recommendations for action by the University of California, the California State University, the…

This reaction paper offers evidence for the effectiveness of nondirective instructional models with special needs young children. The construct of "developmentally appropriate practice" is viewed as a working hypothesis and as a continuous variable, not a dichotomous variable. Relationships between early childhood education and early childhood…

Describes a preschool teacher's transition from a traditional kindergarten to a multi-age, multi-year (looping) program. Lists common complaints heard from more-traditional teachers receiving children from more-developmentally appropriate classrooms. Explains the importance of using whole language with quality children's books for Spanish-speaking…

A curriculum is a repertoire of learning experiences, planned and organized according to the program's educational goals. The curriculum development process of early childhood education differs in many ways from that of other levels of education. Intended for curriculum planners, education policy-makers and other early childhood education…

This practicum report describes the development and implementation of a middle school program in King and Queen County in Virginia's Middle Peninsula designed to improve the achievement of sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students whose achievement scores were consistently lower than national and state averages. A literature review and…

In Fiscal Year 1983 Louisiana's allotment for the education of children of migratory workers ($6,111,277) was used to conduct 37 regular school term programs and 15 summer school programs. An estimated 13,800 migrant children were served during the 1982-83 school year. Of all migrant children enrolled in Louisiana schools, 52.6% received services…

Investigated factors that played a role in mediating the effects of the government-funded Child-Parent Center preschool program in Chicago. Results indicated that preschool influenced later achievement and retention indirectly rather than directly. A social context view of the transmission of preschool effects was supported. (LB)

A 3-year research project commissioned in 1988 investigated Scottish probationer teachers' views of five aspects of their experience: initial training, recruitment and selection, induction, support, and assessment. Interviews and questionnaires were used to collect the views of 250 probationer teachers, their headteachers, other school staff,…

The purpose of this national policy conference was to discuss key issues and policy options in the care and education of young children, and to identify policy recommendations. At the conference, 116 speakers shared their expertise with each other and an additional 300 participants from 38 states. Speakers and participants represented a broad…

In response to the growing need for addressing continuity in children's learning at transition points, this package of staff development materials was developed to provide support, guidance, and contexts for discussion enabling early years and primary school staff in Scotland to reflect and share information about effective assessment and…

Explores the mismatch between pedagogical intentions and learner outcomes and argues for learner centeredness as a central (yet relative) concept. Ways in which the relationship between teachers and learners and teaching and learning can be strengthened, e.g., experiential content, language content, and learning process, are explored, and examples…

The pedagogical relationships existing between adult literacy and numeracy were examined in a study involving four data collection activities: historical review of development of the general concept of numeracy; semistructured interviews with adult educators and curriculum theorists, planners, and developers concerned with the relationships…

This book takes readers into the lives of urban and suburban adolescents for a close-up look at how they navigate the conflicting discourses and disciplinary practices of American cultural crosscurrents that flow through economic, kinship, religious, and political domains of American life. The book is distinctive in how it combines classic…