Presented is a curriculum guide for preschool handicapped children revised by a summer workshop group of 30 teacher trainees. Part One is an overview of basic considerations in developing, organizing and administering early childhood programs. Provided are checklists for identifying such handicaps as behavior disorders, learning disabilities and…

This booklet contains materials designed to help parents develop "parenting" skills during the years when the child is at home prior to entering school. Areas covered by the materials include rainy day activities, home safety, nutrition and health, creativity in young children, baby sitters, various aspects of child development, family crises, and…

Educational experiences which facilitate the development of original thinking and learning are (1) the "open system" of education which stresses freedom at home and at school; (2) the emphasis on sensory awareness of the environment; (3) the development of curiosity and sense of wonder; (4) the growth of imaginative powers and original thinking…

Teachers should foster in children's writing the use of words with "sparkle" and "spin"--"sparkle" implying brightness and vitality, "spin" connoting industry, patience, and painstaking work. By providing creative listening experiences with good children's or adult literature, the teacher can encourage students to broaden their imaginations and…

This study explored teacher perceptions toward giftedness among rural children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, before and after staff development. The study also explored the influence of staff development on teacher-designed instructional strategies to nurture giftedness. Five teachers at a K-4 school in rural Arkansas participated…

An overview of early childhood education discussing its role in stages of life, current trends, teacher training, and international organizations introduces a 371-item international annotated bibliography covering selected reference works, linkages to lifelong education, integration, creative and psychomotor development, play and preparation for…

Increasing concern in art education for the student's learning needs in both cognitive and affective domains requires that attention be given to more than "products" developed. The creative learning process is strengthened by attention to personal as well as product outcomes. (Author/MLW)

Fifty-one very bright adolescents participated in a productive-thinking program and a challenging course in either creative writing or the social sciences. The program produced significant gains in verbal intelligence scores. The productive-thinking program also significantly raised scores on measures of creativity. (Author/GDC)

Examines the impact of creativity training--emphasizing experimentation, ideal development, positive interaction, and empathetic responses--upon teacher empathy and interaction with students. Concludes that after training, teachers were more open to student ideas and responses, reinforced students, allowed more experimentation, and listened to…

This article explores the use of a computer art program to teach creative decision-making skills to students with moderate mental retardation (ages 16 to 21). Learning characteristics of this population are described. Benjamin Bloom's taxonomy of cognitive skills is applied to help students progress from concrete to abstract thinking. (DB)

Considers both teacher-initiated and child-initiated strategies for enhancing young children's self-expression and creativity, based on the philosophy of the preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Discusses how the classroom can be modified to best support children's emerging creativity. (HTH)

A simulation study with 96 students at 3 schools of fashion design demonstrated that more creative output was obtained from subjects who had more choice in selecting problems on which to work; took more time to perform the task; had more training; expressed positive feelings about their work; and attended the school with the best reputation. (DB)

In this special section on creativity and learning, several articles discuss practices of schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Topics include the role of reciprocity between child and adult in creative learning; the importance of play for adults; and ideas directors can use to help teachers translate creativity into classroom practice. (AC)

Describes the early childhood system in Reggio Emilia, Italy, in which educators (1) ensure that children live in "a community of well-being"; (2) create a supportive environment; (3) respect individual rhythms; (4) maintain work areas for the visual arts; (5) respond flexibly to children; and (6) foster peer support. (AC)

Teachers (n=101) of undergraduate and graduate level courses in creativity were surveyed concerning their beliefs about creativity, their goals for a creativity course, and the course activities. The study found consistency in the description of the goals, experiences, assignments, and evaluation procedures valued by respondents. Tables detail…