This practicum was designed to help principals who supervise school district prekindergarten classes become more knowledgeable about developmentally appropriate educational practices by using the Head Start On-Site Program Review Instrument (OSPRI). Inservice training was designed and presented in three segments and included an independent…

Position paper argues in favor of developmentally appropriate kindergarten programs. Paper examines program goals and content, and provides suggestions about learning environment, curriculum, and staff. Includes statements concerning purpose of kindergarten, importance of play in learning, and need for program support. (PCB)

One of the most important tasks in working with teachers is helping them develop their own abilities to create developmentally appropriate curriculum for young children. This paper reflects on, from two perspectives, the ongoing process of teachers developing an understanding of how children learn and how that process affects curriculum…

Inspired by Lilian Katz's lectures and books, the staff of Hollywood Elementary School in southern Maryland embraced Katz's philosophy of developmentally appropriate programs, project learning, and multiage grouping. This paper describes Hollywood's journey as a school community to implement these strategies, discussing the multiage organization…

Designed for use in in the home and in professional child-care settings, this program presents developmentally appropriate activities to support development of infants from 1 to 2 years of age. Each of the six 2-month long units contains 24 sets of activities call Activity Plans, with the suggestion to use three activity plans per week. Each unit…

The cornerstone of the High/Scope approach to early elementary education is the belief that active learning is fundamental to the full development of human potential and that active learning occurs most effectively in settings that provide developmentally appropriate learning opportunities. This guide and accompanying videotape are intended to…

Play therapy is based on developmental principles and, thus, provides, through play, developmentally appropriate means of expression and communication for children. Therefore, skill in using play therapy is an essential tool for mental health professionals who work with children. Therapeutic play allows children the opportunity to express…

Examines how postmodernist thinking can disrupt traditional beliefs about child development and appropriate practice by asserting a more critical and skeptical approach to knowledge and truth statements. Asserts that postmodernism, by opening up possibilities for multiple points of view, can be simultaneously daunting and liberating, and that…

Recommends Gail Gibbons' 117 nonfiction children's books for use in early childhood settings. Describes Gibbons' research and writing process, including the sources of her ideas for new books, her nontraditional research methods, and her methods of presenting information. (KB)

Examined whether activities in the preschool curriculum across Northern Ireland are more adult-directed or child-directed. Findings from observations of 71 preschool settings showed that the curriculum of most reception settings was more adult-directed, while most nursery schools, play groups, and private day nurseries adopted a child-initiated…

Discusses the critical role of the early childhood educator related to group and special needs assessment, individual abilities assessment, group and individual instruction, and communication with the K-12 educational system. Presents two scenarios describing early childhood teachers and their role in the delivery of exemplary early childhood…

Describes ERIC documents that discuss the training of child care staff. Topics include issues and needs in staff training; developmentally appropriate child care; school-age child care training packages; recruitment and training of temporary staff; and the mainstreaming of training guides and modules. (RJC)

Reflecting on her practice with one learner, an adult literacy tutor argues that, because literacy acquisition is the same for children and adults, practitioners must study literacy literature across age levels in order to provide programs that are developmentally appropriate and instructionally responsive. (SK)

Presents the Four E's curriculum model--Experience, Extension, Expression, Evaluation--which offers a framework for selecting and organizing appropriate curriculum for preschool and primary students. The model focuses on integrating curriculum but is also useful for planning a single unit, or whenever teachers want to evaluate the appropriateness…

Recounts an interview with Professor Amita Verma. Highlights Professor Verma's contributions to practice, research, and policy in early childhood education and development at the national level in India. Suggests sources of information and the influence of various leaders on early childhood education and care in India. Indicates that concern about…