Maintains that historically the mission of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has centered on overcoming the obstacles to achieving quality in early childhood programs. After recent debate, the mission statement was changed to call for facilitation of improvement of working conditions in the early childhood field.…

Describes the design, content, and delivery strategies of the Multidistrict Trainer of Trainers Institute (MTTI), which helps educators apply research findings on bilingual instruction. Reports survey responses of MTTI trainers and participants concerning the impact of MTTI on participants' classroom practices and peer coaching skills. Contains 30…

This paper examines school readiness practices, some of the assumptions behind the school readiness controversy, the efficacy research on these programs, legal issues related to school readiness practices, and how school readiness practices interfere with early intervention and the inclusion of all children in the schools. (Author/DB)

This qualitative study reports 5 themes in the preservice teaching experience of 10 preservice teachers which may reinforce traditional views of schooling and discourage understanding and addressing unique learning needs of academically diverse learners, such as gifted, remedial, and special education learners. (JDD)

A teacher discusses the negative effects of collective socialization on students in government controlled public schools. Suggested ways to deconstruct mass schooling include requiring educators in nonteaching positions to teach, simplifying the curriculum, making student learning relevant, keeping schools small and independent, getting rid of…

Analyzes one teacher's attempts to implement innovative assessment practices and a meaningful science curriculum that encouraged learning, in the face of traditional assessment expectations. Focuses on three dilemmas: maintaining student accountability in cooperative learning situations, evaluating lower-ability students on fixed standards while…

Reports on the Network for Experiential Projects and Adventure Learning, a two-year training program in Germany developed to prepare teachers to integrate elements of adventure education into their curricula. Program sequence consists of 12 workshops, divided into 5 levels, including a participant initiated adventure project. Includes participant…

Thirty-seven leading educators participated in a Delphi technique survey regarding future directions in education of students with disabilities, focusing on inclusion and integration, labeling and classification, personnel preparation, instruction and services, and research. Respondents predicted that increasing inclusion will occur, and teachers…

Despite the success of Japan's educational system in terms of academic achievement, a closer examination reveals a rigid system that discourages student expression and creativity, stresses conformity, ignores differences in student abilities, and supports an intensively competitive entrance system for high school and college. Discusses negative…

Describes the effort of a middle-school teacher to incorporate heterogeneous grouping into her math class. One day per week, heterogeneously grouped math students worked in teams to solve and present solutions to different kinds of logic problems. Suggests that flexibility and freedom to be creative are the keys for incorporating new ideas into…

Examines the transition of youth with disabilities from high school to employment in 15 small rural Wisconsin school districts. Focuses on educational practices and employment outcomes. Program strengths included exposing students to a formal career curriculum, developing a student career plan, and incorporating vocational and career education…

This article identifies similarities in structures and practices between early intervention with infants and young children with disabilities and secondary/transition programs for adolescents and young adults with developmental delays or disabilities. These include horizontally administered, community-referenced, and consumer-driven services;…

Explores the importance of play in the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development of young children. Functional, constructive, and dramatic play, and games with rules, are examined. Suggests that play is a powerful curricular tool for the kindergarten and primary classroom. Investigates ways to integrate play into the curriculum and to…

The six chapters of this special issue focus on how and why educational research is, or is not, used by its intended audiences of policymakers, practitioners, and other educational researchers. Texts that accept the more traditional notions of research knowledge precede the more radical visions in this collection. (SLD)

Addresses differences between rural and urban communities in terms of family characteristics, home life, cultural values, social norms, and economic structures. Implications for rural special education include understanding the diversity of rural communities, developing relationship-based services, and considering ecocultural factors when…