Although there is considerable evidence that kindergartners in child-centered programs have more opportunities to increase prosocial behavior and are more internally motivated than children in basic skills programs, the efficacy of child-centered versus basic skills programs with regard to prosocial behavior has not been examined among preschool…

This paper describes a 2-year project establishing an interpretive community of field-based teacher researchers and a university-based teacher researcher at four urban preschools in San Francisco, California. The primary research focus of the project is an examination of practical and theoretical connections between current notions of…

Educators are placing increasing emphasis on developing literacy requirements for young children. This book reviews research on emergent literacy among preschool and kindergarten children and provides suggestions for kindergarten teachers to create instructional programs that enhance children's literacy learning and to avoid developmentally…

Examines possible relationships between student achievement and implementation of middle-level program concepts within 10 middle/junior high schools of a large, urban school district. Middle-level programming was positively related to student achievement, although relationships were small, considering the overall influence of past achievement.…

Explores the feasibility of developing guidelines for developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) in early childhood teacher education, based on DAP principles for young children. DAP higher education practices include facilitation of identity development, respect for student interests, and social accountability. Components of DAP in higher…

Addresses the benefits of multiage grouping of primary students in small, rural schools. Reports on a survey indicating that 20 of 49 school districts in a rural state employed multiage grouping. Stresses the importance of considering child development when implementing multiage grouping, and concludes that multiage grouping may be the future of…

Examined Greek kindergarten teachers' beliefs and practices relative to the National Association of the Education of Young Children's position on developmentally appropriate and inappropriate practices. Administered questionnaire to 67 teachers, and used checklist as an observation measure to check validity of reported beliefs. Found various…

Used Q methodology and interviews to explore beliefs of 14 Hungarian teachers and 14 parents of children in preschool and Grade 1 (7 at each grade level) regarding developmentally appropriate practices (DAP), with follow-up interviews with 6 participants. Found that major viewpoints regarding DAP relate to focusing on children's individual…

Examines the role of playgrounds that use discarded items or "junk" as an integral part of kindergarten classes in an Israeli kibbutz. Suggests that play in the junkyard, by including the whole person--muscles and senses, emotion and intellect, individual growth and social interaction--can offer the experiential foundations on which…

Viewpoints of 119 preservice teachers were examined at beginning or end of programs in early childhood (ECED) or elementary education (ELED). Compared to ELED students, ECED students favored primary education practices more consistent with constructivist nature of NAEYC guidelines in several areas. Student teachers favored more frequent use of…

Describes how young children's perceptions of death relate to their stage of cognitive development. Discusses basic responsibilities of teachers regarding death education in early childhood settings: helping children feel safe while acknowledging the reality of death, promoting an accepting classroom atmosphere, and providing developmentally…

Examines the early childhood and primary learning environments and developmentally appropriate practices in light of the findings of brain research in the mid to late 1990s. Focuses on how the brain works, creating the optimal learning environment, developing classroom learning centers, and presenting meaningful learning experiences. Identifies…

A pre-kindergarten program serving poor urban Aboriginal families in Saskatchewan, Canada, used parent-created literacy boxes based on a topic of interest to their child and themselves. It was found that the literacy box experiment encouraged families to come into the classroom to read with their child, allowed the teacher to become more…

Describes the experiences of a bilingual kindergarten teacher implementing a whole-language approach. Emphasizes the importance of integrating writing into every activity. Proposes eight developmental writing stages, suggesting that those stages could help teachers and parents to set their expectations to meet children's level of development.…

Presents reasons and specific "how to" information for increasing the comfort level and learning possibilities for toddlers. Notes that toddler-sensitive child care recognizes that toddlers are distinct from infants and from preschoolers in terms of developmental characteristics. Lists characteristics of toddlers, ways to make child-care…