Presents a model for using computers with 3- and 4-year-olds, and another for children 5 to 8. Covers developmentally appropriate computer activities, parent support, benefits to children, enlisting support from the school community, setting up a computer study group for school personnel, and teacher training through computer experience,…

Presents a draft for a principle-centered position statement of a Montessori early childhood program in central Pennsylvania, on the pros and cons of computer use in a Montessori 3-6 classroom. Includes computer software rating form. (Author/KB)

Defines the position of the Association for Childhood Education International on the role of kindergarten in a child's development. Provides specific information on the purpose of kindergarten, program goals, program content, program implementation, role of play, appropriate physical environment, textbook and material selection, kindergarten…

Argues that the single greatest resource to share and focus on with young children is language. Provides guidelines and specific titles for selection of books most appropriate for each stage of development: (1) for infants; (2) for toddlers and twos; and (3) for three-year-olds. Includes a buyer's directory guide for children's books. (SD)

Learning to read is one of the most critical and powerful achievements in life. Ensuring that all young children reach their potential in literacy development is the shared responsibility of many, though as emphasis is placed on establishing literacy leaders in many schools, literacy coaches and classroom teachers are being looked upon as having…

Play involves unstructured activity that is freely entered into and intrinsically rewarding. When children engage in play there is little intentional learning. There are no lesson plans. There are no daily objectives or specific learning outcomes. Incidental learning can cause relatively permanent changes in the way one thinks; accidental learning…

In this article, the author describes the four characteristics of effective middle schools: (1) Academic excellence; (2) Developmental responsiveness; (3) Social equity; and (4) Organizational Structure. An effective middle school should be a place of learning guided by people who have chosen to work with young adolescents, help them develop…

In the primary grades, literacy teachers often face dual and competing challenges. On one hand, they are expected to provide developmentally appropriate practice in a contextually-sensitive manner. On the other hand, they are often charged with using packaged literacy curricula that contains components that are developmentally inappropriate for…

Dramatic rises in youth violence in the United States beginning in the 1980s coupled with high visibility acts such as school shootings have resulted in a corresponding proliferation of programs designed to prevent aggression and violence in children and youth. Parallel with this increasing programmatic expansion, there have been repeated calls…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the critical attributes of mathematical software designed for children between the ages of four and seven. This study sought to offer guidelines that will assist software designers in the design of developmentally appropriate educational software. In addition, teachers and parents may benefit from this…

This Curriculum Guide provides practical curricular suggestions that correspond to the best practice indicators included in the Early Childhood Special Education Program Design and Evaluation Guide (EC-SPEED). Developed through funds provided by the Ohio Department of Education as one of several of EC-SPEED materials, it is based on the assumption…

This technical assistance paper answers the question, "How can quality education programs for young children be assured?" by addressing four issues: components of quality early childhood programs, measures to counteract pressures for inappropriate practices, types of early childhood programs, and program evaluation methods. The paper…

Children today are entering day care at younger ages than earlier generations, prompting concern at the differences between day care and home environments. This paper considers the infant classroom in a day care setting, discussing methods of teaching and learning designed to promote authentic learning in a natural educational environment.…

This report provides guidelines for developmentally appropriate school-age child care programming, based in part on standards developed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Part 1 outlines and discusses seven principles of developmentally appropriate school-age child care programs, which should strive to: (1) provide…

This sourcebook of over 100 Texas middle-school programs was developed to help educators implement intermediate-grade education concepts and practices in their schools. The volume is a companion publication to "Spotlight on the Middle: Report of the Texas Task Force on Middle School Education." The introduction mentions two offices in…