This paper reports on the development and validation of the Assessment Profile: Research Version, an observation checklist containing 87 items that reflect developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood programs. The Assessment Profile provides quantitative measures of classroom environments and teaching practices which facilitate the…

A practicum was conducted at a rural hospital-subsidized child development center to reduce the inappropriate responses of teachers in meeting the needs of children from 6 weeks to 6 years of age. Informal observations indicated that staff members of the center were not using child development knowledge in guiding and responding to children. The…

In 1991, the Worcester (Massachusetts) Public Schools received a grant to provide services to maintain the early benefits attained by Head Start children. One part of the program is advancement of a developmentally appropriate curriculum. A study was undertaken to examine the effects of investing substantial resources in classrooms in four schools…

This technical assistance paper examines the importance of planning the physical preschool environment and its impact on the child's total development. The two main aspects of the physical environment which are discussed in detail are creating areas of interest in the classroom, and planning the outdoor environment. Issues explored in creating…

This packet contains four separate documents designed to help elementary schools develop their own action plans for implementing the KERA (Kentucky Education Reform Act) Primary Program, a developmentally appropriate program for young children supported by the Kentucky Department of Education. Fully implemented primary programs are to include the…

Based on observations of hundreds of school-age child care programs across the nation and conversations with parents, children, and professionals in school-age care, this videotape and viewers' guide is intended to help parents, caregivers, and interested citizens to develop quality school-age programs in their communities. The materials are…

Based on observations of hundreds of school-age child care programs across the nation and conversations with parents, children, and professionals in school-age care, this training guide is intended to help parents, caregivers, and interested citizens to develop quality school-age programs in their communities. The guide begins by summarizing an…

The UT-ADAPT (University of Toledo-Associates for Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Teaching) Academy for Early Childhood Education and Teacher Preparation in Ohio consists of teachers, university faculty, agency service providers, health care professionals, administrators, parents, and community leaders who share goals for early childhood…

Noting that when planning a program for 2-year-olds, it is important for the teacher to consider the developmental levels and interests of the children, this book offers teachers a practical guide for working with 2-year-olds in a child care setting. The 15 chapters focus on the following areas: (1) designing a flexible and responsive environment…

This paper maintains that the two basic dimensions of developmentally appropriate practice are age appropriateness and individual appropriateness. For the latter dimension, individuals' patterns of growth, personality, families, and culture are believed to be important. Teachers who use developmentally appropriate practices believe that young…

In fall, 1988, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) in Alexandria, Virginia selected 12 districts to comprise an Early Childhood Consortium. Consortium members attended two meetings a year for 3 years; received assistance in such areas as child-centered instruction and developmental curricula; planned an exemplary…

This report describes Kentucky's Primary School Program, which was developed after the signing of the Kentucky Education Reform Act in 1990. An overview of the report explains the philosophy of the program and lists its critical attributes. These are: (1) developmentally appropriate practices; (2) multi-age classrooms; (3) continuous progress; (4)…

This paper discusses teaching with a multicultural perspective in early childhood education. It is emphasized that a major goal of multicultural education is to help children become accustomed to the idea that there are many lifestyles, languages, cultures, and points of view. Other topics include negative stereotypes and the influence that early…

This practicum report describes a 13-week intervention that facilitated the participation of parents of 16 preschoolers in the instruction of their children. Objectives of the intervention were that: (1) parents and children would participate in take-home projects and workshops; (2) parents and children would increase the amount of time they spent…

A study identified and analyzed exemplary and effective programs available in Canada for kindergarten students. The broad-based research team included members from faculties of education, boards of education, early childhood education programs, a research consulting firm, child development researchers, and teacher-practitioners. The study began…