The purpose of this "Reading Aid" is to help teachers and other school personnel responsible for selecting readiness programs to evaluate those programs they are considering for selection. The programs reviewed here represent a cross-section of the many language and perceptual readiness programs available. The assumption underlying each of these…

This inventory is designed to assess the degree to which adults who are illiterate possess some of the more commonly acknowledged requisites to learning to read. Instructions for administering the inventory are provided in enough detail to insure a reasonably accurate assessment of visual discrimination and select cognitive abilities. The…

Examines the relationship between the development of cognitive processes and the effects of instruction on learning and transfer. The study suggests that instructional treatments should be designed in relation to the child's developing information processing strategies and his previous experience. Subjects were 482 fourth- and fifth-grade…

Reflects on what is to be done if a child is not ready for the standard first grade after a year in kindergarten. Proposes that elementary schools have developmental curricula that allow children to move through an ungraded system at a pace in keeping with their own development. (NH)

Studied children (N=152) who had resided in same school district for grades one through six to determine if birthdate had effect on academic achievement. Results showed in general that children born in later quarters of year performed less well than children born earlier in the year for grades one through four. (Author/ABL)

Contends that developing an interest in a particular topic is the first step in getting students ready to read in the social studies. Maintains the teacher must find ways of using what children already know and couple this with their experiential background to fulfill the need for establishing familiarity before reading. (TRS)

Young children become vulnerable to stress and depression when they are forced to be over-achievers. Suggestions are offered for helping children enjoy life and develop at their own pace. (DF)

Studies confirm the educational advantages and cost-effectiveness of high-quality early childhood programs and have made more persuasive the argument for developing such programs. The most important determinants of such programs are: group size, qualifications and training of staff, stability of care, and adult-child ratio. (MD)

The Marzano thinking skills model (emphasizing learning preparation, content thinking, and basic reasoning skills) will enhance learning opportunities for students whom the present system overlooks or labels unteachable. Schools can restructure teaching and evaluation methods to educate all young people for a successful future in the information…

This paper declares war against the miseducation of young children, who learn best through direct encounters rather than through formalized inculcation of symbolic rules. A variety of socioeconomic forces (including the civil rights and women's movements) are forcing preschoolers into learning environments originally designed for school-age…

Described is a search for optimum child rearing practices in a seven-child Russian family over a period of 16 years. Intellectual development, creative ability, and physical development are discussed. Results indicate positive effects of early physical and mental stimulation. (Author/DB)

In order to better establish baseline information on the social, physical, linguistic, and cognitive skills of children entering Maryland kindergartens, the state selected the Work Sampling System (WSS), a component of the Maryland Model for School Readiness, as the early childhood assessment system for evaluating entering kindergartners' skills…

The most important thing that parents can do to help their children become ready to read and to learn is to read aloud to them. This brief provides guidance for parents in facilitating their child's emerging abilities. Suggestions for parents include talking with infants and young children before they learn to read, setting aside a reading time…

A number of preschool and kindergarten assessment systems are being put into place across the nation, with a variety of purposes and collection methods. The "Assessing the State of State Assessments" symposium was convened to provide an opportunity for persons working most closely with state assessment systems to identify common…

The intent of this study was to determine if attendance in a good quality prekindergarten program using developmentally appropriate activities had a positive effect on kindergarten mathematics readiness skills and achievement. Participating were 80 children, 4 to 6 years old, divided into two experimental and two control groups. Standardized test…