Describes techniques for minimizing resistance of preschool children in situations where compliance is necessary. Suggestions include being flexible when making transitions, giving verbal alerts about transitions, offering choices, giving children time to comply, acting positively, and using time out. (Author/RH)

This article describes an 11-step "buddy" skills training procedure that helps children in an inclusive preschool work and play together more cooperatively. Steps include initial assessment, sensitization, peer training, implementation, positive reinforcement, evaluation, targeting specific interaction skills, teaching interaction…

Points out stages in writing-skill development as well as ways children's writing can be stimulated at home and in school. Topics include: encouraging new vocabulary and development of spoken language; reading to the child and stimulating involvement and response; being an example by writing in the presence of children; and providing opportunities…

This article describes how computer center sign-up sheets encouraged preschool children with a variety of disabilities to make visible advances in their emergent writing skills over the years. The children progressed from making scribbles to making recognizable letter-symbols on the sign-up sheets. Tips for creating sign-up sheets are provided.…

Argues that understanding of five major dimensions of normal child development can be useful for those who work with special children: child development theories, norms, research models, intervention models, and communication techniques. (RH)

This article discusses a rationale for and benefits of integration of preschoolers with severe disabilities. Strategies to promote social integration are offered in the areas of teacher preparation, environmental arrangements, activities aimed at nonhandicapped peers, and teaching disabled children social interaction strategies. Also considered…

This workshop presentation discusses the importance of a positive classroom environment in the early childhood center in helping children develop their potential. The evaluation of centers and the effects of a negative environment on young children are considered. The presentation also deals with the interpretations and implications for treatment…

Discusses patterns of social interaction used by 28 preschool children who were popular, controversial, neglected, or rejected as playmates. Videotaped social play in which one child joined a dyad was coded in terms of children's direction of communication, inititiations, and responses. (CB)

Knowledge is reviewed regarding the social/emotional, cognitive, and language development of maltreated preschool-aged children, and a set of child and family patterns of development is presented. Implications for classroom management are then discussed, focusing on disruptive behavior, interventions for cognitive and language development, and…

Described are positive classroom practices used for behavior management at a child development center, including proximity control, signal interference, touch control, decoding skills, antiseptic bouncing, planned ignoring with positive reinforcement, and supporting cooperative play. Also described is a situational crisis controlled through use of…

Based on one teacher's experiences with children's books that have caring themes, ways for teachers to nurture preschoolers' natural altruism are discussed. An annotated bibliography of books on caring for the sick, the disadvantaged, special friends, neighbors, siblings, parents and grandparents, people in distress, the environment, and animals…

Unlike teacher directed experiences that often do not provide children opportunities to take initiative and responsibility for the work undertaken, the project approach allows in-depth investigation of a topic worth learning more about. Projects are undertaken by a child, a small group of children within a class, or sometimes by the whole class,…

The use of small groups and the necessity of teacher flexibility in story reading to groups of children are described. Suggestions are offered for selecting materials, presenting materials, involving the audience, and preparing the setting for the reading. (LB)

A catalogue of suggested classroom activities (games, books, stories, etc.), is described to assist teachers to instill in black students a positive impression of Africa and their African heritage. (EH)