This report evaluates motivational materials related to the history of mathematics. Materials produced included plays, written articles, slide-tape presentations, and videotapes. Two of these, plays and written articles, were chosen for intensive study. The study included a survey of teacher opinion, a student questionnaire, and evaluations by…

A toy-play intervention program is described that was initially used in a research setting with 24 young Dutch children, using outcome measures and a 1-year follow-up assessment. The original intervention was successful. However, improvements were not maintained unless children continued to receive play support. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Psychodrama is the acting out of difficult situations one has experienced. It gives the actors and spectators the chance to try out alternative solutions to problem situations. When these problems are acted out, the actors become better acquainted with themselves and their peers. This awareness becomes a dominant determinant of future behavior.…

A study evaluated a program for training two preschool educators to promote cooperative participation between preschoolers with and without disabilities. The training program consisted of viewing examples of how to promote and praise cooperative participation, along with specific instructions and on-the-job feedback. Instruction resulted in…

Details two Icelandic early childhood education projects. "Play and Print" found that increasing print exposure and reinforcing role-play related to reading and writing improved preschoolers' language maturity. The "I Can Do What I Get a Chance to Do" project modified lunch, group time, artwork, and play components of the…

Evaluated alternative assessment strategies for preschoolers which use movement behavior as the focus and which involve teachers, parent/caregivers, and children in the process. Incorporated adult/child observation coding system with physical, social, cognitive, and task dimensions supplemented by regular structured interviews and a motor…

Explores the ideas of teacher Vivian Paley about social justice in the kindergarten classroom. Reviews her book "You Can't Say You Can't Play." Once kindergartners begin to grapple with questions of rejection and exclusion, Paley extends the debate to older children to encourage schoolwide conversations about justice and democracy. (SLD)

This report describes the development, implementation and evaluation of an Australian follow-through kindergarten year one program for children who had participated in an individualized, experience-based preschool program. Follow-through program development focused on planning a program that offered experiences compatible with those offered at…