It is important for teachers to engage families in ways that develop a positive link between home and school. Using family literacy packs can create such a link. Originally designed for K-grade 2, the packs have been successfully adapted for young children of all ages. Early childhood teachers send children home with these packs, which include…

An approach to teaching fundamental concepts of music and movement is presented through illustration and description. Creative physical and verbal responses are emphasized. (An expanded work by Stecher and McElheny is entitled Musical Arts in the Early Childhood Curriculum). (DR)

How can teachers balance early curricular demands and expectations while addressing the social and emotional needs of young children during times of crisis and stress? The author suggests that teachers need to redirect and engage children in learning activities that give them a feeling of control, competence, and empowerment in their own lives and…

Discusses one teacher's method for encouraging young children's literacy developemnt. Offers practical suggestions for involving parents in stimulating their child's early reading and writing skills. (DT)

Discusses a method by which young children learn about life and death by studying plants. Plants are used because their life cycle has minimal emotional significance to the children. Parent involvement, teacher attitudes, and experiences with the method are discussed. (DG)

Discussion of student motivation and participation, emphasizing the teacher's role in managing students' behavior. (ST)

Discusses some of the common explanations for the effects of story reading at home upon children's later reading achievement, and offers an alternative explanation along with implications for classroom practices. (CM)

Describes one kindergarten classroom's experience creating a rock and fossils museum exhibit and the excitement and learning that occurred when the children become directly involved in the project. Using the framework of the project approach, math, science, art, writing, and social studies content areas were involved. (ET)

In this article, the authors discuss the importance of collaboration as a foundation for effective implementation of the project approach in family child care. Here, they discuss collaboration among children and adults in relation to theory and practice. They present strategies to support collaboration among children which include: (1) Invite two…

Step by Step (Early Childhood Program) is an education reform program to engender democratic principles and practices in young children and their families. The authors interviewed 15 teacher participants in the yearlong Step by Step training to learn how the training changed their teaching practices and how their new practices affect the children…

Illustrates that every child is to some degree involved in every class activity. Creative teaching can accommodate the needs of an apparently nonparticipating child. (BB)

Reviews a volume edited by Carolyn Edwards, Lella Gandini, and George Forman, that presents a thorough overview of the educational philosophy and practices of the city-run early childhood program of Reggio Emilia, Italy. (ME)

An unacceptably high first-grade retention rate prompted a study of the early childhood program in the District of Columbia Public Schools, because the system had invested heavily in the program with little success. This report summarizes how the study began, what the study has revealed, and how this research is transforming a major urban school…

Describes the experience of a conservative, suburban school system making the change from traditional classroom instruction to more developmentally appropriate practices. Discusses the planning and implementation process, focusing particularly on the issues of skills acquisition, assessment, staff development, and parent involvement. (TJQ)

Sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), the IEA Preprimary Project is a multinational study of unprecedented size and scope. At age seven, in primary school, more than eighteen hundred children from 10 of the participating countries had follow-up assessments. The study affirms that preschool…