Recently, in an effort to improve the education and subsequent life opportunities of our nation's children, 48 states have committed to use newly developed, common national academic standards and possibly institute some common measures for assessing student learning related to these standards. This is an impressive undertaking. However,…

The project is based on a general systems approach. Developmental stage theory is employed as a starting point, and the developmental "minitasks" which act as stair risers from one developmental level to another are carried through with the use of Bloom's cognitive taxonomy. (Author/DLS)

Suggestions are made for providing a smoothly continuous learning experience for children from nursery school through the school years. (JD)

Provides background information on the development of NAEYC's position statements on developmentally appropriate practice and clarifies assumptions made by Kessler and others about NAEYC's positions. Offers justification for the developmentalist perspective and suggests an alternative argument for appropriate practice that draws on the strengths…

The rationale for this seminar was to strengthen the discipline-based art education (DBAE) stance and extend its horizons. The format of the proceedings featured a speaker followed by a respondent and group discussions on each of the four issues addressed by the seminar. Dennie Wolf explained how current research in child development and cognitive…

Supports B. Plowden and David Elkind's rationale for developmental early childhood education that considers children's unique learning modes. Describes four program elements: opportunities for developmental tasks, teachers' knowledge of children's development, concrete learning experiences, and appropriate setting. Discusses curriculum…

Discusses the reconceptualist movement in curriculum studies, which advocates researchers' use of critical, interpretive, feminist, or phenomenological frameworks to share their work with the early childhood community. This movement is the focus of this special issue of the journal. Discusses efforts of the past 20 years to reconceptualize ways to…

This study is an examination of black and white preadults' cognitive and affective orientations to their nation, social power, government, authority, and laws. The data were collected by means of tape recorded interviews with 96 students attending public schools in Buffalo, New York, which were transcribed, coded, and analyzed in an attempt to…

The implications of developmentally and culturally appropriate practice for early childhood education are explored from the context of selections from classroom journals and personal narratives of 30 early childhood educators. The ability of developmentally appropriate practice to respond to cultural diversity is discussed. (LB)

Examines developmentally appropriate versus inappropriate practices in terms of curriculum studies. Discusses problems with the justification of child-centered practices based on developmental theory; philosophical, historical, and political dimensions of a curriculum based on appropriate practices; and an alternative model based on early…

Reviews theoretical frameworks and psychological processes underlying the perception and cognition of musical understanding. Suggests unifying ideas and processes based on a developmental learning framework applied to teaching methods and curriculum. Supplies six guidelines for music education practitioners who are sequencing learning activities…

This paper is a working draft of a study which has examined the accumulated research on child growth and development. The draft is designed as an input paper to enable the Marin Social Studies Project to refine its rationale and criteria for a recommended K-12 social studies program of curriculum options. Identification of the capabilities of…

Examines the proposition that children construct their own knowledge. Reviews contributions to and criticisms of Piagetian and Vygotskian theories, and considers their curricular implications. Discusses how the work of Gardner and Case extends that of Piaget. Emphasizes application of theory to a culturally relevant approach to classroom practices…

This review of early childhood research examines what has been accomplished in the field and what questions now need to be answered. Project Head Start has had the effect of helping developmental psychology to become more comprehensive and less ethnocentric than previously. Developmental psychologists are now studying infants and toddlers and the…