An investigation of incidental teaching practices on the spontaneous speech of 12 disadvantaged preschool children during free-play periods which demonstrated that such periods can be powerful learning times by capitalizing on moments when children seek new plan materials. (Author/EH)

Describes a very unstructured approach to the dual problem of preschool language preparation for the disadvantaged, and increasing teacher receptivity to such children. Evaluations from the points of view of the psychologist, teacher volunteers, the teacher, and parents are attempted. (AF)