This article explores the correspondence between the vision of play articulated in Singapore's national kindergarten curriculum framework and the play-related pedagogies enacted by teachers on the ground, particularly during Learning Centre Time (LCT). Influenced by neo-liberal ways of thinking, the curriculum states that "purposeful…

Naturalistic teaching methods are often used to facilitate explicit child-directed instruction within early childhood environments. They are designed to promote opportunities for instruction within the context of daily routines. The teacher's role is to design the environment and select materials, activities, and routines that will promote…

Appropriate curricula for full-time kindergarten children must emphasize creativity in several subject areas, including arts and crafts, science, social studies, mathematics, thinking, and language arts. This article offers practical suggestions for providing kindergarten children with opportunities to be creative in several ways. Arguments…

Discusses the educational philosophy of learning through projects, and the teacher's role in planning learning centers. Describes several types of kindergarten learning centers which allow for varying degrees of self-directed or teacher-instructed learning. (NH)

This presentation provides a rationale for the use of activity centers in public school classrooms as well as specific strategies to adopt or to adapt to achieve the best teaching results. (Author)

Describes characteristics of a good learning environment. Discusses the role of teachers, planning, building activities, learning centers and stations, and resources. (RJC)

A naturalistic study of the use of computers in a preschool program suggested that a role for the computer in early childhood education exists, but it may not be the role that critics and advocates have envisioned. Phase 1 of the study investigated young children's interactions with computer software, peers working at computers, and teachers.…

This module focuses on the use of play as a natural and effective means for expanding the learning opportunities for young children in special preschool settings. It includes discussions of the different roles teachers assume as they incorporate play into their curriculum. The guide highlights instructional approaches which promote child learning,…

Presents rationale for using learning centers in early childhood classrooms. Describes teaching strategies to support active learning, including providing open-ended materials, organizing for independence, introducing centers, brainstorming ideas, and extending children's learning. (KB)

This teacher's guide from the New York City public schools is designed to help teachers implement an all-day kindergarten program. Planning for the all-day kindergarten is developed and demonstrated through a thematic approach which integrates all curriculum areas. Six themes are presented, each of which includes both direct instruction activities…

Outdoor-learning centers provide information for children to understand their world. These centers are appropriate for emergent curriculums and many sensory experiences, and are created based on the environment and children's current use of the space. Ideas for learning centers include the following: writing center, dramatic play, art and…

This study demonstrates that symbolic play has merit as a curricular tool for early literacy development. Naturalistic observation of four prekindergarten teachers and their classes revealed ways in which teachers can facilitate early literacy development by functioning as participants within the context of young children's spontaneous symbolic…

Nature education for young children involves building both cognitive and emotional connections to the natural world through the use of indoor and outdoor activities and through field trips. This guide to nature education is based on the stories of how two early childhood teachers created mini-habitats and then built indoor and outdoor activities…