A role model is someone an individual looks up to and wants to be like--but also someone an individual connects with as a person. There is a special relationship between a child and a teacher, particularly in the early childhood years. Teachers must think carefully about how their manner affects the children in their classrooms. This article…

This paper examines aspects of role playing in young children focusing specifically on the importance of role playing, the components of role playing and how to use role playing. The importance of role playing is discussed and several reasons for believing that role playing is related to intellectual and social development and to learning language…

Delineates the rationale underlying traditional preschool programs by drawing together theory that is accepted by early childhood educators. Makes an effort to use ordinary language that could be used by teachers to explain the program to parents. (Author/CM)

Reviews the research concerning how the classroom environment--classroom ambiance, privacy, density and crowding, and arrangement of play and learning centers--can influence young children's play and social, emotional, and intellectual development. (BB)

Presents theoretical background for building an early childhood curriculum based on the Educare approach. Five principles are explained. They emphasize that learning drives development and that social interaction, interpersonal relationships, mutual understanding, and culture are unique in developmental processes. Concludes that teachers can have…

This document, prepared by the Tucson Early Education Model (TEEM), outlines TEEM's expectations for children's growth in each of four goal areas and describes the corresponding responsibilities of teachers, teaching and program assistants, parents, local education agencies (LEAs) and the Model sponsor. The expectations and responsibilities are…