Overcoming challenges to quality early education in developing nations, TEACH Rwanda, one high-performing education system, offers a model of childhood learning through sensitive teacher dispositions, child-centred play, and culturally relevant materials. This manuscript provides a unique window into the practices of a quality early childhood…

Many schools and out-of-school organizations use social-emotional learning (SEL) programs to boost students' skills. Yet research shows that these programs can be difficult to implement and don't always meet students' needs. In response, Rebecca Bailey, Laura Stickle, Gretchen Brion-Meisels, and Stephanie Jones propose a new approach to SEL…

One kindergarten teacher engaged children in conversations about environmental print and thus made literacy learning more meaningful and personally connected to the children's outside school experiences. Activities included an environmental print show-and-tell, and small-group and whole-class word-logo matching activities. It was concluded that…

Describes an activity in the "Scuola Neruda" in Reggio Emilia, Italy in which 5-year-olds create a school play area for 4-year-olds that will remain as a contribution of their class, focusing on how this gift is a gesture of reciprocity, and therefore truly creative. Recounts a child's selection of a location for her sculpture to…

An internationally acclaimed program that challenges American notions of appropriate early education is the municipal early childhood program in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The town's liberal financial support of child care and citizen membership in school committees indicate strong community support. Parents are involved in school policy discussions,…

Discusses the development of a webbed curriculum at the preschool level. The teacher develops the curriculum by observing children, documenting their recurring interests and the themes of their activities, and integrating and connecting class activities. (BB)

Reviews a study of preschool children's movement responses to music in a natural learning setting. Describes ways in which the findings of the study can be used for the development of a music curriculum that provides a developmentally and individually appropriate program. (BB)

The Head Start on Science and Communication Program (HSSC) is a model that fosters science learning for young children through a systematic approach to language development. The HSSC program emphasizes the development of language skills through an explicit teacher-directed and exploratory child-centered approach to acquiring science knowledge and…