Written for education students and early childhood practitioners who are implementing the Desirable Outcomes in programs in England and Wales, this book is a guide to planning the curriculum in the early years. The book is designed to be used in a range of settings, including playgroups, nurseries, and reception classes. The book considers several…

First Steps is a program instituted by the Western Australia Ministry of Education to improve the literacy and numeracy of primary school students, particularly those at risk of academic failure. First Steps is organized around reading, writing, spelling, and oral language; children's skills are organized along developmental continua. This study,…

This book is the second to present the results on a study of how children's practice of speech, as shaped by family interaction, affects learning to talk. Participating in the study were 42 diverse families with young children. Each month for 2.5 years the interactions between 42 one- to two-year-olds and their parents were recorded as the…

Written expression is a skill greatly needed by children and adults as a means of communication in their daily living. In this bulletin there are suggestions for the teacher who wants to use sound methods in teaching children to express themselves in writing. The authors attempt to show that language arts is an important part of the total school…

Discusses the effects of societal changes on child development at home and at school and its relationship to academic learning, with particular emphasis on minority children and their families. Describes a model for improving school organization and management. (FMW)

Reviews research on the effects of the mother's employment on the preschool child in the two-parent family. Also examines the effects on the following family processes that mediate child outcomes: (1) psychological well-being of parents; (2) their marital relationship; (3) the father's role; and (4) parent-child interaction. (Author/BJV)

Reviews research on the relationship among young children, their developing skills, and art. Maintains that children's development, like art itself, grows out of the individual child artist and his or her place in life and culture. Presents examples of developmentally appropriate art activities and instruction. (CFR)

Discusses the use of time and space in primary classrooms, referring to what is known about how young children learn best. Discusses four steps to organizing the classroom. (BB)

To study graphic representation in different cultures, 1,279 children, adolescents, and university students from English, Hebrew, and Arabic language cultures produced graphic representations of spatial, temporal, quantitative, and preference relations in three experiments. Findings are discussed in relation to subjects' age and language culture.…

Detection of calculation errors, operation errors, and unanswerable problems was studied for 78 third graders and 77 fifth graders. The relationship between mathematics achievement and error detection was also examined. Older children and high achievers detected more errors than did younger students and low achievers. (SLD)

Training materials in special section include "Places for Babies: Infants and Toddlers in Groups," by Jim Greenman; "Bonding with Your Babies," by Alice S. Honig; "The Wonder of the Everyday," by Amy Laura Dombro; "The Dual Challenge: Meeting the Needs of Parents and Babies," by Karen Miller; and…

The combination of economic hardship, limited access to supportive services, and the psychological burden of oppression have combined to disadvantage African-American children and place significant obstacles in the way of their development. This special issue assembles a group of articles focusing on the development of African-American children.…

Describes the various direct and indirect effects of HIV and AIDS on children's development and the implications for early intervention assessment. HIV and AIDS effects include disorganization during the neonatal period, failure to thrive, motor difficulties, cognitive dysfunction, expressive language behavior, attention problems, and…

Dean of International University Learning Center (Kyoto, Japan) argues that traditional educational systems disregard developmental needs of children and prevent change by perpetuating societal values. The idea that children need to develop as an integral part of their natural and social systems is discussed in relation to alternative education…

Describes the extent and nature of the child-care crisis in the country today. The 1990 Child Care and Development Act is a step toward a solution, but better approaches are needed. One such approach, the School of the 21st Century, in which child care is implemented within the existing school system, is described and its preliminary effectiveness…