This document is comprised of the 2001-2002 issues of a quarterly journal for teachers and parents of children in Montessori infant and toddler programs. The spring 2001 issue presents articles on the history of infant and toddler programs in Italy and how to fulfill infant needs in Montessori child care, and on learning activities in the kitchen…

This publication provides Autism Program Quality Indicators (APQI), intended as a self-review and quality improvement guide for schools and programs serving students with autism spectrum disorders. The APQI were developed by the New York Autism Network at the request of the New York State Education Department. The APQI promote the goal that all…

This text is intended to introduce undergraduate or graduate general or special education majors to student characteristics and teaching strategies with students who have mild disabilities (mild mental retardation, behavior disorders, and learning disabilities). Part 1 addresses the characteristics of students with mild disabilities. Chapter 1…

Background: After the failure of several important methods comparison studies in the 1960s, the influence of interaction analysis stimulated interest in foreign language classroom processes. More careful observational studies gradually revealed which process variables were of interest. Also, there has been much research on teacher talk, with a…

A study investigated the characteristics and behaviors of college students learning a third language. Four groups of students with backgrounds in Slavic second languages and enrolled in a variety of Slavic and non-Slavic third languages courses were studied using ethnographic techniques, including open-ended questionnaires, focus groups, classroom…

This digest reports recent findings on violent television content, highlights the recently developed television ratings system, and offers suggestions for parental mediation of children's television viewing. The National Television Violence Study has demonstrated that not all violence is equal. Certain plot elements in portrayals of violence are…

The purposes of the study were to: (1) identify the issues addressed at the due process hearings in this southeastern state, and (2) examine the implications for educators. Due process hearing decisions rendered since 1994, a total of 31 were reviewed. Results of the study showed that student placement was the most common issue for which a due…

The INDAP (Individualizing Developmentally Appropriate Practices) program provides teachers with ideas on how to design classroom environments and materials, activities and routines, and instructional groups and transitions while providing high quality programs to children with different strengths and needs. These guidelines provide information…

This parent education kit, which contains both a parent book and guide for parent-group leaders, is based on the philosophy that children's needs and abilities change as they develop and that parenting needs to respond to these changes. The kit is also based on the understanding that children develop as part of a family and that relationships are…

Noting that individuals learn best through experiences freely chosen, this book is intended to help teachers create a community of independent learners in a classroom--showing how to let the curriculum and resources support rather than lead children's learning--and to demonstrate how to individualize each child's education. Chapter 1 introduces…

The evolution of creative thought was examined, an examination that resulted in the construction of universal criteria for analysis and detailed evidence for the evolution of novelty, i.e. how children create knowledge. The collected data came from 200 students from the United States and 200 from Brazil. Each of the 10 age groups (from 4 to 13…

Because of the increased attention to family day care resulting from several state and national initiatives to improve quality, there is a need for a solid knowledge base about family day care. This book examines recent research on family day care. The book is divided into six chapters according to focus. Chapter 1 examines the ecology of family…

Recent research on early brain development holds several implications for parents, teachers, health professionals, and policymakers. This report, based on the proceedings from a 1996 national conference on the importance of early brain development for the nation's future well-being, highlights major findings, summarizes their implications for…

A study to determine the best predictors of teacher technology use in the classroom was conducted for small rural schools in southeastern Idaho. A 40-item survey was completed by 3,500 teachers in 55 school districts. Results indicated that one third to one half of the teachers never actually used technology for any instructional purpose. Over 70…

The Healthy for Life (HFL) program was an efficacy test of an adolescent health promotion program designed specifically for use with middle school students. Four conceptually distinct, but inter-related, components were designed to influence young adolescents in school, with their peers, in their families, and in the communities. HFL was unique in…