Three children with autism from a self-contained elementary special education class participated in daily free-play sessions with 15 nondisabled peers, who were sequentially individually trained in appropriate interaction skills. Generalized interactions between students with autism and nontrained peers began in all three groups after the…

Notes that falls from equipment are the number one cause of playground accidents. Presents guidelines for safe playgrounds from the National Safety Council. Provides a safety checklist, including considerations of the design and condition of equipment and surface material. (BGC)

Introduces theme issue on Piagetian constructivist perspective on children's understanding. Summarizes feature articles which argue that teaching should be based on Piaget's theory; and elucidate the development of social and moral understanding, perspective-taking, play, written language, friendship and popularity, and mathematics. Emphasizes the…

Discusses the benefits for children's literacy, creativity, and enthusiasm for classroom activities of taking dictation of preschool children's own stories and facilitating dramatizations of these stories. Considers issues in the process of dictation and dramatization. Describes differences and similarities in children's stories and their relation…

Examines the creation of process drama and writing experiences in a second/third-grade classroom. Describes how the classroom teacher used process drama (involving students in imaginary, unscripted, and spontaneous scenes) as a context for learning. Notes how process drama provided a context for content area instruction along with writing…

A study to determine effects of Lightspan Partnership Inc.'s interactive materials on student achievement in a Denver- area elementary school revealed higher reading and math test scores for Lightspan schools, compared to control schools. This serious play curriculum, assisted by parents, benefited neediest kids most. (MLH)

Incorporates dramatization into science teaching to explain difficult phenomena. Uses three different types of dramatization: teacher-performed dramatization, teacher-directed dramatization, and student-directed dramatization. Presents student analyses of the dramatizations. Introduces an instrument that is designed to measure student perceptions…

Advocates the use of serious play in the middle school classroom to provide students with motivating, creative, hands-on activities. Considers the pedagogical benefits and themes of fun and play, and ways to overcome teacher reluctance. Provides four examples of class activities. (JPB)

Describes constructive play and its importance to child development. Outlines the developmental changes in constructive play in young children, and identifies the benefits of this type of play for young children. Discusses the learning experiences of constructive play with art materials in early childhood settings, and describes strategies for…

Examines the structure-functionality relationship in traditional communication-based treatment approaches for children with autism. Contrary to popular opinion supporting either highly structured or highly functional treatment, feasible middle ground is proposed. The article concludes with instructional tips specific to the implementation of…

Maintains that computer software and Internet exploration introduce playful elements into learning. Discusses the implications of "edutainment," a technologically mediated learning/enjoyment combination of experiences. Suggests that school may no longer be the primary site for learning but that teachers may need to reevaluate their…

Contends that play-based literacy offers a much-needed reasonable response to the increasing expectations placed on young children and their teachers for literacy development. Presents first-hand accounts of preschool teachers' responses to new play- based literacy activities. Notes that these changes resulted in significantly increased levels of…

Videotaped parent-child play behaviors of preschool children in pretend and physical play sessions, noting children's play with same-sex peers. Context influenced gender differentiated patterns of parent-child play behavior. Girls engaged in more pretend play, and boys were engaged in more physical play with peers. Parents contributed to…

Investigated Mexican American cultural traits displayed by young children during sociodramatic play in a bilingual preschool classroom. Cultural traits identified as funds of knowledge include language, values, beliefs, ways of discipline, household care, and value of education. Findings underscore the inadequacy of representing cultures through…

Investigated differences in Korean- and European-American preschoolers' pretend play behavior, examining the influence of intracultural variations in children's skills and behavioral characteristics. Data from parent and teacher interviews and observations of children highlighted similar patterns predictive of pretend play for both groups.…