Presents three activities for teaching spelling to students in grades 2-6 using individualized weekly spelling lists made up of developmentally appropriate words. (SM)

Argues that goals of early education programs should be environmentally, as well as developmentally, appropriate. Lists guidelines for helping children develop a lifelong attitude of environmental awareness and care. (ET)

Discusses the concept of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) and common misconceptions about it. DAP stresses that child care workers need to treat all children as individuals; gain specialized knowledge about child development; and respect children's ability to carry out their duties effectively. (MDM)

Summarizes recent ERIC documents and journal articles relating to topics examined in this issue of the Early Childhood Research Quarterly. (BG)

Addresses four concerns raised by Bredekamp in her commentary on an earlier article by Fowell and Lawton. The earlier article proposed an alternative view of developmentally appropriate practices to that expressed in a position paper of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. (BB)

Reviews literature to describe young children's pitch-matching accuracy and vocal range, and outlines developmentally appropriate practice. Identifies internal and external influences on pitch-matching accuracy and vocal range. Suggests that children's musical development should be considered in a dynamic way and that what is called…

Draws on the insights of John Dewey to argue that the contrast between developmental appropriateness and academic rigor is an untenable dualism. Considers directions for middle school renewal that unite these two concepts. (JPB)

Explores the integration of developmentally and culturally appropriate practice (DCAP) within early childhood teachers' initial preparation and suggests DCAP's place in veteran practitioners' professional development. Presents a cycle of inquiry-oriented reflective supervision for DCAP that includes self-examination, reflective discussion,…

Responds to Lubeck's critique of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) guidelines and their underlying premises. Maintains that guidelines are a starting point for decision making, that not all DAP classrooms look the same, and that it is important for early childhood educators to be knowledgeable regarding developmental milestones.…

This article deals with playthings and equipment that encourage child initiated play. Physical objects refer to concrete items within the play setting, such as balls, bats, craft supplies, playground equipment, musical instruments, and so forth. Social objects are other people, such as leaders, friends, teachers, and other participants. People are…

This study examines the psychometric properties of an observer measure of developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) for early elementary school classrooms, known as A Developmentally Appropriate Practices Template (ADAPT). Using a sample of 854-1511 first through third grade classrooms in 207-295 schools across 3 years, the study evaluates the…

Early childhood teachers face a daunting task when trying to incorporate so many important ideas into curriculum planning. Fortunately, standards are not prescriptive in how they are to be implemented. Teachers who are well versed in standards and developmentally appropriate practices "can" provide meaningful experiences for children. How can…

The purpose of this study was to assess the developmental progression of preschoolers' abilities to draw and paint. Over 3 years, 68 children were observed easel painting 595 times and 65 children were observed drawing 545 times. Results of hierarchical linear modeling indicated that (a) the complexity of children's drawings and paintings…

The Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) model for crisis intervention was developed for use with emergency service personnel. Research regarding the use of the CISM model has been conducted among civilians and high-risk occupation groups with mixed results. The purpose of this study is to examine the social validity of the CISM model for…

Demographic change in industrial countries will influence educational spending in potentially two ways. On the one hand, the decline in the number of school-age children should alleviate the financial pressure. On the other hand, the theoretical/empirical literature has established that the concomitantly increasing proportion of elderly in the…