Noting that a reluctance to question some assumptions of social and behavior sciences is one reason for the halting progress in these fields, this book examines three potentially misleading ideas and reasons for their continued popularity. Chapter 1 critiques the idea that all behavior is influenced by one's psychological construction of the…

The term curriculum model refers to a conceptual framework and organizational structure for decision making about educational priorities, administrative policies, instructional methods, and evaluation criteria. This digest discusses the role of curriculum models in early childhood education. Following a discussion of the origin of early childhood…

This publication presents ideas and practical suggestions for caregivers of infants and toddlers from the Montessori Birth to Three Program and contains a catalog of recommended toys and materials for the home and child care setting. The topics discussed include parenting, the Montessori educational philosophy, child development during the first…

This annual report details the activities and financial status for 1999 of the Bernard van Leer Foundation, a private institution created in 1949 for broad humanitarian purposes. Following the introduction by the chairman of the Foundation's board of trustees, the report of the executive director details activities during the Foundation's fiftieth…

Defining emotional competence as the demonstration of self-efficacy in emotion-eliciting social transactions, this paper presents a model of emotional competence that explores the factors and skills contributing to the development of a mature emotional response that supports an individual's social goals. The paper first describes the primary…

These two issues of Theory into Practice, a practical newsletter of the North American Montessori Teachers Association (NAMTA), contains feature articles, upcoming events, and a job bulletin detailing employment opportunities categorized by state and country. The March issue focuses on television's effects and contains an article on the 1st Annual…

A growing body of research reveals the beneficial effects of music on education performance. Research indicates that music plays an important role in the brain development of a child. Furthermore, researchers believe that children who have more exposure to music and music training benefit from enhanced brain activity which has been shown to…

Major natural and human-caused disasters deeply affect children, and they have a special vulnerability to such events. The importance of providing crisis counseling recovery assistance within the context of their special world cannot be over emphasized. The information in this manual provides both theory and guidance to individuals concerned with…

This paper examines the psychosocial development of Nepalese child laborers. The findings are discussed in relation to the questions of where and how learning occurs, whether transfer or generalizations occur from specific skills to other activities, and what role the socialization process plays in the psychological well-being of the Nepalese…

The measurement of self concept and motivation of children ages 3 to 6 with an interview instrument is not an easy task. It has been accomplished with middle income, suburban children before. However, this same interview did not work well with low income, urban preschoolers. This study presents the preliminary psychometric work on a new interview…

The years when a young child's language skills are "exploding" are the years between three and five. What can make a dramatic difference in a child's life is if parents take a few minutes a day to read to him or her. Reading to a child helps him or her become a successful reader. The child develops a sense of phonics and learns that stories have a…

This document is a compendium of descriptions of programs throughout the United States dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives and educational development of Latino youth and children. In reviewing these programs, some common threads were found that define successful programs for Latino children and youth. The successful programs…

Vygotsky is widely considered one of the most significant and influential psychologists of the twentieth century. Nevertheless, true appreciation of his theories has been hindered by a lack of understanding of the background to his thought. "Vygotsky's Developmental and Educational Psychology" aims to demonstrate how we can come to a new and…

The value of school savings banks is widely recognized. School saving develops the child's individuality and self-responsibility, causing them to consider the earning value of money, and to understand it as a comfort factor and a power for good. The following topics relating to school savings banks are discussed in this bulletin: (1)…

The Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Questionnaire (IAR) was given to 183 children, ages 9 to 14, from three kibutz movements in Israel, in order to explore the meaning of locus of control among children raised within a specified framework. (ST)