Recommends Gail Gibbons' 117 nonfiction children's books for use in early childhood settings. Describes Gibbons' research and writing process, including the sources of her ideas for new books, her nontraditional research methods, and her methods of presenting information. (KB)

Examined whether activities in the preschool curriculum across Northern Ireland are more adult-directed or child-directed. Findings from observations of 71 preschool settings showed that the curriculum of most reception settings was more adult-directed, while most nursery schools, play groups, and private day nurseries adopted a child-initiated…

Discusses the critical role of the early childhood educator related to group and special needs assessment, individual abilities assessment, group and individual instruction, and communication with the K-12 educational system. Presents two scenarios describing early childhood teachers and their role in the delivery of exemplary early childhood…

Describes ERIC documents that discuss the training of child care staff. Topics include issues and needs in staff training; developmentally appropriate child care; school-age child care training packages; recruitment and training of temporary staff; and the mainstreaming of training guides and modules. (RJC)

Reflecting on her practice with one learner, an adult literacy tutor argues that, because literacy acquisition is the same for children and adults, practitioners must study literacy literature across age levels in order to provide programs that are developmentally appropriate and instructionally responsive. (SK)

Presents the Four E's curriculum model--Experience, Extension, Expression, Evaluation--which offers a framework for selecting and organizing appropriate curriculum for preschool and primary students. The model focuses on integrating curriculum but is also useful for planning a single unit, or whenever teachers want to evaluate the appropriateness…

Recounts an interview with Professor Amita Verma. Highlights Professor Verma's contributions to practice, research, and policy in early childhood education and development at the national level in India. Suggests sources of information and the influence of various leaders on early childhood education and care in India. Indicates that concern about…

Addresses three questions related to the topic of diversity. Questions are how can citizens and professionals accept and prize cultural, ethnic, racial, and lifestyle diversity; how should commitment to prizing diversity be implemented in curricula and teaching practices; and what should be the role of the National Association for the Education of…

Questionnaire, comprised of Teacher Belief Scale and Instructional Activities Scale and intended to measure kindergarten teachers' beliefs about and reported practices related to developmentally appropriate education, was administered to 204 teachers. Several reliable factors were identified. Teachers in 20 classrooms were observed. Found…

Describes a project whereby a harpist collaborated with a preschool to introduce a harp and related music instruction into the classrooms. Notes the various learning experiences of individual children and the appropriateness of play as the mechanism for creating an inviting environment as children experienced the harp. (HTH)

Discusses the need for developmentally responsive middle level competitive sports programs that include awareness of sports injuries, psychological considerations, attrition in sports, and family pressures for students to become college and professional athletes. (JPB)

Argues that developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) as presented in the revised guidelines of the National Association for the Education of Young Children gives equal attention to age, individual, and cultural appropriateness, and therefore is appropriate for everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, culture, race, gender, age, or special…

Suggests that the National Association for the Education of Young Children guidelines for developmentally appropriate practice are supported by modern values of stability and certainty. Maintains that there is a shift to a new world view, based on views that human beings are subjects; science cannot be value-neutral; and that context affects what…

Dramatic rises in youth violence in the United States beginning in the 1980s coupled with high visibility acts such as school shootings have resulted in a corresponding proliferation of programs designed to prevent aggression and violence in children and youth. Parallel with this increasing programmatic expansion, there have been repeated calls…

Students are under pressure from teachers, parents, and college admissions counselors to maintain high grade point averages, score well on high-stakes tests, participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, and gain admission to top colleges. In fact, surveys have found that most students identify academic pressure as the main reason for…