Explores current issues in preschool and primary education. Discusses U.S. fourth graders' low scores on the 1994 National Assessment for Educational Progress, skills needed in the 21st century, guiding principles on developmentally appropriate curriculum for young children, anti bias curriculum to address student diversity, comprehensive family…

Looks at the concept of creativity, and provides an explanation of its development in humans using a socio-cognitive framework proposed by the psychologist Lev Vygotsky. Applies this theoretical framework to the development of, and attitude toward, creative thinking in the Chinese culture as contrasted with western cultures. (DSK)

Investigates relationships between drawing skills of children ages four to eight and their ability to identify materials. Regression of measures of aesthetic drawing, developmental drawing, design making, symbol creation, and developed schemata found a positive correlation between total drawing scores and material identification scores; age…

Four articles discuss recent findings on early brain development, describe classroom applications for specific findings, and include a brain compatibility evaluation: (1) "Primed for Learning: The Young Child's Mind" (Karen Stephens); (2) "Turning Knowledge into Practice" (Pam Schiller); (3) "Is Your Program Brain…

Reviews the behavioral, cognitive, and other psychological features of Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), exploring their relationships to known genetic mechanisms. PWS is a genetic developmental disability characterized by a group of specific behavioral features, including an insatiable appetite. The article briefly touches on PWS-related research at…

Addresses issues of early intervention with young children with disabilities in the context of poverty as a risk factor for disability and recent welfare-to-work legislation. Concepts developed by Uri Bronfenbrenner and Peter Neville are reviewed to show the need to integrate concepts of risk and ecological support into the contexts of caregiving…

Describes the value of Piaget's equilibration theory for understanding characteristics of the young gifted child. Key elements of equilibration theory are discussed and differences in the equilibration patterns in gifted children are described. Suggestions are provided for teachers and parents who are helping gifted children search for…

Examines early identification and intervention for students with learning disabilities in inclusive classrooms. Early signs of learning disabilities in motor, adaptive, communication and language, cognitive, and social-emotional skills are described. Techniques of functional assessment such as curriculum-based measurement, play assessment, and…

Investigated whether the rate and patterns of pronoun case error were influenced by the composition of an individual pronoun's paradigm. Twenty-nine children ages 2;6 to 4;0 years were audiotaped interacting with their primary caregivers in various settings. Results indicated that 27 children produced case errors. The composition of a pronoun's…

Journals of 30 college students of child development engaged in community-based service learning in multicultural settings revealed three themes. Students: (1) articulated their own approaches or philosophies regarding racial issues; (2) expressed concerns about specific multicultural or race-related incidents; and (3) discussed the resources they…

This seven-year case study describes a young woman with moderate to severe disabilities and her use of literacy during various stages of her educational career, after receiving special education in a self-contained special-education class, and after receiving services in a general-education setting. (Author/CR)

A study examined the educational histories of 120 talented individuals in various fields for recurrent patterns. The study found patterns for childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood phases. The importance of time, task, and communities of practice in everyday life is stressed. The Academic Talent Development Program, a summer program for…

Acknowledges that early-childhood education is a global practice and examines underlying images of the child. Questions the adequacy of current research to encompass global childhoods, how child development is conceptualized within early-childhood work, and children's status within early-education research and practice. Notes a current paradigm…

Presents research model for working with street children from a public-health and human-rights perspective. Suggests framework to guide health promotion in pursuit of child well-being, sampling and recruiting strategies in studying street and working children, conceptual issues related to studying these children, and supporting street children…

Tests the proposition that family and personal factors, in combination with school characteristics, contribute to the academic progress of Quechua school children. Finds that family background and nutritional history are not as important in shaping educational progress as initially envisioned, but that duration of schooling is an important factor…