Presents tips on selecting and pursuing developmentally appropriate classroom projects for young children. Includes print and Web-site resources for project development. (KB)

Describes Montessori's vision of developmentally appropriate physical environment, considers some effective design principles and characteristics of environments for young children, and identifies criteria for assessing the indoor and outdoor physical environments. (Author/KB)

Describes the three-stage growth of the Princeton (New Jersey) Montessori School. Examines how the philosophy of prepared environments evolved over 12 years upon reflection of concepts such as user-friendliness, ambiance, developmental appropriateness, effective communication, a welcoming space, faculty needs, storage, eating areas, resting areas,…

In "This We Believe," a National Middle School Association position paper revised in 1995, 12 beliefs were identified that would "clarify a vision that will guide the decisions of those responsible for determining young adolescent educational programs." Middle schools across the country have used these beliefs as guidelines.…

Argues that developmentally appropriate knowledge-in-use may be academically rigorous even when it does not mimic the more adult-like academic disciplines. Considers the creation of developmentally appropriate curriculum and ways to measure the academic rigor of learning outcomes without relying upon achievement tests grounded in academic…

Benchmarks for early childhood education must provide sufficient clarity and direction, pertain to both kindergarteners and preschoolers, specify what knowledge students should be learning, be developmentally appropriate, and reflect student progress. Implementing standards requires educators to address two equally important challenges-teaching…

To foster developmentally appropriate activities at mealtimes, child caregivers should let children serve themselves and eat until they are full; resist forcing children to eat; supply child-size utensils; offer foods that need to be spread, cut, broken, or spooned from a bowl; let children prepare some foods; and be aware of cultural values. (MDM)

Identified classroom characteristics and teacher characteristics that were related to the self-reported beliefs and classroom practices of first-, second-, and third-grade teachers. Found classroom characteristics and teacher characteristics predicted teacher beliefs and practices and that teacher characteristics added significantly to the…

Explores how six integrated interview strategies provoke and influence expression of children's thinking about a pen pal project with preservice teachers. Describes the interdependence of the strategies and emphasizes the match between researchers' desire for valid data and children's need for developmentally appropriate interview strategies.…

Discusses the value of curriculum integration and developmentally appropriate curriculum in middle school education. Suggests ways to incorporate standards into the integrative curriculum process that includes life skills competencies, prioritizing subject matter standards, organizing staff to teach the hybrid curriculum, and involving students.…

A developmentally appropriate curriculum should be an integral part of the written education and early childhood development services plan for every Head Start Program. Curriculum implementation is an ongoing process that includes developing a plan, orientating staff and families to the framework and its components, and providing continuous…

Examines two preschool programs in the New Orleans area in terms of their arrangement of indoor and outdoor space to implement developmentally appropriate practices. Explains that they can serve as inspiration to other early childhood professionals who struggle to create meaningful experiences for young children in "second-hand" space. (EV)

Describes five "A"s, issues that bind together early childhood educators and give them benchmarks to gauge success: (1) access; (2) affordability; (3) appropriateness; (4) accountability; and (5) advocacy. Asserts that only when all five "A"s are achieved will early childhood education be an enterprise of which all educators…

Clarifies issues surrounding teaching of the alphabet to preschoolers. Considers the meaning of "teaching" and examines links between letter knowledge, phonemic awareness, and learning to read. Presents suggestions for teaching the alphabet within developmentally appropriate practice guidelines, including beginning with the familiar, creating a…

While astronomy has recently re-emerged in many science curricula, there remain unresolved teaching and learning difficulties peculiar to astronomy education. This paper argues that mental model building, the core process in astronomy itself, should be reflected in astronomy education. Also, this crucial skill may promote a better understanding of…