Describes the Elma School District (Washington) birth-to-kindergarten program. One-fourth of the 100 students in the program are developmentally delayed. Family-focus elements include parent volunteers, home visits, class visitations, parenting information dissemination, parent-teacher conferences, referral to social services, and intervention.…

Describes successful practices and procedures for designing effective infant care programs for children born to teenage parents, including supervisory support for nurturing caregiver-child relationships, continuous staff training in infant development, low teacher-child ratios, active parent involvement, a child development curriculum, and…

Discusses how early childhood programs can blend developmentally appropriate practices with early childhood special education recommended practices. The elements of an inclusive program and the guidelines to developmentally appropriate practice are explained, and strategies for implementing both practices within the same setting are described. (CR)

Examines recent research on developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) and social-emotional and cognitive development and what has been learned about DAP in early childhood classrooms. Finds that, in general, child-initiated environments are associated with higher levels of cognitive functioning, which, coupled with findings on stress and…

Although most people believe that schools exist to help children learn and achieve, some wonder why children's instruction must be hurried and why kindergarten is becoming so academic. Full-day programs, which accommodate parents' work schedules, are now commonplace; they may benefit some disadvantaged kids more than their affluent counterparts.…

Presents an example of how a teacher can incorporate "play" into the music classroom. Describes play in general, discusses musical play, and considers the benefits of play for children. Addresses the teacher's role and how teachers can enter into children's play. (CMK)

Provides a general background on child-centered learning, focusing on topics such as "center time" and children's play. Offers suggestions that will enable early childhood teachers to implement child-centered music practices. Considers ideas on different music centers and activities for teachers interested in developing a child-centered music…

Describes the changes that took place at a private nursery school when it decided to replace teacher-directed art activities, an early emphasis on academic skills, and other developmentally inappropriate activities with student-centered and student-directed art and play activities that are more developmentally appropriate. (MDM)

The multi-age teams (MATs) at one Georgia middle school fostered continuous, individual student progress unachievable in more conventional classrooms. In MAT groups, assignments to classes were based on students' interests, abilities, performance, and other maturational factors, regardless of chronological age. Opportunities for remediation and…

Presents the position of the International Reading Association and the National Association for the Education of Young Children regarding early-literacy development to guide teachers of young children in schools and early childhood programs. Presents rationale and supporting research for their position. Describes early-literacy development and…

Map making is an exercise in spatial relationships, perspective, and direction, and also can increase students' knowledge of their community and sense of place. In a Roger Tory Peterson Institute program, children map the environment around their school and simultaneously learn science, mathematics, language arts, and social studies. Describes…

Suggests that a better understanding of effective methods for teaching adults will contribute to a paradigm shift in training of child care center staff based on developmentally appropriate practices for adults. Details seven recommendations for improving staff training, and contrasts appropriate and inappropriate practice in the areas of…

A kindergarten teacher relates her teaching experiences as she reexamines her role as teacher and shifts her focus from reading readiness to teaching reading. She reflects on her teaching practices, on learning new skills herself, and the challenge of incorporating new knowledge and practices into classroom instruction. (TJQ)

Chronicles the experiences of a rural West Virginia school district as it moved toward implementing developmentally appropriate practices in kindergarten through Grade 2. Examines the development of a plan for assessment and professional growth, and recommendations of the K-2 task force. Describes how four professional development goals were…

Contends that viewing film clips is a developmentally appropriate practice for primary grades. Provides a list of selected film clips to use with young children and details copyright guidelines for off-air videotaping. Presents steps for effectively incorporating film clips into the early childhood curriculum, including viewing the film…