The transition to formal schooling is a landmark event for millions of children, but transition practices commonly used may not be well-suited to the needs of children and families. This research and policy brief, a quarterly synthesis of issues addressed by investigators and affiliates of the National Center for Early Development and Learning,…

Based on a parent's journal maintained throughout the year, this book recounts the hopes, challenges, fears, and joys experienced by a parent during her son's year in kindergarten. Illustrating teacher-parent communication and one teacher's teaching philosophy are messages from the child's teacher, and excerpts from weekly newsletters. (KB)

Cognitive skills, engagement in school, social skills, and physical well being are all important for children's early success in school. However, some groups of children begin kindergarten less ready for school than others and, by the end of first grade, still haven't "caught up" with their more successful peers. This CrossCurrents brief reports…

There has been a material increase in the number of kindergartens and in the number of kindergarten children enrolled in the public schools during the year 1919-20 in spite of after-war conditions. During the war there was no increase in kindergartens throughout the United States. Since the war, increased school budgets, due to building programs…

This article describes the methods and initial results of a pilot program (conducted by a team of psychologists and special educators in a rural school district) to demonstrate and evaluate the feasibility of a multidisciplinary, early-identification assessment program for handicapped children. Families were interviewed and on Community Clinic Day…

Behavior changes which improve school performance can be facilitated by cooperative efforts of elementary counselors and parents. Through modeling procedures and brief instruction in the principles of behavior modification, parents can be trained to systematically reinforce behavior which facilitates learning. (Author)

Correlations among motor, visual, auditory, and language subscales of a primary device, Yellow Brick Road, with subsequent academic achievement on the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills were moderate (.35 to .81). Comparisons of third-grade boys and girls on the screening device yielded little difference. Implications for educational screening…

Elementary school boys in a program for the emotionally disturbed were administered the Revised Beery and Bender-Gestalt. A significant correlation of .73 between age-equivalent scores was obtained. Although mean scores did not differ significantly from one another, scores were quite varied. The implications of such variability are discussed.…

Assesses the quality of a Head Start program and compares it to a nursery school via a survey of 30 parents from each school/program. Reveals that this one rural South Dakota Head Start program is meeting its goals. (AH)

The effects of training in test-taking skills on the readiness test performance of young Spanish-speaking children from low socioeconomic backgrounds were assessed. Findings support the hypothesis that testwiseness is an important influence for such children and should be considered in assessment programs. (Author/AL)

The relationship between four characteristics of children entering first grade (cognitive, dental and motor development, and adaptive behavior) and achievement at the end of the first grade year were determined. Interrelationships among the independent variables were also determined. (Author/GK)

Describes the Minnesota Preschool Inventory and provides data regarding its validity. Results based on a study of (N=360) prekindergarten children indicated that low scores on certain developmental scales question children's abilities to meet kindergarten expectations. Parent concerns, adjustment scales, and symptoms may point to a need for…

In a three-year cumulative study, more than 1,000 children were observed either in randomly arranged preschool classrooms or in classrooms deliberately arranged to promote learning. Creativity, oral language use, and development of science and number concepts were significantly higher for children in the specially planned classrooms. (Author/SJL)

Examines school readiness practices, along with the conceptual problems with the ways that "readiness" and "at risk" are defined. Analyzes methodological problems, delayed school entrance, and focuses on studies that examined future school retention rates, later use of special education services, and drop-out rates. Offers suggestions for best…

A professor and students from Washburn University, Topeka (Kansas) interviewed C. S. Sudduth, one of the few remaining alumni of the Tennessee Town Kindergarten, the first kindergarten for black children west of the Mississippi, founded in 1893. His story preserves a history of educational innovation and equal opportunities for black students.…