A study was conducted to analyze the impact of the Reading Recovery Program on first grade students in Vigo County, Indiana. The program was implemented in Vigo County just last school year (2000-01). For the study, a first-round sample of 51 students who were successfully discontinued from Reading Recovery was measured to obtain information on…

Noting that early intervention can be an effective method to help children who have special needs and their parents, this study explored the relationship between a mother's knowledge of development and the age at which she recognizes her child's special needs. The second portion of the Knowledge of Infant Development Inventory was used to quantify…

Governors and other state policymakers are turning to volunteer reading tutoring programs to improve children's reading ability. The Committee for Economic Development, a nonpartisan organization of business leaders and educators, reports a steady rise in the number of businesses that are volunteering personnel to participate in business-school…

Scientists estimate that 95% of children can be taught to read. Recent studies have made it possible to understand how literacy develops and why some children have difficulty learning to read. The primary purpose of this literature review is to examine reading teaching models and their application in an effective reading/early intervention…

In the face of pervasive violence in American schools and society, many schools have begun to consider making violence prevention and conflict resolution part of their curricula. Faced with such a culture of violence, curricula that teach students the attitudes and skills they need to avoid violence seem to provide a sound strategy for violence…

A major challenge to state and jurisdictional policy makers in implementing the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities, Part C under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), continues to be determining definitions of developmental delay and criteria of eligibility for services to young children, birth…

This paper summarizes the details of a workshop which sought to bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and university educators to consider the current state of knowledge about emergent and early literacy learning, with the overarching question: what additional knowledge is needed about early literacy learning? Six specific topic…

There has recently been an explosion of interest and writing about autism, autism spectrum disorders, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS). This issue of the "Early Childhood Bulletin" suggests readings for parents, therapists, and professionals serving on Interagency…

Noting that parents often receive little support during their child's first weeks and months, this paper discusses how voluntary home visiting for families with young children can help provide parents of all educational, economic, and cultural backgrounds with the information, advice, and support they need in their new role. The paper notes the…

Young people with chronic conditions experience more difficulties with psychological adjustment than healthy young people. A chronic condition is one that persists for longer than 3 months; a clear diagnosis is not required before a problem can be defined as chronic. Various approaches to improve the psychological outcome for young people with…

Noting that there has been steady growth since 1986 in the number of children and families served in early intervention programs for infants/toddlers with disabilities, this report excerpts an article examining the current status of early intervention and outlines five issues believed to be critical in the coming decade. These issues are: (1)…

This guidebook for parents and early intervention personnel was developed by the "Let's Play! Project," a 3-year federally supported project that worked to promote play in infants and toddlers with disabilities through the use of "low-tech" assistive technology. The guide is organized around six emerging stages of play development: (1) sensory…

This book addresses the importance of the California Reading Initiative (CRI) to children who are struggling readers or who have reading disabilities. It notes the CRI focuses on disseminating information from research results and fostering teaching practices drawn from this research. This book emphasizes aspects of reading instruction for…

This pamphlet, in English- and Spanish-language versions, offers information to parents on the functioning and benefits of Head Start, a federal program for preschool children from low-income families. The pamphlet's sections answer the following questions: (1) "What Is Head Start?" (2) "What Can the Head Start Program Offer to Your…

The concept of critical or sensitive periods in child development provides an example around which to organize discussion of what is known and not known about brain development and the implications of brain science on early childhood policy and practice. This book reviews the early history of critical periods and evidence for their existence in…