This revised edition of the first volume of the "Best of the Running Record Newsletter" contains 23 articles published between March 1989 and Spring 1998--some selections are from the now out-of-print first edition. Articles are arranged by subject matter to assist the reader in finding articles which address a particular point of…

In order to better understand the role of child-centered learning strategies in creating democratic, collaborative behaviors for states of the former Soviet Union, this study evaluated the impact of Step by Step, an early childhood development program in Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, and Ukraine. The study compared educational performance and…

Reading Recovery teachers can determine the child's literacy performance by using patterns of responding, that is, what the child mostly does in reading and writing. The child's performance informs the teaching, and close observation is the key to being able to "follow the child." Observation is central to the idea of following the…

The purpose of this paper is to examine Reading Recovery training in relation to three models for teaching and learning: instructor-centered, student-centered, and community-centered. Typically, the theories on which these models are based have been used to predict how children learn and how they should be taught. However, the theories and…

This paper focuses on the administrative support needed to establish a Reading Recovery program that works effectively at school and district levels. It first establishes three important ideas for Reading Recovery to work: leadership is required; change cannot be accomplished in one or two years; and program effectiveness is dependent upon the…

This book defines and examines assumptions about children who were prenatally exposed to crack/cocaine and who have other risk factors that may negatively affect their literacy development. It suggests the 26 children in the study disproved the labels attached to them; they were inquisitive about learning and in most cases were at grade level or…

A study examined the implementation of the Indiana Early Literacy Intervention Grant Program during the 1997-98 school year, when the program funded a total of 133 projects and served 9,685 students in its first year. The study incorporated an analysis of existing databases, a systematic review of the research literature on reading interventions,…

This annual report details the July 1, 1997-September 30, 1998 activities of First Steps, a system of early intervention services for Missouri children with disabilities, developmental delays, or special health care needs from birth to age three and their families. First Steps is a cooperative, collaborative, interagency effort of the state…

This paper suggests that in addressing the issue of parent-professional congruence in child assessment, researchers should avoid focusing on the conventional aspects of interrater reliability and rater interchangeability, but rather should focus on the reliability of the pooled assessment information from parents and professionals. A…

This article describes a comprehensive approach to identifying children needing evaluation for exceptional education needs while providing support to parents. Professionals from education, public health, social services, and child care collaborate to provide parents with information, observe children in play, and respond to parents' concerns.…

This article provides strategies that early childhood special educators can use to incorporate the learning of specific skills into a variety of developmentally appropriate play activities for children with disabilities. The development of individualized education programs that incorporate play as a framework for intervention is discussed. (CR)

Findings from two studies investigating sources of variations in perceived control appraisals of parents involved in a family-centered early intervention/family support program are described. Results indicated that parent, family, and child characteristics were not related to differences in control appraisals. Practitioner help-giving styles and…

The literature on the effects of congenital blindness on infants' development of motor functions and concepts of object permanence is reviewed. The article questions the idea that infants must first develop an object concept before sound clues alone will elicit reaching. Possible interventions to redress the effects of congenital blindness on…

Assessed whether the timing of prenatal care related to low birth weight delivery, adjusting for sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors. Data on births to white and African American women showed no benefits for early initiation of prenatal care in reducing the risk of low birth weight.(SM)

This article describes the Science Starts Early program, which is designed to expose young, potentially gifted children, particularly girls, to basic scientific principles that will allow them to explore the world around them. A Science Starts Early program curriculum is described and examples are provided of experiments. (Contains references.)…