Designed for teachers and others involved in the development of early childhood education programs, the resource guide presents a model for teaching children, ages four through seven. Part 1 presents a brief overview of the growth and background of early childhood education in Maryland. Part 2 traces the origins and development of kindergarten education, with attention given to leading pioneers and legislative mandates. Part 3 discusses the pioneering of prekindergarten in Maryland. Part 4 deals with the goals of early childhood education, and part 5 categorizes the characteristics and needs of young children by age. Part 6, the bulk of the document, gives the details of program implementation. Topics include: kindergarten, the classroom environment, learning centers, room arrangement, scheduling, curriculum, language development, and instructional approaches to reading, literature, handwriting, spelling, mathematics, the social sciences, and the world of work. The final section emphasizes the importance of teamwork by teachers, parents, nurses, aides, volunteers, and others associated with the program. Also provided are a classroom map, sample schedules, and a bibliography of over 80 books written between 1964 and 1979. (LH)