Few researchers think in terms of their role in translating their findings into action in the field or in programs. The author recalls, when she was Director of Research and Evaluation for the Administration for Children Youth and Families, HHS, how much of the research was not being applied to what goes on or what was needed at the Head Start…

Increasingly, graduates across a range of professions are required to possess the ability to critically evaluate information, solve problems and participate in collaborative group work. Problem Based Learning (PBL) is a pedagogical approach to learning that emphasises student centred engagement with real problems or situations, involving learners…

One of the most controversial issues in foreign language (FL) teaching is the age at which language learning should start. Nowadays it is recognized that in second language contexts maturational constraints make an early start advisable, but there is still disagreement regarding the problem of when to start or the best way to learn in foreign…

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess and evaluate the grant selection process for reading excellence program in Ohio. School districts in Ohio were given the opportunity to apply for funding to support district based reading programs through a request for proposal procedures. An effort was made to reliably and equitably score the…

When and in what ways do infants recognize humans as intentional actors? An important aspect of this larger question concerns when infants recognize specific human actions (e.g. a reach) as object-directed (i.e. as acting toward goal-objects). In two studies using a visual habituation technique, 12-month-old infants were tested to assess their…

This article reviews research on the typical development of joint attention and challenges that infants and toddlers with autism experience in achieving this milestone. We define joint attention as coordinating attention to an event or object with another individual, sharing interest and social engagement, and showing an understanding that the…

In many areas of language acquisition, researchers have suggested that semantic generality plays an important role in determining the order of acquisition of particular lexical forms. However, generality is typically confounded with the effects of input frequency and it is therefore unclear to what extent semantic generality or input frequency…

In this time of rapid curriculum change within early childhood education, critical pedagogy is an ideal framework from which to view early childhood curriculum practice and research. It is the intention of this paper to provide a snapshot of the basic tenets of critical pedagogy and how these can be applied to early childhood curricular…

There are numerous ways that the needs of infants and toddlers can be met through legislation and other policies considered by the Congress or the administration. The ZERO TO THREE Policy Center translates scientific research into language and tools that policymakers can use to develop more effective policies. This document outlines ways…

There has recently been an unprecedented focus on early years care and education, particularly on the impact of the various adults who work and play with children in the birth to five/six-years age range. Staff in early years settings have had to adapt to many changes and demands, locally and nationally, from local authorities and national…

This paper asserts that through the process of observation, documentation, and interpretation of children's goals, strategies, and theories, teachers gain insight into children's thinking. As a result of this process, teachers are better able to engage children in conversations and investigations that have the potential to extend their learning in…

In this article, the authors discuss some myths about culture and literacy based on the deficit perspective, and add their voices to those advocating a contrasting transformational perspective. They present evidence for the importance of looking closely and respectfully at interactions among children and families to better understand their many…

Norway recently adopted a National Framework Plan for Preschools. In this study, the central questions are: (1) What does a Framework Plan for one to five year olds mean to the preschool teachers and their educational work with children? (2) What are preschool teachers' understandings of the concept of learning in their educational planning and…

This paper begins with a brief outline of the philosophical and methodological basis and the corresponding early education classroom practice envisaged and advocated by the current child-centred Irish Primary School Curriculum (1999). In the context of an overall 'fidelity-type' study, which sought to examine the degree to which the aforementioned…

Painting in early childhood classrooms should have its own values and purposes enriching young children's aesthetic intelligence rather than being considered as mere supplements to other art activities. The three approaches to painting in early childhood settings--Bank Street, Reggio, and Waldorf--consider painting as the core of integrated…