Experiences in the natural world help children understand life cycles and seasons, make prediction and become aware of the interdependence between plants, animals, and elements like rain and sun. Early childhood is a critical time to support children's connections to the natural world because young children are naturally curious and there is so…

Research tells us that specialized training and education of teachers is one of the strongest predictors of child care quality. In the late 1960s, however, most states did not require preservice training or higher education for teachers in early childhood programs or family child care homes. At that time, Missouri wanted to develop a project that…

In a university lab preschool, teachers initiated a curriculum development approach using child-centered webbing. The authors look at problems early childhood education students encountered in implementing the approach at the school, including incorporating early learning standards into the planning while keeping the focus on the child. The…

The challenge is ever present for NAEYC's chapter Affiliates to find new members who want to make a commitment to the organization and to have fresh, innovative ideas that will sustain local groups. Involving undergraduates in local Affiliates contributes to preparing the next generation of leaders, a necessary strategy for preserving and…

Awareness of the important roles dispositions play in the teaching process and in young children's education is growing. With the inclusion of disposition in the revised National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards, education for preservice teachers must increase its focus on the nature of dispositions. This…

The Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) is an innovative, accredited, internationally recognized program that is based at the School of Child and Youth Care, University of Victoria, in British Columbia, Canada. While the operation's core base is small, the virtual university's network and its impact are global. It works to…

In this article, the authors discuss how Bennington College Early Childhood Center (ECC) developed a dual language program. In a dual language program, children are immersed in two languages throughout the day. Each classroom has two teachers, one speaking English, the other the second language exclusively. Children learn the second language in…

Hyson briefly describes a number of national fellowships sponsored by professional associations, foundations, and government agencies-some intended for early career professionals, others for mid-career professionals, and still others for graduate students.

Community partnerships serving young children and families take many forms. This article presents six community partnerships that are engaged in innovative and creative approaches to learning. These programs have varied goals, but they share a common focus on linking community resources to enhance learning opportunities for the children and…

Today we often hear that early care and education is becoming or should become a profession. In this article, the authors discuss what it means to be a profession, and a professional and consider how these characteristics apply to the field of early care and education now and in the future. Professionals possess specialized knowledge and…

Early childhood educators respect children's need to construct their own knowledge by supporting curricula that allow children to make choices and to be active learners. However, what everyone appears to want for students--a wide array of learning opportunities that engage students in experiencing, creating, and solving real problems, using their…