The current academic focus of the Race to the Top education initiative, as well as that of its predecessor, No Child Left Behind, is in keeping with democratic ideals about success for all. However, the push-down approach to academics has transformed pre-school classrooms into environments that more closely resemble first or second grade. Many…

Raising and educating healthy young boys is an area of increasing concern among early childhood educators, child development experts, and parents. A growing body of research has raised questions about young boys' vulnerability on a number of fronts: social/emotional development, expulsion from preschool, referral to special education, and academic…

Discusses the importance of science education in early childhood education and describes different approaches in incorporating physics into the preschool curriculum. Provides examples of experiments and encourages parent participation in children's science activities. Concludes by looking at science as an equity issue and emphasizes that science…

Asserts that teasing and bullying are hurtful to children physically and emotionally, and can seriously affect the child who does the teasing or bullying, the child who is teased or bullied, and bystanders who see it happening. Offers suggestions for Head Start to take positive action to address this behavior before it takes root and grows. (SD)