Presents 14 reflections about the role of teachers. Topics include taking a stand on a select group of issues; decision making; teachers' judgment; teaching self-respect; teachers as lifelong students; respect for adversaries; the power of ideas; and the optimum environment. (RJC)

Much can be gained by providing preschool children opportunities to work on projects. Projects invite children's participation at various developmental levels; strengthen their capacity and disposition for involvement in work requiring sustained effort; and are ideal for mixed age, ability, or linguistic groups. Teachers have a central role to…

Suggests that early childhood teachers should eliminate boring, repetitive activities from their curriculum and engage students' minds in activities that stimulate thinking and reasoning. Instead of making paper snowflakes, for example, children might discuss and examine the characteristics of snow, study weather, and engage in other creative…

Although there are many ways in which the roles of parents and teachers overlap during the very early years, there are important distinctions in their roles that often become a source of stress, especially to teachers. Seven distinctions in these roles are described: (1) scope of functions; (2) intensity of feelings; (3) intensity of attachment;…

Proposes replacing the term child-centered with child-sensitive to indicate more accurately the major role of teachers in determining the curriculum and activities offered to young children. In contrast to the laissez-faire, child-indulgent approach of many child-centered programs, a child sensitive approach would encourage teachers to capitalize…

Maintains that, because social development begins in the early years, it is appropriate for early childhood programs to include periodic formal and informal assessments of children's progress in the acquisition of social competence. A checklist of social attributes for teachers to use in examining children is provided. (BB)

This essay examines distinctions between the roles of mothers and teachers, and draws implications for mothers, teachers, parent education programs, and research. Differences between the roles of mothers and teachers are discussed in terms of seven dimensions: (1) scope of functions (diffuse and limitless versus specific and limited); (2)…

This book presents five papers that address a variety of issues confronting those who work directly with young children and their teachers. The first three articles present ways of thinking about what constitutes professionalism in working with children and parents. Specifically, "Contemporary Perspectives on the Roles of Mothers and…