How did early childhood education become "risky" for children and teachers? This paper takes a series of booklets written in the 1990s as a case study of the entry of official anxiety about sexual abuse in early childhood centres in New Zealand. I argue that these documents provided a basis for policy development which reflects risk…

The impact of four computer input devices (mouse, EZ ball, touch pad, touch screen) for 81 preschoolers (ranging from 34 to 78 months of age) and 43 early childhood educators (mean age was 29 years and 9 months) was examined. Participants played two computer games with 10 trials for each game followed by a survey assessing their preferences for…

This policy brief explores kindergarten readiness observation and its benefits to local and state level stakeholders; highlights efforts by California counties and other states to measure school readiness; and makes recommendations for moving toward statewide use of kindergarten readiness observation tools. Key points include: (1) Early efforts to…

This is the first in a series of four booklets describing the Child Development Associate (CDA) Project at the California State College in Pennsylvania, one of the 13 original CDA pilot programs. Included in this booklet are a brief overview of the national CDA program; a history of the college's involvement in CDA; statistical information about…

This is the third in a series of four booklets describing the Child Development Associate (CDA) Project at the California State College in Pennsylvania, one of the 13 original CDA pilot programs. This booklet describes a self-assessment program to be used as a stimulus for the development of a training plan and includes the following sections:…

This practicum report describes the development and implementation of an inservice program for four teachers who, in order to meet Federal integration guidelines, were given kindergarten assignments for which they were not certified. Comparison of test scores of disadvantaged kindergarten children taught by trained and untrained teachers revealed…

Presents and evaluates a model for group mental health consultation with teachers in which sessions are organized around mental health issues rather than cases. The rationale and advantages of the model are explicated and the different roles of the consultant during the session and the variety of techniques employed are described. (Author/KS)

Discusses coaching programs designed to give direct supervision and feedback to teachers through on-site support and technical assistance. Three coaching models cited are peer, mentor, and technical. States that research demonstrates benefits to teachers being coached, to teachers acting as coaches, and to schools. (NH)

Preschool and kindergarten teachers set the stage for a child to learn to read with some critical early skills. First, second, and third grade teachers then take up the task of building the skills that children will use every day for the rest of their lives. Parents can help by understanding what teachers are teaching and by asking questions about…

This paper describes the development of a Professional Development School (PDS) partnership between a comprehensive state university and an all kindergarten elementary school. The PDS coordinator began the process of collaboration with the school principal in spring 2002. The principal invited the PDS coordinator and a university faculty member to…

Research suggests that project learning has great potential to foster a comprehensive knowledge base for teachers. This paper describes the rationale for weaving project learning into early childhood teacher education programs and describes how teacher educators can effectively implement the strategy in their curriculum. Included is a discussion…

Low compensation, in both earnings and benefits, and the resulting high turnover of staff and low quality of programs in early childhood care and education are a national problem. Noting that how we define and view the problem, and the strategies we adopt to solve it, may differ depending on perspectives and disciplines, this paper expands the…

Describes the enthusiastic support of parents and early childhood educators for including computer activities in programs for young children in Hong Kong. Describes the current status of computer environments in Hong Kong kindergartens, noting the lack of curriculum guidelines for integrating computers into classrooms, the lack of resources to…

Describes the success of early childhood education programs in Eritrea which are based on the principle "we should proceed in the way we wish to finish." Identifies the social, cultural, and developmental factors an educator must consider. Notes how multilingualism and multiculturalism are of special importance in Eritrean early…

Reports on new activities and ideas from various sources: a humorous test to evaluate whether a teacher has taught too long; differences between generations in reporting school influences; health and safety monitors in child care centers; usefulness of an advisory board; and staff recreation. (SH)