Once they begin kindergarten, America's children are taught by professionals with at least a four-year college degree. Prior to kindergarten, their teachers are far less prepared. Fewer than half of preschool teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and many have never even attended college. Noting that new research finds that young children's learning…

This project at Western Illinois University is a two-semester, participation-based, competency program designed to train undergraduate and graduate students to work with handicapped infants and preschoolers in a variety of service delivery settings. One of seven Dean's Grant programs for PL 94-142 training described in this issue. (Author/SJL)

This article describes the Early Years Summit, meetings between kindergarten and preschool educators in New Canaan, Connecticut, to improve communication and foster collaboration. Outcomes included defining the kindergarten curricula and outlining expectations for children's preschool experiences. The Summit collaboratively drafted a statement of…

Describes how one preschool teacher teaches children to learn to take responsibility for themselves by allowing them to make choices and decisions in the classroom within the limits of the rights and choices of others. (BB)

Discusses activities of emergent preschool writers and editors involved in the Writing Table Project at the Child and Family Center of the University of Nevada at Reno. (BB)

Describes ways in which the inclusion of literacy materials in kindergarten classroom dramatic play centers encourages young children to incorporate literacy activities into their play. (BB)

Examines how one Korean kindergarten used picture books to facilitate children's creativity. Describes students' responses to literature-based science activities related to a picture book. Concludes that good picture books can unleash children's minds from conventional science activities and that the development of the children's ideas depended on…

Details a partnership between the University of Michigan and a rural Head Start grantee to facilitate teacher dialogue and shared activities. Examines characteristics of effective school-university partnerships. Describes how a group of Head Start teachers became a community of learners through teacher visits, consultations, and presentations…

Describes the Learner Centered Sites Project in Buffalo, New York, a program designed to establish a model child-centered classroom at each early childhood center or site. Discusses how the program evolved in response to teachers' needs, concerns, and goals. Presents guidelines learned from 3 years of program operation and future plans. (KB)

Examines management styles, dispositions, and skills that provide a positive work environment for child care staff. Categorizes suggestions as offering genuine respect and trust, working with a vision for the future, sharing the decision-making process, rejecting a scarcity mentality, tending to the physical environment, and "walking the…

Discusses several reasons--societal attitudes, low pay, director attitudes, suspicion, unequal treatment, and isolation-- why so few men seek employment in the child care profession. Offers suggestions for recruiting and retaining men in child care settings. (TJQ)

Describes the Early Learning Childhood Center in Azerbaijan's capital city. Focuses on the goals of the program; its initial development; staff ratios, compensation, and teacher training; curriculum; cultural challenges and compromise; and relationships with parents. Asserts that developing a culturally sensitive program is extremely difficult,…

Chronicles the experiences of a rural West Virginia school district as it moved toward implementing developmentally appropriate practices in kindergarten through Grade 2. Examines the development of a plan for assessment and professional growth, and recommendations of the K-2 task force. Describes how four professional development goals were…

Antarctica gathered in Ruschlikon, Switzerland, at the International Symposium on Early Childhood Education and Care for the 21st Century. The symposium's mission was to craft guidelines for programs that serve children under the age of formal schooling in countries throughout the world. After extensive discussions about what constitutes universal…

In order to meet the NASPE (2002) "Active Start" guidelines for preschool age children, it is important to consider a number of factors. Preschoolers should have plenty of unstructured as well as structured (planned) physical play throughout each day. They are quite capable physically and should accumulate considerable practice of their…