Process-oriented inquiry can help preservice and inservice early childhood teachers implement constructivist science education in their own classrooms. In this article, we discuss the basic elements of process-oriented inquiry applied to early childhood science education, show how we foster the development of process-oriented inquiry teaching…

Three professional development approaches have shown promise in raising the competency level of early childhood professionals in rural areas. Provider registry systems gather information that provides a foundation for further professional development initiatives and systemic development. Statewide professional development systems designed to serve…

Today, policymakers with an interest in school success no longer debate why states should provide pre-kindergarten; that case has been made successfully to voters, educators, and researchers. Instead, policymakers now wrestle with how to get the job done. Increasingly, they turn to what those in the pre-k field call "diverse" or…

This article focuses on an early childhood programme that has been initiated by the Institute for Educational Development at the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. The programme is a Certificate in Education and involves training teachers so as to enable them to understand early childhood education and development, and to become effective…

This monograph describes a year-long, retraining program for East Cleveland kindergarten teachers that was based on teacher involvement in group discussions and curriculum improvement activities. The program was developed in order to provide, with no additional funds, an education to inner-city children that compared favorably with the education…

Recognizing that families have played an essential role in the Head Start philosophy since the program's inception, the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) is an effort to develop a descriptive profile of families participating in the Head Start program and services, as well as to develop, test, and refine Program Performance…

Just as young children learn about the world around them by playing its scripts, teachers learn about teaching and learning by playing a teacher's script, observing what happens, and discussing all of the possibilities with other teachers. This book applies a constructivist model to staff development, describing staff development activities that…

Discusses ethical dilemma in early childhood education as identified by kindergarten and elementary school teachers. Investigates these dilemmas within the theoretical framework of moral relevance and moral conflict. Reveals that ethical dilemmas in early childhood education are relational and deal with competing interpretations of the best…

This qualitative study examined the job satisfaction of early childhood teachers in Hong Kong: one group of kindergarten teachers and their principal experiencing a top-down curriculum implementation, and a second group of student teachers implementing a bottom-up kindergarten art curriculum. Findings revealed the need for pedagogical skills and…

Describes changes in Head Start programs in the remote bush villages of Alaska over the past 25 years. Emphasizes the custom-designed teacher and staff training program. (BB)

Describes the process of adding a computer program to a preschool curriculum for four-year-old children. Discussed are goals, hardware and software, the teacher's role, activities, problems, and future plans. (BB)

Describes efforts of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Center for Career Development in Early Care and Education, the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition, and the Child Care Employee Project to help make work in the early childhood field a feasible career. Provides addresses and phone numbers for…

Examines factors contributing to and preventing the implementation of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) in early childhood education. Presents basic guidelines for DAP, illustrates the use of "both/and" thinking in early childhood practice, and describes the conversion of one school district to DAP. Concludes that administrative…

"Rethinking Early Childhood Education" is alive with the conviction that teaching young children involves values and vision. This anthology collects inspiring stories about social justice teaching with young children. Included here is outstanding writing from childcare teachers, early-grade public school teachers, scholars, and parents.…

Discusses new job opportunities for teachers trained in both early childhood and special education. (Author/RC)