Kindergarten provides the child with an introduction to the outside world and to various work activities appropriate to his stage of development. In order to select such activities, the kindergarten teacher must understand the child's growth, developmental, and learning processes both before he has entered school and during his kindergarten year.…

This paper addresses the nature of child-initiated episodes of mathematical patterning prior to formal schooling. In a multi-site case study, children's engagement in mathematical patterning experiences was investigated as was the teachers' involvement and influence in these experiences. A conceptual framework was used to guide the examination of…

This study investigated the management approaches employed by nursery teachers in Greece to deal with children's behavior problems. In particular, the extent, frequency of use, and effectiveness of behavioral, cognitive, and punitive approaches were investigated with regard to conduct, emotional, and developmentally related problems. Participating…

The Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program is a national system to improve the professional competence of early childhood teaching staff. This report presents the findings of the 1999 national survey to assess the impact of credentialing on individuals' careers and professional development. A sample of 4,993 CDAs was…

The Head Start Male Role Model Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential Program is based on the assumptions that men are valued as nurturers of small children; that low-income Black and Hispanic males can be successful as educators and role models to young children and other men; and that early childhood education can be a remunerative and…

The Centers for Disease Control estimate that each year more than 8,000 Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) babies are born, and that many more babies go undiagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE), a less severe condition. FAS and FAE have been identified as major contributors to poor memory, shorter attention spans, lower IQs, diminished achievement…

This study analyzed how Taiwanese kindergarten teachers evaluated events of various classroom management skills used by early childhood student teachers in group activities. The kindergarten teachers evaluated effectiveness, appropriateness, frequency of practicing similar skills themselves, and the need to modify any of the above. A questionnaire…

Research has shown that teacher involvement can stimulate and enrich children's play, with positive developmental consequences. This study examined teachers' thinking and practices in relation to the role of the teacher in children's outdoor play. Data were collected from eight preschools through teacher interviews and observations of children's…

Research suggests that children benefit from preschool programs only when the programs are of high quality. This study sought to ascertain if Texas public prekindergarten teachers and administrators recognized standards for high quality preschool consistent with nationally recognized standards, and to determine if their level of acceptance was…

This study investigated the perceptions of kindergarten teachers and Project Head Start teachers on how well Head Start students are prepared emotionally, socially, intellectually, and physically for kindergarten. The sample included 12 kindergarten teachers and 12 Head Start teachers in a county school system located in northeast Tennessee. The…

This study of dimensions of variation in preschool teachers' classroom talk involved 10 white, middle-class, experienced teachers in developmental classes. Audio recordings and observations were made of 30 minutes of free play time, 5 minutes of transition time, and 25 minutes of group time. For 8 of the teachers, group time included 10 minutes of…

Teacher education students surveyed about their perceptions of child advocacy indicated that to become successful advocates they needed to become more self-confident and politically aware and to be able to communicate effectively with knowledge of current issues, advocacy methods, and the political system. In order to facilitate the training of…

This paper reports on the implementation and informal evaluation of Project HEVRA--a cross-cultural inservice education program provided to supervisor/advisers of kindergarten teachers in Israel. Through inservice seminars initiated by an American consultant in conjunction with Israeli counterparts and through a series of monthly meetings,…

Teaching is a form of public service that may give personal fulfillment to those who are involved in it. It is important to highlight the personal dimensions of teaching along with the professional dimensions to help illustrate the teacher's role as a public servant. This paper discusses the practice of one Portuguese kindergarten teacher…

Noting that there is little information available about how child and teacher characteristics are related to child engagement behaviors, this study examined the effects of child characteristics on observed engagement in early childhood settings, and the interaction effects of child characteristics and teacher interaction behaviors on observed…