Currently, age is the primary indicator of kindergarten readiness. A concise list of readiness skills to guide parents and teachers when deciding if a child is ready for kindergarten is lacking. The literature reveals that older age kindergarten entrance is not a predictor of academic success, nor is age an accurate indicator of readiness. In this…

The early childhood education workforce is critical to the economic well-being of the state of Arizona as well as the future of children. Research has consistently shown that the commitment, education, experience and continuity of teachers for young children are primary factors affecting their early learning and their development of math,…

Maintains that center directors can help teachers increase their professional competence by helping them examine their belief systems. Describes the use of an assessment tool designed to help teachers reflect on their role in the classroom and their attitudes and beliefs about children and parents. (SM)

This publication reports findings from the second year of an implementation study of the Early Childhood Cluster Initiative (ECCI). ECCI is a prekindergarten program in ten elementary schools and a community child care center in Palm Beach County, based on the design of the High/Scope Perry Preschool model. The initiative is characterized by low…

This study was conducted to identify and validate the work-related problems of public school teachers in Florida's Prekindergarten Early Intervention Program which targets economically at-risk 3- and 4-year olds. The study was designed to answer three questions: (1) What problems are perceived to be most bothersome and occur most frequently? (2)…

Survey and assessment instruments used in the Child Development Associate (CDA) Training Provider Improvement System are offered in this document. Included are a self-assessment tool for CDA training providers and an update of the National Program Survey. The survey was designed to address the need for a national database on the CDA program and…

This study examined the relationship between teachers' beliefs and intentions about the importance of teacher-child interactions. The participants were 71 early childhood teachers who had worked with children ages 35 for an average of 9 years (range 0-29). Roughly 35% of the teachers had majored in early childhood education, and 63% held at least…

A language evaluation instrument was devised to assess the accuracy of program implementation by teachers of four Australian preschool programs. The Teacher Language Instrument (TLI) categorizes each verbal episode of a teaching interchange for both mode and function. Five general mode categories of teacher language behavior--statements,…

Twenty-two family day care providers and twelve home visitors from seven Massachusetts agency-sponsored family day care systems completed two-part questionnaires investigating their perceptions of their own and each other's ideal and actual "on the job" behavior. Provider-questionnaire items focused on (1) physical environment of home,…

The early childhood years serve as an essential foundation for subsequent literacy development. Despite the increased attention given to children's early literacy development, gaps remain in our understanding of what is actually taking place in child care programs across the nation. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to assess the extent…

This study examined the relationship between day care center size and child care workers' level of job commitment and job satisfaction. Surveys were completed by 128 teachers and aides who worked full-time in non-profit child care centers in the Chicago metropolitan area. The results of the data analysis revealed that there was not a statistically…

This survey of American kindergarten programs and practices was conducted in April 1985 on a random sample of 2,965 schools nationwide. Survey instruments were mailed to one kindergarten teacher and to the principal in each of these schools, with a response rate of 36 percent for teachers (1,082) and 41 percent for principals (1,228). The teacher…

A follow-up to a September 1985 survey of Illinois teachers of 3- to 6-year-old handicapped children, these rating scales are designed to determine more specifically the perceived knowledge and skill needs of a random sample of teachers of young handicapped children. Information obtained from the rating scales are to be used by the Illinois State…

The purpose of this Child Development Associate (CDA) training module, one in a series of 18, is to provide the CDA intern with the knowledge and skills necessary for the administration of early childhood programs. The module stipulates competency-based objectives and provides essential information, suggestions, examples and learning activities on…

The School Readiness Language Development Program (SRLDP) is one of several programs developed in response to a court order to racially integrate the Los Angeles Unified School District (California). The program, developed for schools with high proportions of minority students, includes oral language development opportunities for 4 year-olds, a…