Peer relationships play an important role in socialization during childhood and young adolescence. Negative relationships may pose multiple difficulties for children related to their development that can have lifelong influences. Research indicates that the quality of peer relationships is associated with a variety of outcomes, such as social…

Teachers can encourage youngsters to express their ideas creatively by providing help in three areas--content, language, and process. In terms of content, children often have few resources for tapping their thoughts, and may need 'pump primers' such as being told the beginning and end of a story and speculating about a variety of middles. Once…

Literacy props (including writing implements, books, and paper) placed in all classroom centers encourage the development of emerging literacy. The Environmental Literacy Scan is a self-assessment tool for optimal use of literacy props in classroom centers. Keen observation of children's play to determine their levels of understanding and…

Discusses the challenge of providing preservice teachers with the knowledge and skills needed for effective participation in a democratic society. Focuses on the importance of understanding the rights and responsibilities of citizens living in a democracy. Emphasizes citizenship for a democracy, dimensions of effective classroom management and…

Discusses the importance of the outdoor play area for infant and toddler cognitive, physical and social development. Also discusses design, landscape and arrangement considerations for the play area. (RJC)

Japanese nursery school and kindergarten activities are designed to facilitate the socialization of Japanese children. The culture of the home and the culture of the school (and by extension the rest of Japanese society) are so different from each other that it is believed the open and unselfconscious help of the education system is necessary to…

Describes two conservation education programs that target local primary schools and use national parks in Malaysian Borneo (Kinabalu Park) and central Brazil (Morro do Diabo Park). Both were designed using a comprehensive systems evaluation model and both resulted in cognitive and affective gains for students. (LB)

Describes characteristics of immigrant children from the former Soviet Union and implications of these characteristics for U.S. teachers. Considers differences between U.S. and Soviet schools in scheduling practices, bathroom routines, racial composition, meals, languages, clothing, naps, and parent/school relationships. (LB)

Discusses domestic violence as a social issue and the roles of school, social worker, and teacher in combating domestic violence. Focuses on teachers' roles in identifying domestic violence and includes questions to assist in identification. Suggests ways to respond to a child's disclosure of violence, and classroom strategies to establish a…

Discusses ways teachers can create a supportive literacy environment in the classroom for young children. Considers activities that encourage children's language use, and recommends creating an unhurried atmosphere, responding to cultural differences, and including a mix of planned and child-initiated activities. (JPB)

Encouraging the love of reading is a vitally important priority that has positive consequences for students' literacy growth, both now and in the future. Children need daily, in-school opportunities to enjoy reading and become immersed in reading as a lifetime activity. Although a wide variety of considerations are useful for promoting the reading…

The adversities that today's families face are well-documented and staggering. Even in the midst of tough times, however, many families are able to display resilience. Family resilience refers to the coping mechanisms the family uses as a functional unit to recover from life's setbacks. In this article, the authors present guidelines for creating…

Suggests ways to help put students in touch with their world, especially the school and local areas. The use of "webbing" to stimulate series of learning activities is also presented. (SDH)

Swedish preschool programs evidence respect for the ability of the child and a sense that every aspect of daily life has its learning as well as esthetic value. (NH)