Examines the types of questions that teachers and other adults use with young children. The impact of these questions on children's cognitive development is also considered. Suggests questioning strategies for early childhood teachers. (BB)

Reviews five books on talk in the classroom; teaching with humor and play; how children talk, write, dance, draw, and sing their understanding of the world; talented teenagers; and life histories of women teachers working for social change. (BAC)

Views school readiness as an ideological issue affecting American society and dominated by middle-class white values, which results in different treatment for middle-class students and "deficient students." Advocates moving away from a two-tiered system of education and toward a more democratic form of schooling that recognizes multiple…

Discusses the importance of helping children learn about the environment, describing several projects undertaken in Britain to foster children's environmental and aesthetic education. Presents strategies that parents can use to encourage aesthetic learning. (MDM)

Offers an alternative approach to spelling instruction as exemplified in a fourth-grade teacher's spelling program. The program emphasizes learning how to spell as opposed to learning spellings and considers students' individual needs. Discusses the program's classroom orientation, weekly spelling timetable, and general underlying principles. (SM)

Discusses questions dealing with children's learning to read and write; children's drawing; encouragement, correction, and interpretation of children's writing; and writing programs. Suggests that parents and teachers can promote children's writing by creating an environment for children that develops confidence and by understanding the processes…

Considers how to provide a supportive, secure environment to children of divorce through opportunities to exercise personal control, being tolerant of variable academic performance, and expressing faith in children's character and capacity for growth. Provides suggestions for creating safe channels for communication and teaching children coping…

Asserts that regardless of the method used to teach reading, children first need a strong basis in phonemic awareness. Describes phonemic awareness, differentiates it from phonics, and presents available research findings. Advises on the development of phonemic awareness and creation of a classroom environment supportive of its development. (SD)

During the King Center Charter School's five years of existence, the school has evolved into a unique 21st century laboratory school, soliciting meaningful parental involvement to help close the achievement gap for the students. As indicated, students' academic achievement and social/ emotional competency have increased over the years. This…

Discusses the qualities that educators need to function effectively in a range of child care settings (multiple settings) such as traditional schools, shopping malls, industrial establishments and museums. Decision-making skills, sensitive communicative skills, interest in continuing to learn, and questioning of practice are among the qualities…

Offers four suggestions for creating a classroom with a suportive, stimulating, and language-conducive environment. (HOD)

Excerpts from the keynote address of the 1976 Association for Childhood Education International study conference. Argues for a concern for the whole child--his body, his mind and his feelings and for helping children develop in all these areas. (MS)

Reports on European preschools and child care arrangements considering particularly teacher-child ratios, school entry and amount of playground space available. (MS)

Authors summarize some simple, basic ways innovative teachers have sought to extend and unify learning environments for boys and girls in elementary schools. (Authors/CB)

This reform-proposal comes not so much from changes in staffing or in organization or in new curriculum guides, as it does from deep commitments and strong beliefs. (Author)