Teachers, center directors, principals, and policy makers constantly make decisions about early childhood education. Early educators are increasingly expected to draw connections between what they do in the classroom and what research shows. Researchers are encouraged to investigate matters critical to educators' day-to-day work with children and…

The kindergarten discussed in this article is part of the college preparatory program of a K-12 school. The school focuses on a wide variety of developmental skills and cognitive challenges to ensure the mastery of skills by each child/student at every grade level along the way. All teachers emphasize skills development. The kindergarten…

Describes research on Piaget's theories on the importance of exploration, use of concrete objects, and self-directed learning for children. Relates the concepts of construction and instruction to educational models and teaching roles. (DR)

FirstSchool is a school reform approach to early schooling for children 3 to 8 years old. It was developed over the past five years through a collaborative partnership among families, schools, communities, and institutions of higher education. The approach responds to the needs of all young children--especially in African American or Latino…

Describes an educational project from which was derived a theory of development, a theory of curriculum and a theory of teaching, designed to create an educational system that would be unique in its power to release human potential. (Author/RK)

The evidence suggests that parents have great influence upon the behavior of their children, particularly their intellectual and academic achievement, and that programs which teach parents skills in educating their children are effective supplements or alternatives for preschool education." (Author)

Examines three challenges facing the field of early childhood education: (1) homogenization of early childhood education; (2) over-scientization of the field; and (3) bureaucratization of early childhood education. (KB)