Over its 40 years, Head Start has evolved from serving a population of primarily Spanish-speaking English-language learners to working with children and families who speak more than 140 different languages. In some Head Start classrooms, as many as 10 different languages are used by the children. In other classrooms, a majority of the…

Words are only one way of symbolizing ideas. Numbers, pictures, graphs, maps, diagrams, photographs, and other means are also used to convey information. Researchers refer to notational systems such as graphs, diagrams, and maps as "inscriptions." Inscriptions are tools that help people to perceive and to talk about spatial worlds. Spatial…

Early childhood program directors must juggle many responsibilities while averting one crisis after another. Although directors have to be experts in multitasking, most often they assume their many responsibilities with little or no specialized training. This article describes how the authors created the Directors of the Midlands Development and…

Suggests the many learning areas that can be incorporated into mapping activities, to help children develop skills in using symbols. (ED)

Discusses the issue of informal versus structured programs for preschool children. Reviews the development of and rationale behind traditional child-centered programs and suggests that more research on informal education is necessary. (BD)

Briefly states the stages of moral development in children (Damon 1977). Discusses ways in which children's literature dealing with social issues can help children reason about topics such as distributive justice. Identifies guidelines for related discussions and lists books and questions that stimulate discussion on sharing. (AS)

Discusses the problem of overweight and obese preschoolers, particularly those in an academic preschool situation, which traditionally allows children to function without specific objectives related to physical fitness. Offers recommendations for integrating a balanced fitness program. (Author/RWB)

Describes the formation of story awareness in young children, suggesting methods for assessment and activities to facilitate its development. (KS)

Demonstrates how Piaget's theoretical framework of a preschool science curriculum, with illustrative experiences using paints, sound, and food, can help teachers develop their ability to provide appropriate science experiences in their classroom. The framework can also help teachers evaluate the activities suggested in literature. (BB)

Discusses patterns of social interaction used by 28 preschool children who were popular, controversial, neglected, or rejected as playmates. Videotaped social play in which one child joined a dyad was coded in terms of children's direction of communication, inititiations, and responses. (CB)

Discusses five critical issues pertaining to quality infant care: improving training for caregivers of infants and toddlers, ensuring health and safety, meeting special needs of children and their parents, balancing high quality and affordability, and evaluating program effectiveness. (RH)

Describes the design, implementation, and impact of the Mobile Training for Directors of Day Care Centers (MTDDC) Program, a program that was created to provide directors with information to improve their administrative and organizational skills. (Author/RH)

Reviews and discusses the implications of Carew's (1980) research on the influence of young children's everyday experiences on their intellectual development. (RH)

Describes the impact of the Parent Education Model upon school, community, and parents as indicated by ten communities in nine different states. (MP)

Discusses use of monthly themes to making "sharing time" a central part of the preschool and primary curriculum. Reading picture books, sharing songs, and planning classroom activities are used to integrate the themes into all curricular areas. Discusses the developmental appropriateness of this practice and presents two examples of…