With the implementation of the natural approach, the dinosaur study and facilitated block play gave dual language learners many opportunities to acquire a new language, develop social skills, and improve communication abilities. Once teachers identified the barriers to children playing and talking together, they created a classroom environment…

In a university lab preschool, teachers initiated a curriculum development approach using child-centered webbing. The authors look at problems early childhood education students encountered in implementing the approach at the school, including incorporating early learning standards into the planning while keeping the focus on the child. The…

Justin and Jenny, grade 12 math students, walk with their preschool friends Sean and Meg to the local grocery store. There, two classmates are tending the cash registers. The six of them, along with others, are participating in an in-school "field trip" to Consumer Town, located in the South Windsor High School front lobby. The field…

The authors demonstrate how to tailor curriculum to support the varied interests, abilities, and talents of the children in a kindergarten class. Through words and photographs, they describe an in-depth study of rocks and sand, a topic of great interest to the children. The teachers posed open-ended questions that fostered high-level discussions.…

The physical, social, emotional, and cognitive gains derived from block building are examined in relation to learning needs of the pre-school child. (CS)

The authors bring together findings from research dealing with the effects of father absence in children's development. (WY)

Self-regulation involves to the ability to both control one's impulses and engage in a particular behavior on demand. It is a skill used not just in social interactions (emotional self-regulation) but in thinking (cognitive self-regulation) as well. Research shows that children's self-regulation behaviors in the early years predict their school…

Discusses how unit building blocks can be used to enhance five major interrelated aspects of child learning, namely, physical, emotional, social, intellectual (cognitive), and intuitive development. Also presents six ways to encourage good block playing among children. (BB)

The New Zealand Ministry of Education's early childhood curriculum policy is built on a framework called "Te Whariki." This framework provides a sociocultural context for children's early learning and emphasizes a learning partnership between teachers, parents, families, and community. Besides interpersonal relationships, Te Whariki…

Each year, teachers and parent leaders pressure preschoolers to rehearse songs, poems, and skits for their graduation performances. While some children actually enjoy these rituals, some children are not having fun. These children deserve the opportunity to grow into this ability. In this article, the authors discuss some inappropriate practices…

Suggests a way for teachers to organize their observations of children into valid, reliable, nonjudgmental descriptions in order to help an assessment team diagnose special problems. Gives guideline questions concerning visual, motor, social-emotional and other behaviors that can alert teachers to inconsistent development in young children. (BRT)

The preschool years are a critical period for the development of food preferences and lifelong eating habits. Between the ages of 2 and 5, children become increasingly responsive to external cues, such as television commercials that use popular cartoon characters to advertise foods, candy in supermarket checkout aisles, and fast-food restaurants…

Early childhood educators use several learning centers in a classroom to target growth in different developmental areas, but as a preschool teacher, the author was always impressed by how children addressed multiple areas of development at the sensory table. Understanding that sensory experiences were important for preschoolers, the author wanted…

Research supported by National Institute of Child Health. (DS)

Storytelling is perhaps the most powerful way that human beings organize experience. The practice is timeless and universal. Stories help everyone understand the world and make sense of their lives. Like adults, children use stories to process and reflect on their experiences. Recognizing and responding to the stories that infants and toddlers…