Engineering is receiving unprecedented attention in early childhood and elementary classrooms. Teachers of young children may recognize the ways young children act as natural engineers as they design and create with materials from the classroom or playground. Everyday experiences such as choosing the type of bag: paper, plastic, or a reusable…

Orators of folk literature and nursery rhymes entertain, inform, and persuade their audiences through the straightforward plots in those genres. Because nursery rhymes recitations usually happen in groups, they help children acquire the mechanics of oral communication and promote communal bonding. Although nursery rhymes have a simpler form than…

The present study describes preschool read-alouds in terms of the types of texts to which children are exposed. The methods involved analyzing the genre and instructional foci of 426 titles read by 13 teachers throughout an entire academic year. Additionally, associations between teacher characteristics and texts teachers read in their classrooms…

This essay explores the physical, emotional, and spiritual manifestations of heterosexism in childhood education. While there is abundant children's literature dealing with gay and lesbian parents of presumably straight children, little exists in this literature that directly addresses a child's developing gay, lesbian, or bisexual orientations.…

Discusses the illustrations of Tomie dePaola's "Mother Goose." (EL)

Discusses realism in children's poetry and a New Realism which dates from the 1960s. Suggests that the denial of realism occupies much of the efforts of Mother Goose reformers, who have carried on "for eons" over the violence, mayhem, and cruelty in the old nursery rhymes. (RS)

"Grandfather Moose" rhymes, written to follow the Mother Goose tradition, are short, appealing, easy-to-memorize sign language nursery rhymes which employ visual poetic devices such as similar signs and transitional flow of movement. (CB)

When carrying out investigative work in the primary school, one often considers how familiar the children are with the context. This usually means considering the practical and life experiences the children have already had. However, it is also valuable to consider the children's literary experiences. Think about all the stories, novels, folk…

Relates how nursery rhymes have the enduring power to amuse and comfort both adult and child audiences. (HOD)

Suggests ways to bring nursery rhymes into the elementary school classroom through creative dramatics, creative writing, and reading experiences. (DD)

Investigates how the writing of some Year 6 children was influenced by exposure to the work of a contemporary author of children's literature and through reading a variety of fairy stories, tales and nursery rhymes. Concludes the children's awareness of story structure resulted in thought-provoking short stories with intertextual references. (PM)

Describes and critiques Maurice Sendak's newest book, "We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy," which includes nursery rhymes and pictures. Relates Sendak's book to the poetry of William Blake. Suggests possible readings for the book and approaches to teaching it. (HB)

This article describes the benefits of teaching nursery rhymes to students, particularly as it relates to language and sound patterns. Most cultures have parallel forms of nursery rhymes, limericks and simple poetry that children easily understand and enjoy. Yet teachers of young children report that many of their students do not know a single…

Discusses the value of rhymes in developing children's concepts of story and pleasure in reading. (HOD)

Describes an infant and toddler public library program called "Mother Goose Time." It is a language enrichment program that uses rhymes, songs, and books to lay the foundations of listening, learning, and literacy. Activities are planned according to the babies' motor skills--they are divided into two groups, "prewalkers" and "walkers". A list of…