Research studies that have focused on the educational effectiveness of "Sesame Street" are reviewed, and a summary and synthesis of research results are presented. Educational effectiveness is defined as effectiveness in areas related to beginning schooling and the early years of the child's formal education. From the more than 100…

This study sought to understand how South African Sotho and Zulu children learn and communicate at home. Data were collected from 80 homes of 5-year-olds through observation and supplemented by audiotaped sessions. The analysis sought to identify the social rules and constraints governing the amount, style, and content of the information…

This article presents gender perspectives on the formation of the preschool teacher and the formation of a domain for education and child rearing of young children, commenting on the designation of the professional field of education as "female territory." The report uses the results from two Swedish studies: the first dealing with the…

It is widely accepted that within certain biological limits, a child's development emerges out of a continuous and increasingly complex interaction with significant people in his or her environment. Mothers and other significant adults, as experienced members of the culture, may be viewed as mediators and tutors who transmit cultural knowledge and…

Each chapter of this book contains a short story related to sex education, followed by comments on issues suggested by the story, and questions often asked by parents and children, with possible answers. An index of questions is also included at the end of the book to enable the reader to find particular information. Although the pictures and…

Using a micro-ethnographic design employing interview and observational data, a year long collaborative study examined the impacts of economic and social change on child-rearing and community mobilization in Kenya. Subjects were 462 parents, grandparents, older siblings, preschool teachers, community leaders, and other professionals having…

In February 1993, a regional workshop on alternative ways of working with parents, brought together 50 senior officers from both government and nongovernmental organizations from 16 Asian countries. Following the welcoming remarks of Khoo Kim Choo, this report presents the following addresses, presentations, and discussions: (1) "Parent…

A study examined the effectiveness of the West Heidelberg (Australia) Early Literacy Project (WHELP), which helps low income and working class parents develop the literacy skills of their 4-year-old children by, among other things, reading regularly to them. The project developed through three phases with three different methods of delivering…

Annual workshops for the development of a Native American cultural curriculum bring together educators and advocates of Native cultural education from across the United States and Canada. As a product of the July 1990 workshop held in Juneau, this booklet contains lesson plans for teachers of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Canadian Native…

A discussion of Nigeria's national language policy looks at the official structure for language instruction, its rationale, and perceived problems and possibilities. The policy requires that the mother tongue or language of the immediate community be the medium of instruction at pre-primary and early primary levels, with English emerging as medium…

Before 1970, no mixed-age groups existed in Swedish nursery schools. By 1991, 43 percent of children enrolled in nursery school were in mixed-age groups of ages 1 to 6 years, and 37 percent were in groups of children ages 3 to 6 years. Mixed-age groups are assumed to have advantages, including positive influences on learning and social…

This publication describes the program at Bishopswood Special School (Oxfordshire, England) which has gone from serving children (ages 2-16) with severe learning difficulties in a special school setting to full integration of all pupils and staff into three mainstream schools. Bishopswood School is described as currently having its own budget,…

This report describes a course on early childhood education methodology and practice that was held at Machakos, Kenya, for 28 Kenyan early childhood teachers, social workers, and teacher educators. In addition to presenting developmental profiles of preschool children, the 12-day course addressed language enrichment activities as precursors to…

This booklet provides suggestions for reassessing, modifying, and arranging child care center environments to best serve the needs of children and staff. The booklet notes that a well-planned environment can provide young children with appropriate and challenging learning experiences within a consistent and secure setting. Such an environment also…

This paper addresses the conditions of families in Ankara, Turkey, who live in gecekondus (hastily built homes of the poor). The socioeconomic and educational disadvantages of these families result in continuous academic underachievement for their children. Ecological and educational interventions for breaking the poverty cycle are proposed.…