Advocates cooperative learning, rather than competitive learning, in the classroom. Offers an example of cooperative learning among nursery school children in Tenants Harbor, Maine. Discusses ways for teachers to facilitate cooperative learning in program and classroom design. (BB)

Nine research reports on the use of computers in the education of young children are reviewed. The reports appear in dissertations, journal articles, or papers that are in the ERIC database. Each report is referenced to its ERIC accession number. (BC)

Presents a rationale for engaging in regular storytime and offers guidelines preschool teachers can use to conduct read-aloud sessions that support children's interactions with literature. Also lists questions for evaluating picture books for early childhood education and books that teachers can read aloud. (BB)

Discusses the implications of research findings that responsive teaching techniques improve the classroom interactions of preschool children with learning disabilities for classroom-based early intervention. Considers the use of responsive strategies in writing Individualized Education Plan and Individualized Family Service Plan goals and…

After providing a brief review of three other approaches to assessment of preschool children (DSM-IV diagnoses, "Zero to Three" diagnoses, and temperament scales), this paper focuses on the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). The empirically based assessment paradigm provides user-friendly, cost-effective, reliable,…

This guide is intended to help all caregiving adults--parents, grandparents, guardians, care providers, friends, preschool teachers, and other educators--to make the best decisions for and about young children in the early childhood years before the start of formal schooling. The guide aims to help caregivers learn how to: enhance their…

In addition to the appropriate equipment and curriculum, a necessary ingredient of an effective preschool program is the quality of the interpersonal climate within the classroom. This interpersonal aspect of the preschool program is the focus of this paper. It begins by discussing the role of the early childhood educator in establishing the…

This Swedish language report describes a preliminary study to test a retrospective life-history-inspired approach to studying children's experiences in a day care center, and whether children's experiences vary in different educational contexts and in relation to the teachers' experiences. The theoretical part of the study dealt with theories of…

In 1988, UNESCO conducted a follow-up survey to a 1974 survey of early childhood care and education (ECCE) programs. In 1988, questionnaires were sent to UN member states in order to obtain information about ECCE programs worldwide, ascertain trends in ECCE, and compile information relevant to the further development of ECCE programs. This report…

This paper discusses the results of a study of the relationships between teacher behaviour and the level of play engagement in two- and three-year-old children in Dutch childcare centres. We found that the continuous proximity of the teacher had the greatest impact on the level of play engagement, while the teacher's walking around and only brief…

This guide to mainstreaming emotionally disturbed preschoolers is one of a series of eight manuals on mainstreaming preschoolers developed by Project Head Start. The guide is addressed to parents, teachers, and other professionals and paraprofessionals. Chapter I presents information on the meaning, benefits and implementation of mainstreaming and…

The purpose of this study was to describe fully day care programs, to find factors predictive of differences in programs, and to evaluate the effectiveness of day care centers. Teachers in 50 randomly selected day care centers in Los Angeles were observed for four 20-minute periods daily for 10 days. The results indicated the following points:…

This Head Start evaluation system was developed at the request of the California Head Start Directors Association. There was a broad-based input in all phases of its development, from Head Start directors, Head Start staff from all components, and Head Start parents. It was extensively field tested in one of the major California Head Start…

This teaching manual for the Montessori method covers the following areas: (1) short survey of Maria Montessori's life and work; (2) beginning concepts of Dr. Montessori's approach; (3) pedagogical methods used in the "children's houses"; (4) reactions to Dr. Montessori's educational approach at the start of the 20th century; (5)…

A model program was developed and implemented by the Tucson Unified School District in Arizona to establish a family-school partnership to improve the educational achievement of at-risk preschool students. Program participants included 411 at-risk students, 405 families, and 25 staff members. The program, entitled Families First, provided…