A microanalysis of social interaction in a preschool classroom revealed ways in which children and teachers "co-constructed" the rudiments of school culture during the first three days of school. Findings are based on videotapes, teachers' notes, and daily field notes taken by a group of observers. The three domains of the establishment…

Over a period of 9 months, a certified Child Development Associate (CDA) trainer and charter member of the National Association of Migrant Educators implemented and evaluated a practicum intervention designed to improve the learning environments of migrant preschool children through in-service training of migrant teachers, aides, parents, and…

This practicum addressed the expressed need to improve the knowledge and expertise of the teaching staff employed at a child-parent center, which served 170 preschool and kindergarten children attending classes in an elementary school in an economically depressed community. Specifically, the in-service intervention aimed to immprove staff…

Presented is an interactional analysis of preschool circle time that builds on the view of classrooms as social systems within the broader culture of schooling. In the preschool studied, 18 children, 2 teachers, and several student teachers learned to use circle time together. The head teacher's approach to circle time was a developmental one,…

Through observational studies of 15 preschool and 15 public school first grade classrooms in Tokyo, Japan, an initial understanding of social control through education is presented. While Japanese preschool children are indulged and undisciplined by their parents, evidence suggests that Japanese school children are more attentive and spend less…

This booklet is a collection of five articles from the Child Development Associate Program (CDA) in Texas, part of a nationwide program for training child care workers. "Skills Needed by a CDA Training Counselor" outlines three skills: facilitation of learning, interpersonal skills, and management. "Some Findings and Recommendations…

This paper describes the development and implementation of a sequential musical program, designed to be taught by non-musical classroom teachers in kindergarten through grade six. Chapter I provides a general background of the political influences which brought about the low status of music at Melaleuca Elementary School and other elementary…

Educational psychotherapy for preschool children and its functioning are described in detail. Also described is the process of training teachers to do this work. The educational psychotherapy process attempts to operate at the interface between education and psychotherapy. The components of catharsis, recall, sharpening and correcting of…

This document reports on the Southwest (Region VI) Child Development Associate (CDA) assessment program during the 1973-74 and 1974-75 school years. Activities conducted through the office of the regional coordinator of CDA assessment are listed. An assessment system was developed and implemented to meet three needs: (1) to screen and rank CDA…

State-funded pre-Kindergarten is a growing phenomenon in the United States. The majority of 4-year-olds now spend time every weekday in care outside of their home and many of these children are being served in preschool classrooms funded with state education dollars. The public strongly supports such programs and there is generally bipartisan…

This study assesses the current capacity of Massachusetts' institutions of higher education (IHE) to prepare the early education and care (EEC) workforce, as well as the current state of progress on the elements identified in the Report of the Early Education and Care Advisory Committee as critical to advancing a professional development system.…

The Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS), University of California at Berkeley has completed a 3-year project to develop a science and mathematics education course and science curriculum for early childhood educators. This project was in response to the need for improving the science and mathematics knowledge and teaching skills of adults who work with…

Drawing from several weeks of observation and study in Northern Italian preschools, this paper links practices in Reggio Emilia with the theoretical constructs of John Dewey, Susan Isaacs, and Howard Gardner. Part 1 presents background about the preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, which are unique both in their respect for the space created for…

This paper describes a 2-year project establishing an interpretive community of field-based teacher researchers and a university-based teacher researcher at four urban preschools in San Francisco, California. The primary research focus of the project is an examination of practical and theoretical connections between current notions of…

This paper responds to the questions: "How do we shape classroom life to reflect a spirit of social justice and equality, of tolerance and respect?" It presents a philosophy and a set of practices by which preschool classrooms may become communities that work for everyone. The paper begins with an observation of a preschool classroom and notes…