The Responsive Model program assumes that the school environment should be designed to respond to the learner, and that school activities should be autotelic, or self-rewarding, not dependent upon rewards or punishment unrelated to the activity. Developmental theory, certain ideas of operant conditioning, and flexible learning sequences are used…

This final report is a general description of the activities of the Demonstration and Research Center for Early Education (DARCEE), an Appalachian preschool program for disadvantaged children. Included in the document are: a general overview of the program, histories of the three Early Training Centers, and objectives and publications of the…

This report describes and anlayzes the second year operations of an ongoing successful parent initiated and directed nursery school. Included are: (1) a brief review of relevant issues in early childhood education, such as parent participation and community control in education; (2) a short history of the program's inception and early development;…

Profiles three programs recognized for exemplary rural special education programs. Describes a program for severely handicapped birth-through-three children in an isolated mountainous Tennessee community, a multidisciplinary special education team that provides an itinerant resource room for an Alaska school district of 22,000 square miles, and…

Research shows that there are many possible positive effects of early bilingual reading upon intellectual growth and general education. An Italian research project dealing with early bilingual literacy is described; the teaching methods used in the project are examined. (RM)

The Head Start and Early Head Start programs are comprehensive child development programs, serving children from birth to age five, expectant mothers, and families with the goal of increasing the social competence of children in low-income families and children with disabilities, and improve their chances of success in school. This report…

Noting that increasing numbers of infants and toddlers and their working parents face a range of early care and development needs, this paper suggests that by establishing high quality child care and family support services, state legislatures can help families and caregivers nurture the development of infants while helping parents manage work.…

Papers on language and education in Black Africa include: "L'enseignement des et en langues nationales au Zaire. Bilan d'une experience" ("The Teaching of and in National Languages in Zaire. Results of an Experiment") (Andre Mbula Paluku); "Langues et education au Rwanda" ("Languages and Education in…

The potential benefits of father participation in their children's reading and writing activities include improved literacy skills, increased bonding, and heightened self-esteem of both fathers and children. This paper identifies a training model for working with fathers--Project DADS. Using this model, early childhood professionals can foster…

This report summarizes Austin Independent School District (AISD) prekindergarten program activities for the 2003-2004 school year.

Looks at the daily activities of one preschool in southern China. Reviews the attitudes of educators and parents, and the application of social theory to curriculum and pedagogy in the Chinese preschool. Places special emphasis on the words and ideas of the teachers and administrators in reference to the policies created by the government. (MOK)

Examines experiences of undergraduate students and newly hired beginning preschool teachers as they learn about teaching and working with young children through an early childhood education course. Suggests ways in which experienced or supervising teachers and directors can help new teachers. (BB)

Presents several day care and preschool program directors' solutions to the problem of finding substitute teachers. (BB)

Discusses the development of a webbed curriculum at the preschool level. The teacher develops the curriculum by observing children, documenting their recurring interests and the themes of their activities, and integrating and connecting class activities. (BB)

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)