This practicum was designed to heighten preschool teachers' awareness of gender bias in the classroom and provide information on gender equity issues and the pursuit of the study of mathematics by girls. Its goal was to enable 20 preschool teachers in 3 preschool programs to increase their knowledge of gender equity and to use this knowledge in…

This paper demonstrates the use of the autobiographical method for understanding the complex personal perspectives of teachers as they reflect upon their lives as teachers and individuals. The perspective includes the intellectual, ethical, and emotional stance of the teacher who is engaged in, and reflecting upon teaching. The subjective…

The final report describes the 3-year project, "Functional Mainstreaming for Success," designed to develop a model for instructional mainstreaming of 162 handicapped children (3-6 years old) in community settings. The major feature of the project was development of a full reverse mainstreamed preschool program, which included children…

An overview of preschool education in Lagos State, Nigeria, is particularized with findings from a survey of 156 teachers in 25 Nigerian nursery schools. In Nigeria, urbanization has been accompanied by rapid growth in the number of pre-primary institutions. The educational aims of such institutions include both cognitive and social-emotional…

The Chicago EARLY Program identifies and provides remediation for prekindergarten-age children who are considered likely to have school learning problems later. Consisting of an assessment and a corresponding curriculum, the program is designed for any preschool teacher to use as part of his or her regular program. The EARLY materials were first…

A study involving 16 preschool students was conducted to determine whether severely handicapped preschool children could learn normal classroom behavior through the single treatment variable of exposure to the regular classroom environment with normal peers. Systematic observation of the children's free play and verbal interaction, independence in…

Presents findings of case study in which both a teacher's belief systems and instances of decision-making opportunities for prechool children are compared and analyzed. Emphasizing instructional strategies used to promote children's decision-making, topics addressed include elements of a teacher's belief system; influence of belief systems; and…

This qualitative study examined preschool programs for 6-year-olds in Sweden and the principles underlying children's activities. Ten preschool groups including preschool teachers, student teachers, and children were interviewed about their conceptions of content and methods of working in preschool. The results showed that the program is founded…

The Preschool Teacher Survey was designed to gather information on the experience of preschool teachers in the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) and their perceptions of program effectiveness regarding student cognitive development, school readiness, parent involvement, and stability of classroom enrollment. The 12-item survey was distributed,…

Evidence suggests that preschool children are more likely to use and explore print when their environment actively supports the use of print through real-life contexts. Children who have knowledge about print have been shown to have greater success with literacy development on entering school. This paper describes the Preschool Literacy Project…

This paper discusses the outcomes of a study that compared the attitudes of 245 parents of preschoolers with and without disabilities and 121 preschool service providers. It was designed to assess global attitudes toward inclusion, benefits and concerns regarding inclusion for children with disabilities, the impact of inclusion on children without…

The reasons for using tests in early childhood programs are (1) to increase teachers' confidence in their role performance; (2) to explain and defend early childhood programs; (3) to promote consistency across programs; (4) to provide curriculum and instruction guidance to teachers; and (5) to focus teachers and parents on the more measurable…

A study was done to contrast the beliefs of teachers in Montessori preschools with those of teachers in more traditional preschools. Montessori teachers were shown to be both more flexible in their attitudes toward children and more structured in their beliefs about how they should guide the child's use of instructional materials. (JN)

Assessed male preschool teachers' self-perceptions, and sex-role perceptions of self and others. Male and female teachers (N=60) in preschool and high school education were administered the Bem Sex Role Inventory and a repertory grid. Results indicated preschool male and female teachers were similar in levels of androgyny. (RC)

Examines the appeal of superheroes to children and adults' beliefs about superhero play, and suggests some potential benefits of such play. Offers examples of ways to successfully incorporate superhero play into an early childhood classroom. (Author/KB)