A kindergarten teacher narrates her classroom experiences with terror-stricken Spanish-American children after a devastating tornado. (AJ)

Reports recent research which illustrates the educational value of play in preschool education. Play theory, the relationship between cognitive development and play, implications from research on preschool program models, the use of play equipment, dramatic play and teacher participation in play activities are discussed. (SDH)

Describes procedures found to be effective for eliciting children's creative dramatic play in the classroom. A second-grade classroom scenario provides an example of the way key components of play training techniques can be implemented by the teacher and indicates the decision-making processes to be addressed.

Describes a discourse created by second graders who were deliberating about important social issues in the course of discussing a story. (BB)

Describes ways in which the inclusion of literacy materials in kindergarten classroom dramatic play centers encourages young children to incorporate literacy activities into their play. (BB)

Describes a play-based procedure for assessing young children's knowledge of the functions of writing. A case study highlights this discussion. (BB)