Details position of the Association for Childhood Education International regarding best practice for child-centered middle schools. Makes recommendations regarding curriculum, instructional practices and learning environment, guidance and counseling, textbooks and materials, teacher qualifications, and administrative and community support. (KB)

Examines early influences of educator Lucy Wheelock's life, her contributions to the kindergarten movement, and her legacy to early childhood educators today. Discusses her early education, preparation as a kindergarten teacher, and her efforts to spread the "gospel of Froebel." Maintains that Wheelock's legacy is her belief in the idealism of…

Discusses the importance of father's involvement in childcare for the child's success and presents guidelines for successful fathering. Notes the difference between authoritative and authoritarian parenting. Suggest that fathers be a part of the child's day, show acceptance, use positive parenting, share parenting, and see fathering as worthwhile…

Discusses the findings of a parent and teacher survey about communicating children's school progress, noting a mutual dissatisfaction with standardized test scores. Discusses the information parents want, ways to improve teacher-parent communication, and questions teachers should ask themselves about their assessments of students. (JPB)

Discusses ways to enhance children's learning opportunities through technologically based approaches. Recounts an interview with a 13-year-old girl about her use of computers for and in school and considers implications of the interview for teachers seeking to improve technology training. Lists Internet, paper, and software resources for teaching…

Discusses the teacher's role as an advocate for a child's educational needs when parents are involved in substance abuse treatment. Discusses substance abuse treatment issues, including addiction, the treatment process, and agencies involved with the family, and provides a list of recommendations for educators and administrators to assist…

Discusses ways teachers can create a supportive literacy environment in the classroom for young children. Considers activities that encourage children's language use, and recommends creating an unhurried atmosphere, responding to cultural differences, and including a mix of planned and child-initiated activities. (JPB)

Discusses ways to develop family-school-community involvement, based on an early childhood teacher training course in family involvement. Discusses strategies for using Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to facilitate family involvement interactions, and using student teachers' experiences for structuring reflective thought about family involvement…

Discusses ways middle school educators can promote harmony among young adolescents and within the community by providing multicultural educational experiences that address three developmental characteristics: forming cultural identities; establishing close friendships with and positive opinions of others; and developing a sense of justice and…

Discusses use of an emergent inquiry process and children's literature to examine gender bias in the school environment. Focuses on introducing student teachers to issues of gender bias in elementary education and ways of making elementary school students aware of biases in literature and their environment. Discusses the results of an intervention…

Excerpts a student-teacher discourse from a 4th-grade mathematics classroom to illustrate how discourse helps students construct algebraic thinking. Discusses the implications of the discourse method of collaborative inquiry for teaching. (JPB)

Describes an interdisciplinary project to help elementary school children discover the relationship among technology, history, and geography that involved the building of a model Brooklyn Bridge and considering the history and role of the real bridge. Suggestions for similar projects for other cities are appended. (JPB)

Examines gender bias in classes teaching English as a second language. Considers the role of teacher expectations in student achievement, especially for the Latina population. Maintains that school administrators and teachers must work together to increase their awareness of gender bias in ESL classes and work to dispel stereotypes. (KB)

Examines young children's gender role development, focusing on the impact of television viewing. Maintains that role models and imitation are extremely influential factors shaping gender-typed behavior. Identifies gender bias in television programming, including music television and commercials, and discusses gender bias in children's television…

Summarizes recent ERIC documents and journal articles that discuss the preservice and inservice preparation of teachers in order to meet the educational needs of the 21st century. Document topics include school-to-work initiatives, educational technology, and staff development. Journal article topics include educational technology, school reform,…