Examined the extent to which computers were used within the instructional environment by preschool/elementary school teachers who had graduated from an early-childhood program at a large southeastern university between 1983 to 1993. Found that the teacher's educational level and grade taught were related to attitudes toward and use of computers.…

Examines current state of children's software evaluation practice. Predicts future educational software evaluation in light of the dynamic nature of educational and "edutainment" software. Discusses key issue such as the best way to evaluate the appropriateness of software for children at each age group and the most efficient means of making this…

Uses the integration of literacy learning in early-childhood classrooms as a model for computer integration. Describes and recommends a basic set of "curriculum integration" software. Discusses how computers can function as scaffolds and manipulatives; includes an example of how to design an integrated unit that incorporates technology. Discusses…

Describes a computer software review procedure centering around a form that considers the use of the computer software in the early-childhood classroom and aids educators in selecting software that is age- and individually appropriate. The form emphasizes reviewing the software's potential for encouraging student engagement and enhancing skills in…

Discusses gender discrepancy in classroom computer access and use; suggests strategies to minimize gender biases. Argues that gender differences in computer usage are due to biased classroom practices, lack of female role models, home computer gender gaps, and scarcity of bias-free software. Maintains that increased teacher/parent awareness,…

Examined differences in teacher qualifications, inservice training, program quality, and children's development in Head Start, public school, and private nonprofit early childhood classrooms. More formal education for public school teachers was offset by better inservice training for Head Start teachers, as programs achieved equal levels of…

Describes experiences of children in two public preschools in Russia, one a typical district preschool, the other, an experimental preschool. Presents case studies for each school, focusing on family, setting, teacher characteristics, and child behaviors and public policy. Notes the effect of tradition, beliefs, and policies on the preschool…

Explored the effect of folding traditional origami forms on size comparison strategies among 4- to 6-year-old Japanese and American children. Found that girls in particular improved superimposition skills through practice, and children's use of superimposition strategies rather than less effective strategies also increased. (JPB)

Details the strategies used by one Chinese immigrant child learning English as a second language as he became an active participant in literacy events in his first-grade classroom. Notes the boy's participation in journal writing and writer's workshop, the initial difficulties he faced, and the role of teacher and parents in overcoming these…

Investigated the relationship between developmentally appropriate practices in the classroom and preschoolers' perception of self-confidence. Found that developmentally appropriate practice influenced social development, and that teaching strategies, curriculum goals, motivation, and guidance of social-emotional development predicted peer…

Examined preschool children's self-management as they engaged in a literacy task of constructing an "autonomous" text for others to read. Analyzed texts for their holistic quality, and identified metacognitive utterances surrounding the texts, which showed the development of metacognition and its indications for preschoolers. (JPB)

Identified strategies mothers use while engaged in an animal categorization activity with their preschool children. Examined the children's verbal behavior. Found that mothers' strategy use varied according to the type of information being taught. Determined the relationship between maternal strategies and verbalizations. (JPB)

Examined 4- and 5-year-old preschoolers' responses to hypothetical scenarios in which their mothers and preschool teachers issued opposing commands. Found that children's responses were affected by different factors depending on where the questioning took place: at home or at their child care centers. (JPB)

Examined preschool educators' perceptions of learning and behavioral problems of children who were prenatally exposed to drugs, as well as intervention strategies and other issues in educating these children. Found that respondents had generally positive attitudes about working with these at-risk children. (JPB)

Investigated the characteristics of early childhood education teachers who both state a belief in developmentally appropriate practices and engage in these practices in their classrooms. Found that beliefs were strongly correlated with practice, and were related to high personal teaching efficacy and internal locus of control, academic background,…