Japanese nursery school and kindergarten activities are designed to facilitate the socialization of Japanese children. The culture of the home and the culture of the school (and by extension the rest of Japanese society) are so different from each other that it is believed the open and unselfconscious help of the education system is necessary to…

Examined parents' and teachers' expectations about kindergarten and children's strategies for functioning in the classroom. Describes the experiences of children in a multilingual classroom in which the teacher was often unable to give verbal cues to the students in their native languages, exemplifying typical moments in which language minority…

Describes an instructional approach that encourages teachers to guide children in narrating stories based on actual or imagined experiences, particularly those that transpire in the classroom. Discusses ways of incorporating events from dramatic play and everyday occurrences into storytelling activities and offers a story sampler that exemplifies…

Relates a kindergarten teacher's classroom experience where play is not considered a primary medium for learning. Describes a strategy used to establish play, specifically investigative play, as a legitimate activity in the classroom. Discusses issues associated with play-based curriculum and how, with the renewed interest in science education, it…

Examines the implications of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the role of developmentally appropriate practice when insuring the safe inclusion of children with disabilities in play environments. Discusses four principles that should guide the creation of safe, inclusive play environments: safety; developmentally appropriate practice;…

Noting that what children learn about the wide variety of people in the world influences the kind of adults they become, discusses the challenge educators face in teaching children to appreciate and respect diversity. Explains the advantages of teaching children about other cultures and describes how one teacher integrates the study of different…

Behaviors and attitudes established early in life greatly affect friendships, parent-child relationships, and other personal contacts as children grow and develop into adults. Parents and other adults need to recognize and nurture the development of characteristics in children that can lead to intimacy, and to become aware of factors that induce…

Noting the difficulty for many parents to spend "quality time" with their children, shows parents how to get into the habit of reading with their children. Explains how to begin, where to find suitable books, how to select topics appropriate to the child's age and interests, and how to find the time in busy schedules. (TJQ)

Reviews the following books: (1) "101 Educational Conversations with Your Kindergartner-1st Grader" (Perrone); (2) "The Story in History: Writing Your Way into History" (Galt); (3) "Interactive Handbook for Understanding Reading Diagnosis" (Roskos and Walker); (4) "Educational Renewal: Better Teachers, Better Schools" (Goodlad); and (5)…

Reviews four journal articles on the following topics: (1) children's creative solutions to realistic and fanciful story problems; (2) Vygotskian perspectives on deafness and mother-child interaction; (3) outcomes-based education; and (4) the differences in play activities of at-risk and not-at-risk elementary school children. (TJQ)

Summarizes 11 ERIC documents and journal articles on teaching conflict resolution to students, particularly students in the middle grades. Includes discussions of conflict among students and strategies for dealing with violence in schools, descriptions of conflict resolution programs and projects implemented in schools, and an analysis of the…

Reviews: (1) "If You Change Your Mind"; (2) "Swinging Safari: Really Wild Animals Series"; (3) "Wonders Down Under: Really Wild Animals Series"; (4) "Deep Sea Dive: Really Wild Animals Series"; (5) "Flags of the Nations"; (6) "A New Baby in My House"; (7) "I Dig Fossils"; and (8) "Little Beginnings: Starting Your Child on a Lifetime of Learning."…

Children are exposed to violence in media and everyday life, which may promote aggression as a means to solve problems. Skills and strategies of problem solving, conflict resolution, and peace making can be learned through well-organized and frequent exposure to literature. Books that deal with misunderstanding, jealousy, playground skirmishes,…

Children can complement all areas of their language learning with music, and can enhance their musical activities with language. Opportunities to experience sounds, language, and rhythmic movement support the learning and development of the whole child. Activities dealing with children's books that have musical themes, song picture books, and…

Six million American families relocate each year; relocation places demands on children to adapt to new situations. Provides a critical synthesis of the fragmented scholarship about relocating and its effects on children and families. Recommends five school policies and classroom practices that can facilitate children's adjustment to relocating…