Incorporating a journal writing routine into the classroom is critical to developing autonomous writers. During the course of a full year, a first-grade classroom embarked on a quest to discover the importance of creating successful writers. This study confirms the significance of implementing and establishing authentic and meaningful journal…

With the 2008 reissue of Francine Pascal's (1983) "Sweet Valley High", the popular cultural icons of twins Jessica and Elizabeth have been revitalized. Jessica and Elizabeth are the much-beloved protagonists in romance novels strategically targeted for young adults in "Sweet Valley High" or "Sweet Valley U", and for first- and second-grade readers…

This study tests the explanatory power of Deci and Ryan's (1985) self-determination theory as a framework for describing how interactions between early childhood teachers and the systems within which their work is embedded influence motivation for professional growth and change in teaching practice. Fifty-four early childhood teachers and teacher…

A sample of 83 kindergarten teachers participated in this study to examine their knowledge, skills, and classroom practices concerning phonological awareness. Analyses of data revealed significant gaps between knowledge and practice, knowledge and skills, and skills and practice. The gap between knowledge and skills, on one hand, and classroom…

European American students are more likely delayed entrance in kindergarten than African American students. This study examined whether age at kindergarten entry influences the reading proficiency skills of African American and European American students at the start of kindergarten, at the end of first grade, and at the end of third grade. Using…

The current focus on measurable reading achievement in clearly defined areas, such as fluency and comprehension, has resulted in reduced attention toward motivation and affect in relation to literacy learning. However, motivation is a significant component within literacy instruction due to the link between motivation and action. It is important…

Self-representations of 1st-, 3rd-, and 5th-graders' social and academic competence were examined in relation to children's personal (grade/age); family (attachment to parents, marital conflict, anxiety related to conflict); and school (teacher appraisals) contexts. Children who reported higher levels of security of attachment to parents and lower…

The study aims at analyzing toddlers' sociability within an early educational context, by adopting a socio-constructivist perspective that considers "school-nursery" (Italian "nido di infanzia") as an important "natural context" that can promote their sociability development. The larger research involved 18 toddlers of 20-40 months of age, who…

This article describes a study with first grade children and their views on the primary school curriculum, as well as their influence on decision-making in school. The study was conducted with 20 six- and seven-year-old children in one primary school in Reykjavik, Iceland. The data gathered includes varied research methods such as group…

At the European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) conference in Prague in autumn 2007, an international network of teacher trainers and researchers was formed to discuss and investigate what learning and participation meant for preschool teacher students and staff who work with young children. In Sweden, the first of these…

Based on theory and research, social aspects like friendship and sense of relatedness are fundamental in the development of children's cultural identity and achievement of outcomes. It is argued that this is a motivational aspect often neglected in research studies focusing on students' motivation and learning. Theory and research on motivation…

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of spatial and place research when exploring concepts of belonging, participation and citizenship in relation to young children and early childhood education and care (ECEC) in urban societies. Particular attention is paid to the position of marginalised children and those most at risk of…

Internationally, early childhood care and education policy is increasingly informed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (1989). In the Republic of Ireland, the importance of this convention was reflected in the National Children's Strategy (2000), espousing a "whole child perspective". This strategy served as a…

In Finnish early childhood education and care, partnership has been introduced as a general approach in the parent-practitioner collaboration. Based on qualitative interviews with practitioners, the article studies, from a social constructionist and discourse analytic perspective, whether partnership is actualised in parent-practitioner…

The research reported on a qualitative study of feedback given in one Finnish pre-primary education group which integrated English into the programme as a first foreign language. The study was based on the authentic video-recorded observations of actual pre-primary teaching sessions (N = 11 lessons). The findings suggested that the reactions of…