Describes the Kindergarten Transition Project at the National Center for Early Development and Learning, a school-based program designed to enhance connections among children, teachers, families and peers during kindergarten transition. Discusses program activities intended to increase familiarity with elementary school, provide consistent…

Discusses how "cute" projects--as offered in traditional early childhood classrooms--insult children's intellects, mistake doing with learning, often miseducate, and undermine professionalism and educational equity. Describes a continuum of professional development ranging from cute learning experiences to those that are more challenging. Explores…

Recommends universal precautions policies and procedures to minimize for children and adults in early childhood settings the risk of infection from exposure to blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis B or HIV. Outlines symptoms of hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS. Discusses legal and ethical implications related to inclusion. Lists resources for teachers…

Explored the use of e-mail to develop a productive mentoring relationship with a student teacher through her student teaching and first year of teaching. Found that on-line discussions provided opportunities to state concerns and offer mentoring ideas in a calm environment. Also found that both mentor and student shared stories that encouraged…

Presents ways early childhood teachers can preserve records of their classroom experiences to enrich their own lives, and the lives of their descendants and those who study education. Discusses self-interviews and teacher journals, and outlines developing a timeline, tracking classroom traditions, collecting photographs and videotapes, and…

Recommends neighborhood walks as a way to build children's knowledge of environment. Suggests ways of learning about the environment, of nurturing respect for the environment, and of modeling environmental stewardship. Recommends fostering engaged inquiry to facilitate the learning process. (DLH)

Considers multiculturalism as a moral issue. Notes scarcity of authentic multicultural classrooms and identifies four underlying factors. Uses two realistic classroom scenarios to point out moral and educational considerations that underlie multiculturalism. Recommends four multicultural practices for teachers. (DLH)

Reviews genesis of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects in children. Identifies physical characteristics and behavioral indicators found and provides three checklists of observable signs for both disorders. Recommends seven steps for educators to follow in seeking assistance with these conditions. (DLH)

Describes reorganization of an early childhood education program for teachers at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Lists changes in program elements, highlights program goals, describes key conceptual features, and includes student comments as evidence of program effectiveness. Notes that program focus is developing the students' capacity…

Describes "reader response" teaching techniques to enhance young children's critical thinking skills, build a sound literacy foundation, and clarify the relationship between reading and writing. Provides examples of response logs/journal entries, aesthetic responses such as drawings and dramatic reenactments, and student discussions incorporating…

Presents information on the legislative struggle surrounding the educational rights of children and their families who are homeless. Discusses the educational needs of homeless children. Maintains that educators can take a proactive stance to aid these children and their families, and to raise social awareness among all children and families in…

Presents rationale for using learning centers in early childhood classrooms. Describes teaching strategies to support active learning, including providing open-ended materials, organizing for independence, introducing centers, brainstorming ideas, and extending children's learning. (KB)

Describes the goals and service components of Educare, a collaborative community project in southeast Missouri since 1995, to enhance school readiness of children from birth to 3 years from low-income families. Discusses working with families, community agencies and local services, and early childhood professionals. Also explores…

Describes the block play of two preschoolers as they recreate their visit to their state capital. Presents the teacher's observations of the skills displayed in their play and the letter to parents explaining what children learn from block play. (KB)

Describes how children's play contributes to brain development. Details the importance of early experience for brain development, arguing that the optimal learning activities to promote brain development are complex, use many senses simultaneously, and are perceived as relevant, useful, emotionally engaging, and novel. Suggests that informal play…