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…

Researchers have made convincing arguments for the benefits of a smooth transition to school. The passage through this significant social change may have a lasting influence on children's progress. For example, social, emotional and academic difficulties in the early years of schooling have been shown to persist through school and into…

Countries around the world have identified early childhood education as a major priority in providing the foundation for inclusive democratic participation. In US early childhood practice, creating a classroom community is recognised as a part of "quality" education and a means to teach democratic principles. The purpose of this qualitative study…

The purpose of this study was to compare scores on state standardised tests for five-year-old children in full- and half-day kindergarten programmes in the United States. Four thousand four hundred and eleven students participated in this three-year cohort study; each completed standards-based instruction in an urban public school setting.…

Early years classroom practice in Northern Ireland is perceived to be dominated by a traditional teacher-directed model to the detriment of a more constructivist, play-based and child-initiated learning environment favoured in many nations' early education provision (see for example Walsh, 2000). In 2002, the Northern Ireland Council for…