A child's pre-school years may be the most active learning period; for children in a bicultural community, the home language is the best in which to begin reading study, and a teacher should endeavor to minimize cultural shock to maximize learning in the primary grades. (CK)

This background article provides a general discussion of the possibilities of teaching preschool children to read in one or more languages. If external stimulation can match the rapid inner development of young children, rapid and extensive learning can occur. (CHK)

Presidential address presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, Mexico City, Mexico, August 10, 1973. (SK)

Argues that parents, especially mothers, are the best teachers for preschoolers, but suggests that the establishment opposes the teaching of preschoolers. The need for progression in language learning beginning at home in the preschool years and continuing and building in the elementary grades, in high school, and in college is stressed. (GLR)