This reader was designed to support the Open University Masters in Social Sciences program and as such includes an appendix of useful questions based on the texts used to stimulate seminar discussion. It offers insights into ethnographic research techniques and serves as a tool through which some limitations of conventional quantitative research…

Reviews an ethnographic analysis of Teach for America, a 1990 educational reform program that illustrates how underlying assumptions about "marginal" urban and rural students and their "deficient" environments solidify existing power structures, acculturate students to middle-class norms, generate resistance to teachers, and ensure failure to…

Reviews essays by Raymond Williams, which explain how, within the context of a 150-year literary history, rural stereotypes have been constructed and imbedded within a collective consciousness by a form of cultural colonization. Suggests that Williams' insights can help rural education researchers think outside the conventional wisdom that…

Reviews Click's book, which explains the development of children during middle childhood; discusses the role of the many individuals involved in a child care facility; introduces developmentally appropriate practices and programs for cultural and linguistic diversity; and describes how to implement a variety of activities. Finds that despite…

Reviews Fraser's book, which relates the author's work at Douglas College, New Westminster, British Columbia, and three child care settings to interpret the Reggio Emilia approach for Canadian settings. Notes that the book reminds readers that what is missing from prescribed curricula is the relationship of learners to the material; in this book,…

Reviews Newman's book, a play-oriented guide for parents of preschool children with disabilities. Recommends the book as a small step in fostering parental perspectives on school readiness issues and as one way of helping children by encouraging parents to adopt a teacher's stance. (TJQ)

Reviews Pianta and Cox's book, which covers the significance of early school transitions; the ecology of transitions into and through kindergarten; facilitating transitions for children from diverse backgrounds; and implications of the kindergarten transition. Cautions that while the book provides a strong empirical foundation, it does not provide…

Maintains that Baxter and Read's book deals with controversial and contentious issues in a proactive manner and effectively challenges and stimulates attitudes, beliefs, and approaches to working with children with special needs. Notes that the use of labels shows how entrenched professionals have become in a deficit-oriented model to describe…

Maintains that Pica's resource book is an excellent guide for educators seeking new movement activities to perform with young children. Asserts that the organization of the book offers clear directions for the activities and proposes guidelines to transform the activities in interesting ways. Notes that the book sometimes does not provide specific…

Notes that Davidson's book provides an in-depth exploration of the contribution of dramatic play to emergent literacy and ways that teachers can implement play-based literacy learning. Maintains that the book has a balanced theoretical orientation, provides a sensitive treatment of intervention, presents a thoughtful treatment of oral and written…

Notes that Morrish's book reviews popular discipline practices, three building blocks of discipline, and methods for teaching children that rights and freedoms must be governed by reason, respect, and responsibility. Asserts that the book's examples span the home and school environments and that the book emphasizes proactive and preventive…

Notes that Yang's book provides a combination of Eastern and Western philosophy in defining values, aims, and methods of education, research, and teacher preparation programs. Maintains that the book presents important insights into current educational issues. Asserts that problems such as printing errors and significant flaws in arguments add to…

Reviews Bassett's work intended to provide information to people training to be caregivers to infants and young children. Notes the clear presentation, wide coverage, and skill checklists. Recommends the book for parents and infant and child caregivers. (JPB)

Discusses the value of Tombari and Borich's work for explaining the need for authentic teaching and assessment practices, providing assessment techniques, and for inspiring inservice training sessions. (JPB)

Discusses Goldstein's study of one possible application of a feminist curriculum theory for early childhood education and the nature of teaching with love. Notes the connections made between feminism and teaching in the approach and the usefulness of the book for those seeking an alternative approach. (JPB)