Examined associations among day care center quality, selected structure variables, provincial legislation and funding, rural/urban location, and profit-seeking status across 48 centers in Canada. Found that average ratings of quality were between acceptable and good. Ratios and group size were acceptable. Found differences between for-profit and…

Describes a home-visit assignment used in an early-childhood-education teacher-training class to teach the importance of family and cultural context as an influence on child development. As part of the assignment, student teachers document observations in four domains: family structure and history, language use, household activities, and parental…

Examined effects of child care on mothers' levels of stress, and parental and life satisfaction. Found that all the child care variables contributed significantly to mothers' stress levels. However, the more satisfied mothers felt with child care arrangements, the greater their satisfaction as parents. Results suggest that adequate child care must…

Discusses how key ideas from ethnography can be translated into principles that can guide assessment and evaluation in early-childhood-education settings. Notes that when ethnographic principles are used in education settings, assessment and evaluation are integrated with teaching and learning, are interrelated, reciprocal processes, and are used…

Discusses the ways supervisors of early-childhood-education student teachers in their classroom practicum help their students connect theory and practice, based on research with early-childhood-education students. Discusses supervision techniques, including observation, student journals, and the seminar session, and the theoretical assumptions…

Argues that while Billman and Sherman's book is intended for early-childhood-practicum courses, it may be better suited to a child-development course wherein the activities suggested would reinforce content. Examines each book chapter in terms of usefulness toward its goals of providing students with a link between theory and practice and…

Notes the limited usefulness of Mulligan's book for student care-providers; its strengths lie in usability for students and instructors; its encouragement of care providers to be reflective, responsive professionals; and in the scope of topics discussed. Examines each book chapter in terms of usefulness for assisting care providers in assuming…

Faltis's book succeeds in teaching the real meaning of equality of educational opportunity, as this concept relates to language differences in American classrooms. Content of instruction is hindered when students are taught through a language that differs from the language used at home, because limited-English-proficient students are treated in…

Explores how public and private discourses concerned with work and child care shape current notions of child care. Defines the meaning of public and private discourses, and examines how dichotomous assumptions about the nature of work and child care give rise to problematic issues that need to be addressed if child care is to become a truly public…

An inventory was constructed of social situations in which day care children may display problem behaviors. Child care workers using the inventory rate how often a child experiences difficulties in 38 social situations and identify children's usual reaction in each situation. A validation study indicated that the inventory has adequate…

Uses a narrative methodology to explore a vision of early childhood practice as developmental, respecting individual differences, responsive to social and cultural contexts, democratic, and holistic in relation to a specific teaching experience. Argues that social conditions beyond teachers' control make appropriate practice difficult for…

Examined the influence of curriculum preparation on children's content knowledge of dramatic play centers' themes, dramatic play behavior, and theme-relevant conversation during play. Found that theme familiarity may have been a critical factor. Posttest content knowledge was positively related to frequency of dramatic play. Teacher effects on…

Maintains that this highly readable book provides practical opportunities for teachers to participate fully in research. Topics in the book include autobiographical writing, developing a research framework, working with students as coresearchers, and research as professional development. Notes that the book's serious omissions include the lack of…

Maintains that this methods textbook for early childhood educators in training is comprehensive and well written, but depicts a fairly traditional picture of early childhood education, and that issues of particular importance in Canada receive superficial coverage. (Author/KB)

Reviews work which describes the tribes approach to building community through group development of students and staff, provides a blueprint to assist with its implementation, discusses administrative support, and presents strategies and energizers for teachers. Maintains that organization and insightful writing make the book easy to follow. (KB)