A high-quality field experience is a fundamental part of early childhood teacher preparation where teachers-in-training observe, develop, and practice critical teaching skills and dispositions in early childhood classrooms. Many teachers welcome extra assistance in the classroom but do not know how to provide hands-on training to aspiring early…

Early childhood education college students are very busy people. They take required general education and early childhood curriculum courses, and they complete prepracticum and field experiences in a variety of early childhood settings. There has been an increase in the number of students who work during the day and go to school in the evening, as…

This study used a survey approach to investigate the current state of speech-language preservice academic and clinical preparation for providing early intervention (EI) services to culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) populations. Information was obtained from speech-language pathologists (SLPs) employed in EI settings regarding their…

The year 2010 is the 238th anniversary of Friedrich Froebel's birth, yet his spirit and philosophy of teaching are alive in the hearts and minds of 14 Texas early childhood teachers. In 2006, teacher education students at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), San Antonio, were inspired by Froebel, the founder of early kindergartens. Wanting…

Experiences in the natural world help children understand life cycles and seasons, make prediction and become aware of the interdependence between plants, animals, and elements like rain and sun. Early childhood is a critical time to support children's connections to the natural world because young children are naturally curious and there is so…

Education qualification requirements for early childhood teachers are increasing in many types of federal, state, and community-based early childhood programs. The 2007 reauthorization of Head Start requires all teachers to have associate degrees and 50 percent to have earned a baccalaureate degree in early childhood education by the year 2013. At…

The mentor of a parent-child playgroup, an experienced student playgroup facilitator, and a faculty member teaching a family-professional collaboration course describe opportunities for preservice student facilitators to learn about and implement family-centered practices. The experiences of one student facilitator are used to explain the…

Linda Halgunseth, head of NAEYC's Office of Applied Research (OAR), tells readers about Child Care and Early Education Research Connections, a Web site (www.researchconnections.org/teaching_modules) to help teacher educators integrate knowledge about evidence-based practices into teacher education programs. In addition, the article touts the…

Gaining knowledge and skills in the practice of family-centered assessment procedures is an important component of the preservice education for early intervention providers. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of systematic instruction on speech-language pathology (SLP) practicum students' implementation of family-centered…

The challenge is ever present for NAEYC's chapter Affiliates to find new members who want to make a commitment to the organization and to have fresh, innovative ideas that will sustain local groups. Involving undergraduates in local Affiliates contributes to preparing the next generation of leaders, a necessary strategy for preserving and…

In a university lab preschool, teachers initiated a curriculum development approach using child-centered webbing. The authors look at problems early childhood education students encountered in implementing the approach at the school, including incorporating early learning standards into the planning while keeping the focus on the child. The…

Members of the NAEYC Technology and Young Children Interest Forum look at technology use in a classroom at a university demonstration preschool/kindergarten. This example illustrates the integration of a variety of current and emerging technologies into a project-based curriculum.

This article provides an overview and the results of the Crosswalks Intervention, which was developed, implemented, and evaluated to support inclusive early childhood preservice programs to be more reflective of, and responsive to, cultural and linguistic diversity. The Crosswalks Intervention, funded by the US Department of Education, was a…

Community partnerships serving young children and families take many forms. This article presents six community partnerships that are engaged in innovative and creative approaches to learning. These programs have varied goals, but they share a common focus on linking community resources to enhance learning opportunities for the children and…

In this article, the authors discuss how Bennington College Early Childhood Center (ECC) developed a dual language program. In a dual language program, children are immersed in two languages throughout the day. Each classroom has two teachers, one speaking English, the other the second language exclusively. Children learn the second language in…