Examines the early childhood and primary learning environments and developmentally appropriate practices in light of the findings of brain research in the mid to late 1990s. Focuses on how the brain works, creating the optimal learning environment, developing classroom learning centers, and presenting meaningful learning experiences. Identifies…

Presents eight points for designing the physical and programmatic environments to prevent discipline problems and support learning in early childhood classrooms. Points relate to designing clearly defined activity areas, providing adequate space, assessing the activity structure throughout the day, following an age-appropriate schedule, and…

Describes how the personal narratives of Vivian Paley led one early childhood specialist to surprising insights about the ways young children and adults learn. Focuses on the role of children's storytelling and playacting in supporting thinking, classroom discipline techniques, and using children's thinking to improve one's teaching skills. (KB)

Describes using a word wall, a visible display categorizing words alphabetically, enabling children in early childhood classrooms to discover new words and to practice and expand their language skills. Suggests that a word wall helps to create a secure learning environment, builds student confidence, and contributes to independent reading and…

Reviews findings on the long-term effects of early childhood care and education (ECCE) programs outside the United States. Focuses on three issues of policy debate of concern to the United States: (1) long-term benefits of ECCE programs; (2) using ECCE programs to reduce educational inequities; and (3) benefits of parent involvement in ECCE…

This NAEYC presentation at White House Summit on Early Childhood Cognitive Development: Ready to Read, Ready to Learn describes key elements of early literacy and emphasizes essential supports for children's positive development and learning. The presentation focuses on the ways early childhood teachers can support children's language/literacy and…

The first meetings with a family, including the first Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting, set the tone for the family's emerging relationship with early intervention professionals. The IFSP meeting and document are a vehicle for parents and professionals to partner together to target outcomes that are meaningful to the family and to…

Alaska Native peoples refer to themselves and their way of life as the "way of the human being" (Napolean, 1991). This term, referred to as "Yuuyaraq" by the Yup'ik Eskimo, speaks to the value the Yup'ik and other Alaskan Natives place on being fully human. Within the context of the "way of the human life," how can early interventionists and…

There will always be circumstances in which children do not follow adults' instructions or are unwilling to participate in certain activities. When noncompliance become recurrent, a child's functioning in home, school, and community settings can be affected. Often, these children miss out on a variety of experiences by virtue of being unengaged.…

One of the challenges for young children with communication disabilities and limited expressive language is learning to communicate in effective ways. Often, children communicate using idiosyncratic behavior and unconventional means. Their communication may even mirror that of very young children who are prelinguistic (e.g., reach for an item or…

The daily educational experiences of a young child affect not only the child but also the family. The time and energy a family invests to achieve optimal educational experiences will likely impact the whole family system. As such, early education service providers are responsible for decreasing the challenges that parents experience so that…

During the toddler years, nonverbal communication becomes more prominent and developmental differences for children who would later be diagnosed with autism become more distinct. One difference concerns joint attention, a critical milestone that typically emerges during the last quarter of the first year of life and is consolidated at around 18…

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children is a professional association whose responsibility is to develop and disseminate standards of practice related to young children with special needs and their families. The intention is to identify practices that result in high-quality early intervention/early childhood…

Meaningful assessments should inform early childhood intervention practices. The essential relationship between assessment and curriculum is an organizing principle of the Division of Early Childhood Recommended Practices. One tool that combines assessment and curriculum into a comprehensive system for supporting and serving young children and…

The growing use of the term "evidence-based" in conference presentations, web sites, journal articles and grants announcements suggest definitive answers to a host of practice-related issues. The purpose of this paper is to address the questions of: (1) defining evidence-based practice; (2) how evidence-based practice differs from other practices;…