Research evidence demonstrates that a high-quality early education can ameliorate the effects of disadvantage and produce positive outcomes not only for children and their families, but society as well (Barnett, 1998; Vandell & Wolfe, 2000). One of the most consistent indicators of quality is the presence of qualified teachers who have…

Discusses new job opportunities for teachers trained in both early childhood and special education. (Author/RC)

Describes an action research project involving primary teachers who explored how to use selected children's literature to enhance young children's emergent literacy and numeracy development. Discusses selection criteria for books that effectively support emergent literacy and numeracy simultaneously. Presents teaching strategies that maximize the…

Notes that allegations of sexual abuse against early child care providers are serious, but relatively rare. Presents guidelines for preventing sexual abuse in child care and early childhood programs; guidelines include attention to staff selection, training, and supervision, and good parent-staff relations. Also offers advice for dealing with both…

Used naturalistic inquiry and context evaluation to examine work of three experienced teachers during a year's implementation of an inclusive kindergarten program involving children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Found that the two kindergarten teachers met about 50%, and that the special education teacher met about 70%, of recommended standards…

Discusses growing recognition of and pressure to improve the quality of early childhood services, and the resulting increased professionalism of practitioners. Considers broadening early childhood professionals' roles to include political action, conference presentations, and professional organization contributions. Concludes that the early goal…

This is the second part of an article that explores key questions about the role of technology in early childhood training, continuing education, and professional development, and identifies issues and challenges of teaching online. This part focuses on specific strategies and effective practices faculty and trainers can use to create a community…

Describes collaborative project between an art specialist and kindergarten teacher to develop take-home art appreciation kits for kindergartners. Discusses benefits of the collaboration for teachers, children, and families. Focuses on aesthetic inquiry approach to the art kits to develop inquiry and critical thinking skills. Describes the kits'…

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)

Discusses ways in which preschool teachers can meet the needs of the gifted preschool child in the classroom. (BB)

A relatively context-free method of assessing teacher behavior was tested on nine preschool teachers, five elementary school teachers, and seven remedial teachers in Israel. The context is removed via use of extremely brief (10-second) video clips of teacher behavior, separated into verbal and non-verbal channels. (TJH)

Reminds early care teachers to make quality decisions that keep the child's best interests in mind. Gives several examples of possible parent-school conflicts and guidelines for resolution that keep the child's best interest foremost. (ET)

University faculty members, an elementary teacher, and a school psychologist used bookmatching, an innovative form of action research, to help a kindergartner cope with sexual abuse. The project created dramatic breakthroughs in the student's behavior. His classmates all grew in their knowledge of strategies to apply if confronted by abuse. (SM)

Relates one kindergarten teacher's experiences while participating in a research project on the incorporation of portfolio assessments into student progress reports to parents. (BB)

Describes how Drake University Head Start, the largest Head Start agency in Iowa, provides extensive support for staff and parents in developing high levels of professional competency. Education and employment opportunities are provided through: a parent university; teacher associate/bus associate workshops; employment and tuition waivers;…