Educators are encouraged to form a collaborative partnership with the family as a way to learn about who the child is, work together to provide positive outcomes for the child, and to promote the capacity of the family to make decisions that work best for their child and the entire family. Though home visits are not explicitly stated as an avenue…

Research has indicated that shared book reading that is characterized by interactive classroom discussion elicits relatively complex vocabulary and, consequently, contributes to children's vocabulary acquisition (Gonzalez et al. 2014). In addition, this type of book reading has also been found to be related to building listening, comprehension,…

There is a prevailing myth that young children do not notice race (Doucet & Adair, 2013; Hirschfeld, 2012). While, in fact, infants as early as three months old notice race (Bar-Haim et al., 2006; Kelly et al., 2005). If numerous early childhood educators find discussing race and ethnicity inappropriate for young children, children could be…

As graduate assistants (GAs) at the Graduate Center for the Study of Early Learning at the University of Mississippi, two of the authors participated in a trip to Money, Mississippi, the community where one of the most horrific events related to racial unrest in the country's history occurred. While there, they learned about Emmett Till, a young…

Early childhood educators take on many roles over the course of their careers. One role is that of mentor. Although mentors serve a variety of functions, they primarily act as role models, facilitators, and collaborators (Kupila, Ukkonen-Mikkola, & Rantala, 2017). Mentors offer advice, guidance, counseling (Altes & Pinholster, 2013),…

Writing is an important part of learning across all content areas of school (Graham & Harris, 2011). Even very young children experience the symbols of written language all around them. Soon they begin to notice that written symbols stand for people, ideas, things, or events, and attempt their own marks (Aram & Levin, 2011). However,…

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Code of Ethical Conduct outlines areas of responsibility in professional relationships with children, families, colleagues, and the community. Integral to these areas of responsibility is the notion that they exist within the context of relationships. Whether the aspirational…

The field of early childhood education supports the notions that early childhood programs need the active support of families and that the school and the home are the most critical environments impacting children's development (Mart, Dusenbury, & Weissberg, 2011). The vast majority of state standards do not align with family involvement…

The brief description of a real child presented in this article highlights some of the obstacles faced by many children in the United States today, particularly those who come from low-income homes. There is an increasingly large chasm between the number of children who are on target for success in school and those who need extra help to close…

Observation is a useful tool, even in infant and toddler classrooms. Applied correctly, observation and assessment can help lay a foundation for a successful education throughout life. As appropriate practices are researched and policies change, teachers and caregivers of the youngest children (referred to as careteachers for this article) find…

The brain is a complex organ with an intellectual capacity that is unique to humans. For educators, it is wise to study the brain's many attributes and how it functions to help guide, inform, and improve teaching practice. Learners' brains are particularly sensitive to certain kinds of stimuli--that is social, physical, cognitive, and emotional…

Among various benefits of art for young children, this article highlights the emotional development aspect, specifically boosting self-confidence through art activities. The definition of self-confidence as having trust in one's self, clear knowledge of one's strengths and limitations, and assurance of one's ability to handle a variety of…

Early childhood professionals can provide services and effective support to assist military families with healthy coping and functioning before, during, and after deployment. The purpose of this article is to examine what is known about the effects of stressors associated with the military lifestyle and how they impact returning military members,…

For a majority of teachers, traditional professional development workshops lack relevancy and leave teachers on their own to implement what was learned. Workshops are frequently structured in ways in which teachers are seen simply as recipients of information handed down by trainers (a more passive role) versus those who reflect on and construct…

This article describes how American and Japanese kindergartners see play and what teachers can learn from them. The authors share their findings from analyzing photos and interviews from 44 American children in the southeastern United States and 55 Japanese children in the main island of Japan, all aged five to six years. In the study, children…