Uses data from study of "goodness of fit" between preschool mathematical curriculum policy and the content framework in Scottish guidelines. Outlines a tool and process for eliciting use of the mathematical frameworks managers in planning curriculum, giving examples of frameworks produced by the tool. Also outlines a model of four key…

Focuses upon the way visions for early childhood are expressed through curricula in England, New Zealand, and Reggio Emilia in Italy. Includes curricular examples illustrating how growing pressure from vocational and instrumental influences affect progressive and socioculturally inspired early childhood curricula. Reveals how curricula and…

Investigated parents' and staff opinions about parental participation in their child's preschool, including perceived available options for partnership. Found that parental needs for participation were largely satisfied by the opportunities offered in the play group sector but not in local authority and private nurseries. Found three areas in…

Assessed the quality of different types of early childhood care and education programs in Chile according to international standards. Recorded structural and process characteristics observed in the classrooms. Found that Chilean preschool programs showed a minimum level of quality, with a high proportion of centers in the inadequate range.…

Examined whether activities in the preschool curriculum across Northern Ireland are more adult-directed or child-directed. Findings from observations of 71 preschool settings showed that the curriculum of most reception settings was more adult-directed, while most nursery schools, play groups, and private day nurseries adopted a child-initiated…

Outlines a model for a contextual approach to preschool curriculum, considering its three main constructs: a child-centered approach, recognition of the interactions within the child's environment, and the provision of an active growth environment. Describes the influence of the child's social context, comprised of parents and teachers, on early…

The development of conceptions of academic ability was examined by comparing peer assessments made by preschoolers and children in grades 1-4. Findings from a team selection task showed that by fourth grade, children have acquired a clear conception of ability. Findings from a free classification task showed that academic skills did not factor…

Examined the relationship between preschool children's development and the quality of child care, group size, adult-child ratio, caregiving style, and caregiver child interactions in child care centers in Athens, Greece. Found that development could be predicted by the overall quality of the child care center, with smaller effect from group size.…

Compares case studies of early childhood education in schools in Germany and Ireland. Both schools emphasize the importance of children's emotional-spiritual development, but while Irish children are already in formal education, German schooling defers beginning of formal learning. Concludes that more teacher interaction with children in German…

Summarizes ERIC documents on grandparents, the Situation Approach in Asia, and educating young children in a diverse society. Summarizes nine journal articles on child care, parenting, education, kindergarten and nursery schools, hearing-impaired children, and social policy in China, Australia, and various countries in Europe, Latin America, and…

Recognizing that preschool experience of hearing stories read aloud contributes significantly to children's subsequent success in learning to read at school, this paper explores the complex and powerful literacy learning that can develop from a certain style of whole class story reading to children whose home cultures would not otherwise give them…

Based on a study that compared four day nurseries in Italy with four in Spain and four in the United Kingdom, this paper examines one aspect of the comparison, the broad differences between the three countries in their approach to learning in day nurseries. Gives some practical examples about how concepts of education have been interpreted in the…

Describes some preliminary results comparing two groups of children's performance on a set of Piagetian conservation tasks. Findings highlight the need to sensitize parents and teachers to current views on appropriate learning environments for young children, particularly the strategies they might use to make sense of their experiences. (TJQ)

Describes a study of 154 female teachers' perceptions of children's behavior problems in nursery classes in Greece. The overall prevalence rate identified by teachers for all behavior problems was 14.3%. Children's gender, age, and academic achievement, and teachers' teaching experience were found to be significant factors in the study, but the…

Describes a study of the literacy and numeracy experiences of two- and three-year olds from disadvantaged homes, as they occurred in Scottish day nursery schools. Found that numeracy experiences occurred less frequently than literacy experiences. Variation between the nurseries showed consistent patterns between variables relating to staff…