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Early Childhood Education

• Service-Learning in Teacher Education: Enhancing the Growth of New Teachers, Their Students, and Communities
  This book provides teacher educators, administrators, practicing teachers who work with preservice teachers, policymakers, and researchers with information on the conceptual, research, and application areas of service-learning in preservice teacher education.
• Examining Multicultural Picture Books for the Early Childhood Classroom: Possibilities and Pitfalls
  Picture books that depict the variety of ethnic, racial, and cultural groups within U.S. society (known generally as multicultural picture books) allow young children opportunities to develop their understanding of others, while affirming children of diverse backgrounds.
• Children, Culture and Education
  Today, the majority of countries are characterized by multicultural diversity, a factor which has enormous implications for early childhood educators. As we begin to understand the long-term benefits of participation in high quality early childhood care and education, educators must also recognize that their own cultural heritage can and does influence their perspectives on what is considered the best interests of young children.
• Coming Together: Preparing for Rural Special Education in the 21st Century. Conference Proceedings of the American Council on Rural Special Education (18th, Charleston, South Carolina, March 25-28, 1998)
  This proceedings contains 64 papers on rural special education. Papers present promising practices in rural special education, discussions of theory and research, research findings, program descriptions, and topics of current concern.
• Saris & Skirts: Gender Equity and Multiculturalism
  The booklet discusses about enormous potential the staff members working in early childhood services have to influence young children's developing attitudes toward cultural diversity and gender equity.
• Everybody's Story
  Describes Happy Medium School, Seattle (Washington), a school in which diversity is respected and exploring diversity is an essential part of the curriculum. Teachers at this school regard school as a part of each student's extended family and consider things that happen at home to be a legitimate topic for classroom discussion.
• Teachers Leading Teachers: Enhancing Multicultural Education through Field-based Partnerships
  Argues that partnerships between early childhood teacher preparation programs and public school teachers will strengthen the discourse on multicultural education and its institutionalization. Presents strategies for gaining a personal connection to multicultural education ideals, including developing cultural biographies, examining stereotypes and prejudices, examining the construction of a personal identity, and critically examining the media.
• An Examination of Gender Differences among Teachers in Jamaican Schools
  Examines the history of education in Jamaica, then discusses why there is an absence of male teachers in younger grades. Interviews with teachers and principals from six primary and elementary schools indicate that, similar to educational staff in North America, respondents have stereotyped attitudes regarding the teaching of young children being the realm of women.
• Home Literacy Experiences and Their Relationship to Bilingual Preschoolers' Developing English Literacy Abilities: An Initial Investigation
  Forty-three Puerto Rican mother-child dyads in Head Start programs, grouped according to whether the children had learned Spanish and English from birth (n=28) or Spanish from birth and English in Head Start (n=15) participated in a study of home literacy experiences and emerging English literacy abilities. Results found that literacy development would benefit from increased exposure to literacy materials and events.
• A Few Words about Diversity and Rigidity: One Director's Perspective. Food for Thought
  Discusses implementing multicultural curricula in early childhood settings. Maintains that early childhood educators need to accept and learn to: live with their personal biases while identifying and confronting them to teach tolerance and acceptance; customize work to staff and children in the program, and be aware of the danger of putting theories ahead of serving individual children and families.
• Multicultural Teacher Preparation: Establishing Safe Environments for Discussion of Diversity Issues
  Describes a project within an early childhood multicultural teacher education program that examined what makes educational environments conducive to discussing culturally sensitive issues. Diverse students participated in two discussions, created guidelines, and completed interviews and questionnaires.
• Multiethnic Children's Literature. Book Review
  Reviews a guide to children's literature for and about Latinos, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans. Suggests ways to improve the book's usefulness, including a more global perspective, more rigorous research about specific cultural references, and better student activities.
• Empowering the Poor through Early Childhood Education
  Meeting children's needs for early childhood education is one of eight strategies identified by the Food and Agricultural Organization as necessary for the eradication of poverty. Explores how early childhood education might be funded in developing nations.
• South Dakota's Resource List for Children, Youth, and Families.Pierre
  This directory lists contact information for educational programs and human resource service in South Dakota.
• Kindergartens and Cultures: The Global Diffusion of an Idea
  This book is a study of the diffusion and transformation of the kindergarten around the turn of the twentieth century, concentrating most centrally on the power of local cultures to respond to and reformulate borrowed ideas. Eleven case studies represent western and nonwestern national histories, various religious traditions, and a range of political systems, all of which embraced the kindergarten as a desirable educational form.
• Learning about Culture through Dance in Kindergarten Classrooms
  Describes how dance was incorporated into African and Native American cultural study units. Notes that when dance was used, children's participation level was high and they showed evidence of integrating new knowledge into current information.
• Pinunuuchi Po'og'ani: Southern Ute Indian Academy
  Describes the Pinunuuchi Po'og'ani, the Southern Ute Indian Academy, providing Montessori education for Southern Ute tribal members ages 6 weeks through 10 years and reviving the use of the Southern Ute language and culture among young students and their families. Describes how the program supports families, students, and staff, and incorporates Montessori-style materials covering Ute language, history, culture, arts, timelines, and traditional games.
• At Last! The Early Years Are Creeping up the Agenda, and Equality too
  The importance of racial, economic, and gender equality in early education has recently received increased attention in British public policy. The Early Years Trainers Anti Racist Network and other organizations have played a role in increasing awareness of early-childhood-education inequality and will continue to address future equity opportunities and obstacles.
• South Dakota's Resource List for Children, Youth, and Families.Pierre
  This directory lists contact information for educational programs, human services, and other resources for children, youth, and families in South Dakota.
• Bernard van Leer Foundation Newsletter, 1996.
  This document consists of the four issues of the Bernard van Leer Foundation's "Newsletter" published during 1996. The newsletter covers topics related to, or about efforts to foster, the education and welfare of children around the world, and includes descriptions of programs around the world, lists of resources and publications, and early childhood news.
• Help or Hindrance? Staff Perspectives on Developmental Assessment in Multicultural Early Childhood Settings
  Thirty-five staff members' views on developmental assessment in a multicultural early childhood setting are described and used to initiate a critique of current practice in assessment of young children. Staff expressed a range of opinions from endorsement to frank rejection of the utility, validity, and ethics of developmental assessment.
• Storytelling for Young Children in a Multicultural World
  Advocates storytelling as a powerful resource to promote an understanding of racial and ethnic diversity. Addresses issues of selection criteria including elements of character development, prejudice reduction, authority and authorship, and language.
• International Perspectives on Early Childhood Education: Lessons from My Travels
  Working with early childhood colleagues in other countries can be enlightening and enriching. This paper offers seven insights gained from the international experience.
• Markers of Multicultural/Antibias Education
  Contends that creating a program that reflects diversity and equity is an evolving process. Presents common markers whereby programs can judge individual levels on the multicultural and antibias education journey.
• Cooking Up a Learning Community with Corn, Beans, and Rice
  Describes using cooking as a vehicle for creating community among three culturally diverse classrooms of prekindergartners and third graders. Notes how the choice of corn, beans, and rice in the cooking exercise planted the roots of understanding, tolerance, and compassion, and an appreciation of diversity.
• Using Multicultural Resources for Teachers To Combat Racial Prejudice in the Classroom
  Presents questions that will assist early childhood teachers in evaluating their own views and behaviors toward various ethnic groups. Provides resources for teachers to educate themselves, parents, and students.
• Symposium on Early Childhood Education (Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, November 9-10, 1997). Abstracts.
  This book compiles abstracts of presentations from a symposium held in honor of Dr. Bernard Spodek, a leading scholar in early childhood education, on the occasion of his retirement.
• Teaching the Third Culture Child
  Examines experiences of a 5- and 7-year-old entering a U.S. early childhood program in context of child development theory, constructivist philosophy, and the Japanese social teaching model.
• Bilingualism and Multiculturalism Go to Early Childhood Programs
  This presentation on the preparation of early childhood teachers addresses implication of multiculturalism and bilingual education in early childhood programs.
• Teaching 4- to 8-Year-Olds: Literacy, Math, Multiculturalism, and Classroom Community
  The next decade will see a dramatic increase in public finding for programs serving young children. Prekindergarten and early elementary programs will received more scrutiny in line with a growing awareness that school success is heavily influenced by the skills and attitudes children have when they enter school and quality of initial school experiences.
• On Knowing the Place: Reflections on Understanding Quality Child Care
  Reflects upon experiences with the First Nations' Partnerships and the European Commission Child Care Network to argue that efforts to understand quality care have been insufficiently sensitive to socioecological and cultural factors related to defining and assessing quality. Argues for a reconceptualization of early childhood care, and presents reactions of professionals, academics, First Nations communities, and Africa Institute participants.
• Developing Health Education for Hispanic Migrant Preschool Youth
  Children of Hispanic migrant farmworkers are more susceptible to health problems than children in the general population. This paper discusses the common health problems seen in these children, highlighting special health needs of preschoolers pertinent to this multicultural population.
• "Making Sense of Developmentally and Culturally Appropriate Practice (DCAP) in Early Childhood Education," by Eunsook Hyun. Book Review
  Discusses Hyun's examination of developmentally appropriate multicultural education in early childhood education, noting applications of the theory and techniques to the Canadian education system. Considers the book a timely, informed, and challenging contribution to the process of developing multicultural education.
• Early Childhood Education in Azerbaijan
  Describes the Early Learning Childhood Center in Azerbaijan's capital city. Focuses on the goals of the program; its initial development; staff ratios, compensation, and teacher training; curriculum; cultural challenges and compromise; and relationships with parents.
• Paths to Equity: Cultural, Linguistic and Racial Diversity in Canadian Early Childhood Education
  Childcare centers in Canada's largest cities frequently have children with family languages other than English or French and who are of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. This three-part study focused on cultural diversity in early childhood education (ECE) settings in Toronto (Ontario), Vancouver (British Columbia), and Montreal (Quebec).
• Making Positive Multicultural Early Childhood Education Happen
  Describes the process of implementing a positive multicultural educational plan in the early-childhood classroom. Explores techniques in expanding teacher knowledge, changing teacher attitudes, and implementing new ideas; also covers skills necessary to making multicultural education effective, what the plan should teach children, opportunities for mentoring, and parental inclusion in the process.
• Voices of Cultural Harmony. Spotlight: Montessori--Multilingual, Multicultural
  Asserts the importance of viewing the world as an interrelated system in which each culture and person has important gifts to share. Examines how prejudicial attitudes can be changed through teaching tolerance.
• Matters of Size: Obesity as a Diversity Issue in the Field of Early Childhood
  Notes that obesity is the primary reason for peer rejection in America; examines effects of obesity on wellness, self-esteem, peer relationships, and social status of children/families and early childhood teachers. Suggests that early childhood educators: (1) educate all stakeholders about nutrition and body size issues; (2) speak out against teasing and bullying; and (3) establish policies promoting healthful eating habits.
• Diversity in the Classroom: New Approaches to the Education of Young Children. Second Edition
  Early childhood education faces theoretical dilemmas as it reexamines the role of culture in the development of children and struggles to define what "developmentally appropriate" means and for whom. Teachers and other caregivers are working to integrate an anti-bias, multicultural approach into the overall curriculum and everyday interactions with children and parents.
• Bilingualism and Multiculturalism Go to Early Childhood Programs
  This presentation on the preparation of early childhood teachers addresses implication of multiculturalism and bilingual education in early childhood programs. The purpose of the presentation was threefold: (1) to increase understanding of bilingualism and multiculturalism; (2) to compare and contrast bilingualism and multiculturalism; and (3) to explore implications for the preparation of teachers and the development of strong early childhood programs.
• From Cradle to School: A Practical Guide to Racial Equality in Early Childhood Education and Care. Revised.
  This guide shows how the Race Relations Act of 1976 and the Children Act of 1989 apply to young children in the United Kingdom and to those who have responsibility for their care and education. The 1989 Children Act, a comprehensive piece of legislation that addresses religion, racial origin, and cultural and linguistic background, adds to the specific requirements of the Race Relations Act.
• Successful Early Childhood Education in an Imperfect World: Lessons Learned from Four Northwest Schools. Program Report
  This report describes four innovative and culturally responsive early childhood education programs in Montana, Washington, Alaska, and Oregon. The introduction discusses developmentally appropriate early education and effective teaching practices.
• Focus on Pre-K and K (Ages 4-6): A Quarterly Newsletter for the Education Community, 1997-1998
  These four quarterly newsletter issues address various topics of interest to teachers of young children. Each issue focuses on a theme and includes an article on that theme, along with regular columns.
• Beautiful Me! Celebrating Diversity through Literature and Art
  Describes the "Beautiful Me!" kindergarten unit, which uses children's literature to help children develop a rich vocabulary to describe themselves, their friends, and family, and to avoid words placing people into categories and stereotypes. Activities include providing various skin-tone crayons for drawing and using craft materials to depict hair with different textures, colors, and thickness.
• Early Childhood Education in Eritrea, Proceeding as We Would Finish
  Describes the success of early childhood education programs in Eritrea which are based on the principle "we should proceed in the way we wish to finish." Identifies the social, cultural, and developmental factors an educator must consider. Notes how multilingualism and multiculturalism are of special importance in Eritrean early childhood education.
• Global Perspectives for Young Readers: Easy Readers and Picture Book Read-Alouds from around the World
  Discusses how early childhood educators can use reading lessons as part of a global curriculum and help children develop an understanding of other peoples and their customs. Includes criteria for choosing international books as early reader selections, and annotated lists of picture books for beginning readers, chapter books for young readers, and translated books for read-aloud sessions.
• Multicultural Activities throughout the Year
  Describes how early childhood teachers and caregivers can provide experiences that implement meaningful multicultural understandings into their curriculum, focusing on: where to begin; diversity within the classroom; celebrating birthdays in different countries; classroom displays that positively represent different cultures; evaluating learning centers; and providing dramatic play, art, language arts/library, science/discovery, music, math/manipulative, and block centers. (SM).
• Creating the will; Hispanics achieving educational excellence: A report to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Education and the nation
  This report provides data on the current educational condition of Hispanics from early childhood through graduate and professional education. It also offers strategies for multiple sectors, parents, schools, communities, the private sector, and the government, to improve Hispanic educational achievement.
• Using All the Crayons. Educator Patricia Ramsey Says the Lessons of Tolerance Begin in Early Childhood
  Interviews a professor of psychology and education who discusses the implicit messages about differences and power relationships that children receive from the adults around them. Teachers should assess their own biases and work to ensure that multicultural education is more than superficial window dressing.
• Playing Korean Ethnic Games To Promote Multicultural Awareness
  Provides information to help early childhood teachers recognize the diverse ethnic groups within the Asian community and shows how to use Korean traditional games to promote children's multicultural awareness. Describes four traditional games.
• Self-Awareness, Cultural Identity and Connectedness: Three Terms To (Re)Define in Anti-Bias Work
  Building a strong but flexible identity and learning to deal with diversity are two main educational goals for early childhood education. Because identity is replacing the older concept of race and is serving as the basis for a new form of segregation, it is necessary to redefine the terms "identity" and "cultural identity." Identity involves processes in continual flux, resulting in images of identity at a particular moment.
• Many People, Many Places, Other Times: An Annotated Bibliography of Multicultural Books for 3- to 8-Year-Olds
  Cites 99 recently published fiction, folklore, and nonfiction books for 3- to 8-year olds that illustrate a broad interpretation of multiculturalism and include positive and accurate portrayals of various ethnic or religious groups. A brief synopsis is given for each book, along with publication information.
• A Multicultural Education Experience: The Importance of Process
  Discusses issues and problems in the development and implementation of multicultural education programs, focusing on how a group of educators sought to help early childhood teachers deal with the increasing number of intergroup conflicts among their pupils. These educators developed a multicultural education resource book.
• Reinventing Early Care and Education: A Vision for a Quality System
  Although early care and education have gained some momentum in recent years, shortfalls in quality are still pervasive. This book defines the elements of a high-quality system and suggests strategies for improvement.
• Incorporating Multicultural Perspectives into Teaching Approaches
  Details a study of early-childhood-education teachers' practices and attitudes toward integrating multiculturalism in their classrooms. Discusses teachers' ratings of multiculturalism in education as an issue, their knowledge of multicultural issues and resources, the use of teacher-support agencies, and the effectiveness of programs.
• Successful Early Childhood Education in an Imperfect World: Lessons Learned from Four Northwest Schools. Program Report
  This report describes four innovative and culturally responsive early childhood education programs in Montana, Washington, Alaska, and Oregon. The introduction discusses developmentally appropriate early education and effective teaching practices.
• Let's Add R.I.C.E. (Relevant, Intercultural, Childhood Experiences) to Our Curriculum Menu!
  In the United States and other countries experiencing large influxes of immigrants, how to acknowledge and address the increased diversity has been a challenge for early childhood education. This article explores the use of children's literature in this process, and includes a brief description and evaluation of five culturally diverse children's books.
• To Touch the Spirit of the Child: A Multicultural Perspective
  Describes educational thinkers who pursue the intangibles in relation to children's education, and argues these intangibles are equally important as developing cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills. Enumerates the universal needs of the educational process as including dialog (good listening and observation), bonding, and a spiritual perspective on the human condition.
• South Dakota's Resource List for Children, Youth, and Families.Pierre
  This directory lists contact information for educational programs, human services, and other resources for children, youth, and families in South Dakota. Sections cover adult basic education programs, alcohol and drug treatment facilities, career learning centers, clothing, community health nurses, community mental health centers, consumer credit counseling, county veterans service offices.
• This Is Me: In Search of Your Own Story. Working Papers in Early Childhood Development No. 24
  Consisting of both a theoretical and practical component, this paper describes the development of the educational kit, "This is Me," a Dutch program to prevent the development of prejudice in young children.
• Multicultural Child Care. Bilingual Education and Bilingualism 9
  In child care centers, parental involvement as well as staff sensitivity toward children and parents are essential for managing cultural diversity in a way that is beneficial for both migrant and indigenous families. Defining and improving the quality of center education from a multicultural perspective require discussions between staff and parents about educational goals and the means to achieve them.
• Supporting Multicultural Awareness at Learning Centers
  Suggests that through the integration of positive multicultural experiences and materials into common classroom activities, teachers can help ensure an understanding of these concepts and enrich children's experiences with diverse populations and subjects. (SW).
• Bernard van Leer Foundation Newsletter, 1996.
  This document consists of the four issues of the Bernard van Leer Foundation's "Newsletter" published during 1996. The newsletter covers topics related to, or about efforts to foster, the education and welfare of children around the world, and includes descriptions of programs around the world, lists of resources and publications, and early childhood news.