Childhood Education articles from December 1996

Childhood Education archives from December 1996

Prenatal drug exposure: meeting the challenge.
December 22, 1996... Educators and child care providers today face a challenging new community of children identified as one of the fastest growing at-risk populations in America (Poulsen, 1992). These children have been labeled as "crack babies," "prenatal drug...

Strategies for overcoming obstacles in AIDS education for preteens.
December 22, 1996... "I'm sitting in the back row." "Well, I'm just going to be absent that day." These were typical student responses upon learning that their school would be visited by a guest speaker who had tested positive for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency...

Creating positive cultural images: thoughts for teaching about American Indians.
December 22, 1996... Most children enjoy stories and school lessons about American Indians. They often find something inspirational about the lives of Chief Joseph, Crazy Horse, Geronimo and other great American Indian leaders. Although it is important to learn about...

Quilts and tangrams: linking literature and geometry.
December 22, 1996... "A quilt won't forget. It can tell your life story," said Grandma. "There was the red from Ted's shirt. There was Tanya's Halloween costume. And there was Grandma. Even though her patch was old, it fit right in." (The Patchwork Quilt, Flournoy,...

Books in the sand box? Markers in the blocks?: expanding the child's world of literacy.
December 22, 1996... Barbara Thomas is finally finished. Scanning the classroom, she sees the carefully arranged child-sized furniture delineating areas that include blocks, puzzles and manipulatives, a natural science table with an aquarium and rock collection, a...

Fostering mutual respect for play at home and school.
December 22, 1996... "And what did you do in school today?" This is the age-old question asked by parents seeking information from their children about what they are learning in school. Children in developmentally appropriate early childhood classrooms, where play is...

Turning my world upside down: how I learned to question developmentally appropriate practice.
December 22, 1996... When I began to write up my ethnographic case study of a rural, Appalachian Head Start program for my dissertation, I was quite certain that I, a well-informed and well-intentioned educator, was aware of my biases and would be able to consider...

Turn catalog clutter into creative learning.
December 22, 1996... How many times have you gone to your mailbox only to find it stuffed with catalogs? After receiving a minimum of 15 different catalogs this summer, I decided I had several options: using them to place orders, piling them all up under the table or...

Increasing young children's cultural awareness with American Indian literature.
December 22, 1996... As the 21st century approaches, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the United States is composed of a multitude of cultures and characterized by limitless diversity. It is therefore even more important than before to offer multicultural...

Training Teachers: A Harvest of Theory and Practice.
December 22, 1996... Staff development for early childhood educators has been long overlooked as a vital ingredient to appropriate teacher expectations. In this book, Carter and Curtis respond to the need for effective early childhood teacher training perspectives....

The Multicultural Math Classroom: Bringing in the World.
December 22, 1996... At first glance, this book did not appeal to me, as the author's tone appeared to be very pedantic. Perhaps I was not prepared to learn more about stretching the cultural envelope around mathematics education. The author's perspective began to...

The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School.
December 22, 1996... Postman's title, The End of Education, can be construed two very different ways. In Part I he uses "end" in the sense of dead end. In Part II he uses "end" in the sense of purposeful outcome or intention. Postman lists a number of false gods...

Young Friends: Schools and Friendships.
December 22, 1996... Drawing on their vast experiences as practicing educational psychologists, these British authors skillfully integrate theory and practice in meaningful ways for teachers and caregivers. Concerned with more than just observing social skills, the...

Guiding Young Children in a Diverse Society.
December 22, 1996... The early years represent the best time to teach children to regard others with deeper understanding and to help them tolerate (and gradually, respect) the many ways in which we are all unique. The authors define diversity as encompassing four...

Building Three-Way Communication: The Leader's Role in Linking School, Families and Community.
December 22, 1996... The authors assert that part of a school's mission is to develop a partnership with families and with the community at large. Furthermore, school leaders must understand the need for attitudinal changes and the ingredients for overcoming barriers...

Improving education for children: standards and research.
December 22, 1996... Since the report A Nation at Risk appeared in the 1980s, educators, parents, taxpayers and legislators have all wrestled with how to best improve education, asking themselves, "What is the best way to educate children and how can we ensure that...

Managing Technology in the Classroom.
December 22, 1996... Elementary school teachers who are familiar with this publisher will expect a book full of practical, "do-able" classroom projects. They will not be disappointed. The book is aimed at K-6 teachers who are novices when it comes to using...

The Internet and Instruction: Activities and Ideas.
December 22, 1996... While Managing Technology in the Classroom does a great job of educating teachers about using technology to enhance learning, it does not go beyond a simple definition of the Internet. The Internet and Instruction addresses the benefits,...

Connecting Kids and the Internet: A Handbook for Librarians, Teachers, and Parents.
December 22, 1996... Compared with The Internet and Instruction: Activities and Ideas, this book is more detailed, technical and comprehensive when it comes to defining the Internet and how to make effective instructional use of it. Although the language is perhaps...