Early Childhood Article Archive
Classroom Best Practices - General Instruction Strategies
Integrated Teaching Units Find out how and why to incorporate thematic teaching units and long-term projects into your classroom curriculum.
The Importance of Dramatic Play Learn more about the research behind dramatic play and how to set up effective sociodramatic play boxes in your classroom.
Teaching with the Brain in Mind Gain an essential understanding of how the brain is structured and ways educators can approach learning objectives to best convey information to students in a brain-friendly manner.
The Internet and the Early Childhood Classroom Integrate the Internet into your classroom with information on evaluating Web sites for classroom use, Internet safety, and teacher mediation and training.
Learning and Teaching in Preschool Learn more about the preschool learning environment and what curriculum should be covered, including emergent literacy, math, and science.
Center Time in the Early Childhood Classroom: Basic Set-up Explore portable or permanent learning centers in your classroom, including basic set-up, theme and subject based centers, and group dynamics.
Showcasing Strengths: Students with Learning Disabilities Discover the hidden talents in your learning disabled students by focusing on what they can do instead of what they can't do.
Adapting the Curriculum to Meet the Needs of Diverse Learners Learn more about differentiated instruction that provides learners with a variety of ways to process information and demonstrate what they have learned, in order to "match" the way in which each learner learns most effectively.
Behavioral Concerns within Inclusive Classrooms Find effective strategies that can support teachers and their students who exhibit challenging behavior in the classroom.
Behavioral Concerns Learn more about the Positive Behavior Support approach to helping children develop social and communication skills, while creating a positive environment for learning and growth.
Assessing Young Children Implement student portfolios in your classroom to help assess children's growth on an ongoing basis, record authentic work samples, and use as a center piece for parent conferences.
Learning Modalities Learn the difference between learning modalities and multiple intelligences, and how can you determine what the strongest learning styles are for each child in your classroom.
Antisocial Behavior in LD and ADHD students Play a critical preventative role in your classroom by helping a child understand the cause of disruptive behaviors, establishing positive collaborations with the family and by knowing when to help the parent seek further professional help.
Classroom Best Practices - Subject Area Strategies
Arts & Literature
Emergent Writing: Developing emergent writing skills in the early childhood classroom Find out why emergent writing is important to a child's cognitive development, and learn how to include meaningful emergent writing experiences in your curriculum.
Using Sign Language and Fingerspelling to Facilitate Early Literacy Skills Use sign language and fingerspelling to offer a "hands on" beginning to literacy. Discover more about these fun and productive ways to actively engage young learners.
Language Immersion Programs: The Benefits of Learning in Two Languages Learn more about the research behind Language Immersion programs in elementary schools, and what the benefits and drawbacks of these programs are for your students.
A Recipe for Motivating Creative Writers Create an enthusiasm for writing in your first or second graders by offering meaningful opportunities to explore topics of interest to them.
Library Time Maximize effective use of the library for your young learners from the first visit to the library to involved research projects.
International Literacy Day Start the school year right by celebrating reading, writing, and literacy through fun ideas for your classroom.
Health & Fitness
Physically Active for Life Find out why it's important for children to be physically active, and learn what parents look for in a physical education program when selecting a preschool for their children.
The Importance of Developing Fundamental Motor Skills: Learning How to Catch a Ball Encourage physical activity and motor skill development in your students. Try one approach that starts with several steps in learning how to catch a ball, a beanbag, or a balloon.
Children and Physical Activity Browse fun lessons that can be integrated throughout the curriculum to provide students with the movement and physical activity they need.
Science
Science in the Preschool Classroom Read how one preschool science program is developing young scientists and how you can incorporate science into your early childhood classroom.
Social Studies
Happy Holidays: Tips for Choosing Celebrations in School Read suggestions and references that may help you reflect on your own approach to holidays in the classroom and implement some new ideas in your learning environment.
Research and Standards
Guiding Young Children Toward Kindergarten: A Primer on Early Learning Standards Focus on how parents and children view school readiness and how shared goals and common expectations can benefit young children as they enter school as eager, confident, and curious learners.
What Student Teachers Want: For Future Student Teachers Follow the advice of former student teachers on what to know before you start your student teaching experience and what you should find out during the process.
What Student Teachers Want: For Supervising Teachers Read advice from former student teachers on what your new student teacher needs to know and learn under your guidance.
Teaching with PBS Kids On-Air and Online resources
Arthur: The World's Favorite Aardvark Discover the extensive resources for educators available from Arthur, including lesson plans, online games, and more than 100 episode-specific activities.
Between the Lions: Learn to read, watch TV! Find out more about the research behind Between the Lions and find inventive ways to implement the program and Web site into your classroom.
Clifford: Taking Learning to New Heights Learn more about the extensive resources available to help educators use the Clifford on-air program and companion Web site to enhance literacy, social, and emotional skills in the early childhood classroom.
Fly off on a learning adventure with Dragon Tales! Find information on the learning goals of Dragon Tales and how you can use the on-air episodes and online companion content to engage early learners in your classroom.
Celebrate Language and Cultural Diversity with Maya & Miguel Find out how to incorporate Maya & Miguel into your classroom with suggested viewing tips, lesson plans, offline activities, and exciting online games.
Postcards from Buster: Hit the Road with Buster! Learn how to make the most of the Postcards from Buster series in your classroom to help your students appreciate cultural and geographic diversity and develop language skills.
Reading Rainbow: TV Good Enough to Read! Discover the history and educational goals behind Reading Rainbow, plus get tips for using the on-air episodes and companion Web site in your classroom.
Bring the Learning Fun of Sesame Street into your Classroom Learn more about the educational goals behind this multigenerational series and get ideas for viewing and using the program and Web site in your classroom to enhance your curriculum goals.