Best Writing on Constructivism 1997 AERA/SIG on Constructivism“DeVries and Zan have given educators an indispensable field guide to teaching children the essentials of respect for self and others, devising and interpreting rules, and resolving conflicts. Their timely volume marks an important step forward for early education.”
—Edward Zigler, Department of Psychology, Yale University

Extending the work of Jean Piaget, the authors provide a rationale for a socio­moral atmosphere in the early childhood classroom and describe the practical ways in which teachers can cultivate it.

The authors discuss the theoretical foundation of this approach, which emphasizes cooperative teacher-student relationships, and contrast it with the more traditional behaviorist approach. In later chapters, they demonstrate how the constructivist orientation can be embedded in a school program by focusing on specific situations—conflict resolution, grouptime activities, cleanup, lunchtime, naptime, and the “difficult” child—and on more generalized aspects such as academics and the overall school atmosphere.