I Compagni : Understanding Children's Transition from Preschool to Elementary School

by Corsaro, William A.; Molinari, Luisa

• ISBN13: 9780807746189
• ISBN10: 0807746185
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-09-15
• Publisher: Teachers College Pr

Summary

Tells a complete story about the lives of children as they grow from young preschoolers to preadolescents in Modena, Italy. The authors both explore and participate in the rich, complex history and development of the Italian early education system.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xi
Preface	xv
Acknowledgments	xix
PART I COMMUNITY, PRIMING, AND TRANSITION
1 Exploring the Context: Early Education in Modena, Italy	3	(11)
The Local Context	3	(3)
The Italian Context	6	(3)
The Research Context	9	(5)
2 A Framework for Understanding Children's Early Life Transitions	14	(13)
The Significance of the Preschool to Elementary School Transition	14	(2)
An Interpretive Approach to Children's Transition to Elementary School	16	(2)
Interpretive Reproduction and Recent Theories of Human Development and Life Transitions	18	(6)
Conclusion	24	(3)
PART II LIVING, LEARNING, AND PREPARING FOR CHANGE AT GIUSEPPE VERDI PRESCHOOL
3 Building a Community of Learners and Looking to the Future: Priming Events in the School Culture	27	(19)
School Routines	27	(10)
Priming Events	37	(7)
Conclusion	44	(2)
4 Sharing, Growing, and Anticipating Change: Priming Events in the Peer Culture	46	(11)
Peer Relations	47	(6)
Priming Events	53	(3)
Conclusion	56	(1)
5 The Coming Transition to Elementary School: Perceptions of Teachers, Children, and Parents	57	(16)
Representations of Priming Events	58	(9)
The Liminal Period Between Preschool and Elementary School	67	(2)
Conclusion	69	(4)
PART III STUDYING AND DEEPENING FRIENDSHIPS AT GIACOMO PUCCINI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
6 Rules, Lessons, and Literacy: Developing Membership in the First-Grade School Culture	73	(12)
Order, Control, and Rules	74	(2)
Classroom and Educational Activities	76	(7)
Conclusion	83	(2)
7 New Routines, New Friends, and a New Group Identity: The Peer Culture in First Grade	85	(11)
Children's Activities and Gender Separation	86	(2)
The Underlife of First Grade	88	(3)
Keeping and Making Friends	91	(3)
Conclusion	94	(2)
8 Reflections on the Transition to First Grade	96	(9)
Teachers' Approach to First Grade	97	(2)
Challenges and Successes in Individual Transitions	99	(4)
Teachers' and Parents' Reflections on Parental Involvement	103	(1)
Conclusion	104	(1)
9 Becoming a Community of Learners and Friends: The School and Peer Cultures in Grades 2-5	105	(20)
The School Culture	107	(6)
The Peer Culture	113	(4)
Interviews with Children, Parents, and Teachers	117	(8)
10 Priming Events for the Transition to Middle School	125	(14)
Priming Events	126	(7)
Children's and Parents' Perception of Transition and Adaptation to Middle School	133	(6)
PART IV APPLYING KEY FINDINGS TO EARLY EDUCATION POLICY AND PRACTICE
11 Summing Up and Looking Ahead in Italian Early Education	139	(14)
Key Factors in Transitions	140	(3)
Contributions to Theory on Children's Life Transitions	143	(5)
Implications for Early Education in Italy	148	(4)
Conclusion	152	(1)
12 Drawing Implications for Fundamental Change in American Early Education	153	(12)
Some Specific Implications and Recommendations	153	(4)
Implications for Fundamental Change	157	(6)
The Future of Progressive Early Education in the United States	163	(2)
Appendix The School System in Italy and in the City of Modena	165	(16)
The Scuola dell'Infanzia	167	(7)
The Scuola Elementare	174	(7)
References	181	(8)
Index	189	(7)
About the Authors	196