They advise against using standardized tests to place young children in kindergarten classes and even up to the Grade Three level. They also advise against extensive uses of drill and practice in workbooks for young students. Children in the three to eight range acquire knowledge in ways that are significantly different from the way older children learn. Young children learn best through direct sensory encounters with the world and not through formal academic processes. Since early childhood is a period of rapid mental growth and development, children seek out the stimuli they need to nourish these developmental abilities.
Young children acquire knowledge almost exclusively by doing and through movement.
Effective grouping practices is also critical for teaching at this age. Staff development and qualifications are also important. The ERIC Clearinghouse on Early Childhood Education and the North Central Regional Education Laboratory have provided advice and some suggested standards. Monitoring Progress Also go back to the Introduction for more about parents, communities and agencies efforts.