This lively and informative text examines children's first experience of non-fiction during the pre-school and foundation years. Its careful consideration of different kinds of quality non-fiction, including books, posters, charts and computer software will provide a helpful framework from which Early Years teachers can work. With annotated lists, notes and suggestions for further reading, this is an ideal source of inspiration and stimulation for the busy classroom teacher, placing literacy teaching in a fresh, modern context.

The book offers a rich resource of information, with illustrative case studies and many examples of children's responses to non-fiction, providing:

* coverage of pre-school and foundation years for children up to 6 years of age
* references to research findings on the place of non-fiction in early years
* references to The National Literacy Strategy, Early Learning Goals and the National Curriculum for English
* an evaluation of the place of e-books, CDROMs and video-film in Early Years

The author's zest and expertise helps to give this book an infectious enthusiasm that will permeate the classroom, providing the nursery and primary school teacher, student teacher, or classroom assistant with an invaluable guide and resource tool.

To care and educate our young children we must understand and listen to them. Childhood and (Post) Colonization opens the door to the effects of intellectual, educational, and economic colonization of young children throughout the world. Using a postcolonial lens on current educational practices, the authors lift those practices out of reproducing traditional power structures and push our thinking beyond the adult/child dichotomy into new possibilities for the lives that are created with children. Not just as theoretical discussion of the 'child', the actual lives of children are brought to bear on developing a new framework for thinking about the care and education of young children.

Leadership is a core skill required by all early childhood educators, whatever position they hold - whether leading their own ethical and professional practice or leading others. From understanding ethical frameworks to managing change, and from quality assurance to working with teams, families and the wider community, the most effective early childhood leaders act with confidence, flexibility and creativity. In this book early childhood researchers Elizabeth Stamopoulos and Lennie Barblett provide a new model for leadership. Recognising that leadership is both an individual and collective endeavour, multi-layered and multidimensional, the authors have distilled core tasks of leadership that are explored in detail in each chapter: *Understanding and conceptualising theories of leadership *Leading in times of change * Advocating for high quality pedagogy and practice *Developing strong communication skills * Leading through digital technology and media * Developing effective teams * Building positive relationships with families and the wider community * Embedding Indigenous perspectives * Embracing evidence-based research And * Leading ethical practice. Featuring the perspectives of leaders from diverse settings, together with reflection exercises and discussion questions throughout, this is an essential book for both pre-service and in-service early childhood educators. 'The authors...are commended for their commitment to shining a light on a wide range of research, theories and issues concerned with leadership and the early childhood profession. ' -- from the foreword by Catharine Hydon and Dr Anne Kennedy

From Molly Potter, best-selling author of How Are You Feeling Today? and What's Worrying You?, comes a picture book for starting conversations with children about death, bereavement and what happens next. When someone dies, we can feel a whole host of different emotions and explaining them to a child isn't so easy. This book uses clear, easy-to-understand language to answer complex questions about death and how a child might feel when someone dies. It covers all manner of tricky subjects with sensitivity and honesty, from what death is to why people die. Each double page spread takes a child through how they might feel, what they might think and how they might behave. With engaging illustrations, gentle guidance and simple advice for parents and carers, Let's Talk About When Someone Dies fulfils an important but difficult need for starting conversations with children about death and bereavement, in an accessible and supportive way.

Contents:
1. Introduction 2. Areas of Provision in the Early Years Settings 3. The Social and Cooperational Play Continuum 4. Using the Social Play Continuum 5. Scaffolding the Growth of Sociability and Cooperation 6. Literacy and Numeracy 7. Emotional Well-being, Making Choices, Time to Learn

By bringing together research evidence on effectively supporting parents to engage with their children's early learning, and the role of education professionals in developing partnerships with families, this book focuses on partnerships between professionals and parents to enhance family learning for young children in literacy and other aspects of early learning. The move towards setting, home-based, and online learning has accelerated, and it is important for both students and practitioners to value parents' roles in their young children's learning; to consider how parents can support young children's learning in these scenarios, and how to apply this in practice with children aged birth to five. Through a wealth of case studies from real experience, the authors showcase an inspiring range of inclusive projects and approaches with families, including marginalised groups such as bilingual learners, fostering families, and families identified as 'vulnerable' including imprisoned fathers and children with specific learning needs.

_______________ The 50 Fantastic Ideas series is packed full of fun, original, skills-based activities for Early Years practitioners to use with children aged 0-5. Each activity features step-by-step guidance, a list of resources, and a detailed explanation of the skills children will learn. Creative, simple, and highly effective, this series is a must-have for every Early Years setting. Early Years expert Judit Horvath presents 50 fun and thoroughly creative ideas in this book designed to get children experimenting and investigating the properties of mud and clay. When given soil, clay or mud to play with, most children are instinctively motivated to explore and experiment. Mud, soil and clay are naturally open-ended, stimulating children to investigate possibilities, look for reasons and think of ideas. They are cheap and easy to source or access, simple to transform to suit any age group or activity, can be mixed with other materials, given a rich sensory experience via visual texture, deep colour, rich smell and tactile feel.

This fully revised edition of Understanding the Steiner Waldorf Approach is a much needed source of information for those wishing to extend and consolidate their understanding of the Steiner Waldorf early childhood approach. It enables the reader to analyse the essential elements of the Steiner Waldorf Approach to early childhood and its relationship to quality early years practice. Covering all areas of the curriculum including observation and assessment, child development, play, repetition and the environment, this new edition has been updated to reflect recent curriculum changes and explore the influence of media and technology. Including a new chapter on expanding the Steiner Waldorf approach to work with children from birth to three, the book: describes the key principles of the Steiner Waldorf approach to early childhood with examples from Steiner settings; provides an accessible and objective overview of a key pedagogical influence on high quality early years practice in the United Kingdom; highlights the key ideas that practitioners should consider when reviewing their own practice; contains summaries of key points and reflective practice questions to help students and practitioners engage with the ideas in the book. can be used as the basis for continuing professional development and action research. Written to support the work of all those in the field of early years education and childcare, this text is essential reading for students, practitioners, leaders, managers and all those wanting to improve their early years practice.

Professionals in early years settings can use this book to focus on ways in which they can work collaboratively with colleagues, in order to help children with communication difficulties to understand and express themselves more fully. It brings together the most useful examples of good practice and draws on the work of reflective practitioners. There are many illustrative case studies provided and it discusses how to observe children's daily interactions, ways in which such observations can be used to improve communication skills; how play can be an important part of improvement; behavior management and support; and literacy development. The practical applications are highlighted throughout the book and the advice given comes directly from those working in early years settings. It should be of great interest to all nursery teachers, teaching assistants, speech and language therapists and parents wishing to play an active part in their children's development of language and communication skills.

Care and caring are key to early childhood education and yet love can be viewed as a taboo word within early childhood settings. This book guides practitioners through the potentially problematic area of loving the children they care for. It shows where a loving pedagogy can fit within professional practice and how this can enrich experiences for children and educators. The book explores how educators can support their children by holding them in mind, valuing them and promoting their best interests. Focusing on how relationships, attachment and connections underpin our settings and practice, the chapters cover: the fundamentals of professional love appropriate touch in practice the different ways in which children feel loved the rights of the child empowering children through love working with parents and carers. Including case studies and questions for reflection, this is vital reading for practitioners wanting to develop a nurturing and loving pedagogy that places the child at the centre of their practice.

Relationship-Based Learning provides a helpful range of accessible strategies, approaches, practical ideas and guidance on how to implement 'behaviour for learning' for children with social, emotional and mental health issues, as well as those at risk of exclusion from school. This essential resource explores the conceptual framework of Ellis & Tod's highly effective 'behaviour for learning' conceptual framework, with each chapter featuring practical strategies and foundations that can be used at an organisational or whole-school level, as well as in the classroom. It includes tried-and-tested structures and strategies which have been proven to improve the learning and behaviour of children. The implementation of the 'behaviour for learning' framework has been evidenced to have a significant impact on the quality of teaching and learning with outstanding and, in some cases, exceptional outcomes for all learners. The strategies and approaches explored in this book are relevant for teaching children in any school or alternative provision, especially those with social, emotional and mental health needs. Relationship-Based Learning is a must-read for practitioners, senior leaders, teachers and support staff, outreach services and multi-agency staff who are committed to improving outcomes for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs.

Led by Donna Pendergast and Susanne Garvis, this new edition of Teaching Early Years provides a comprehensive overview of and introduction to educating children from birth to eight years. Structured around the key priorities for early childhood education and care - curriculum, pedagogy and assessment - this book supports readers to develop and enhance their knowledge and understanding of the essential theory, scholarship and practical applications. This second edition has been thoroughly revised to reflect the significant innovation and development across the sector, ensuring that coverage of content, the latest research, references to curricula and professional standards are up to date and relevant to today's pre- and in-service educators. The new edition covers: Sustainability education Health and nutrition Innovative and age-appropriate pedagogies Increased coverage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives New understandings of the early years learner Each chapter provide case studies, examples from practice, chapter summaries and reflection questions, encouraging the reader to engage more deeply with the key concepts and learning points. Bringing together leading scholars and practitioners Teaching Early Years provides the specialist knowledge and preparation required for early years educators, in all learning environments, to deliver exceptional education and care to all children in the early years.

With the rise of teacher stressors, new and changing state standards, and high-stakes testing, it is more important than ever to remind literacy teachers and teacher-librarians about the reason that brought them to this profession: the love of story. The Gift of Story, by John Schu (affectionately known as "Mr. Schu" all over reading communities), invites readers to consider literacy beyond its academic benefits and explore how universal truths found in stories can change us, inspire us, connect us to others, answer our deepest questions, and even help us heal along the way. Using his experience as a teacher, librarian, book lover, and story ambassador, Mr. Schu asks readers to reflect on what it means to share their hearts through stories and how it can connect us to individuals and learning communities. The Gift of Story is presented through a study of five affective elements: Healer, Inspiration, Clarifier, Compassion, and Connector. Along the way, readers will encounter insightful contributions from educators, children's writers, and illustrators, as well as recommendations for sharing the gift of story with learning communities including: treasured book suggestions that stir reflection, engaging tips for celebrating literacy, and heart-growing applications to lift classroom and library practices. Celebrate the way we define and imagine ourselves through literacy by using stories to connect to others, build and strengthen community, and honor the children we were called to teach.

The Neuroscience of the Developing Child informs Early Years (EY) students, practitioners and parents about the fundamental importance of self-regulation (SR) as a critical skill for young children to develop if they are to go on to lead happy and fulfilled lives. Packed with accessible information concerning the neuroscience of early brain development alongside real-life case studies, this book clearly demonstrates how to put SR theory into action across educational and home settings. Dr Conkbayir draws upon a wide range of resources to show readers how they can nurture SR through their daily interactions with children and the environment and experiences they offer them. Comprehensive and engaging chapters cover topics such as: Examining what exactly SR is (and what it is not) Co-regulation's critical role in enabling SR to occur Exploring the developing brain The importance of sensory integration as part of SR Using relational approaches to nurture behaviour in the classroom and at home The wider global role of SR in creating a sustainable future. With real-life case studies and reflective questions in every chapter, this book is essential reading for students and practitioners within the EY sector, as well as anyone beyond the sector wanting to develop their understanding of SR and how to apply it for themselves and others.

This set reprints hard-to-find works of Friedrich Frobel, as well as key papers discussing the methods of this influential 19th-century pioneer in pre-school education.

This set reprints hard-to-find works of Friedrich Frobel, as well as key papers discussing the methods of this influential 19th-century pioneer in pre-school education.

What does it mean to teach English creatively to primary school children? Teaching English Creatively encourages and enables teachers to adopt a more creative approach to the teaching of English in the primary school. Fully updated to reflect the changing UK curricula, the third edition of this popular text explores research-informed practice and offers new ideas to imaginatively engage readers, writers, speakers and listeners. Underpinned by up-to-date theory and research and illustrated throughout with more examples of children's work, it examines the core elements of creative practice and how to explore powerful literary, non-fiction, visual and digital texts creatively. Key themes addressed include: * Developing creativity in and through talk and drama * Creatively engaging readers and writers * Teaching grammar and comprehension imaginatively and in context * Profiling meaning and purpose, autonomy, collaboration and play * Planning, reviewing and celebrating literacy learning * Ensuring the creative involvement of the teacher Inspiring, accessible and connected to current challenges and new priorities in education, Teaching English Creatively puts contemporary and cutting-edge practice at the forefront and includes a wealth of innovative ideas to enrich English teaching. Written by an experienced author with extensive experience of initial teacher education and English teaching in the primary school, it is an invaluable resource for any teacher who wishes to embed creative approaches to teaching in their classroom.

This set reprints hard-to-find works of Friedrich Frobel, as well as key papers discussing the methods of this influential 19th-century pioneer in pre-school education.

This set reprints hard-to-find works of Friedrich Frobel, as well as key papers discussing the methods of this influential 19th-century pioneer in pre-school education.

This set reprints hard-to-find works of Friedrich Frobel, as well as key papers discussing the methods of this influential 19th-century pioneer in pre-school education.

The Toxic Classroom offers a wide-ranging look at education today and explores in detail the pressures children experience as a result of constant change, digital technology and political interference. Beginning with what it is like to be a child in the classroom, the book goes on to provide a detailed analysis of the curriculum, assessment and accountability, school structures, educating for global citizenship and the plethora of social issues schools are now expected to solve. Written from the perspective of a successful headteacher with over 30 years' teaching experience, the book considers what needs to be done to put things right and outlines a more equitable and effective school system. Each chapter outlines the steps schools can implement immediately and the longer-term policy changes that are needed de-toxify the classroom and facilitate a genuine love of learning. Offering a challenging yet compelling argument for putting education back into the hands of teachers, this book will be of great interest both to the general reader and to those working within education such as teachers and professionals who wish to improve the ways in which children learn and develop.

The AEPS (R)?3 Forms USB includes printable PDFs of AEPS?3 forms in English and Spanish. These forms include the Child Observation Data Form (CODF), Ready-Set, Social-Communication Observation and Summary (SCOS), Family Report, Family Assessment of Child Skills (FACS), and Child Progress Record. The USB also includes handouts for families (in English and Spanish), Assessment Activities for the Test and Ready-Set (available in English only), and Quick Reference Guides for all 8 areas of the Test and for Ready-Set. AEPS?3 HELPS YOU: Collect essential assessment data and use it across your key tasks: OSEP reporting, determining eligibility, building IFSPs and IEPs, planning teaching and intervention, monitoring progress, and sharing results with families. Track and support emerging skills, where real growth and development happens. Link assessment data to a tiered curriculum for designing teaching and intervention strategies that get results. Pick up small increments of progress-important when demonstrating growth for children with disabilities. Actively involve families, with handouts to support communication and family engagement, forms to collect information about child skills, and reports to share results and progress. Strengthen school readiness for every young child by checking and supporting core skills across all areas of child development, including pre?academic and social?emotional skills. There's never been a more effective or efficient system for assessing, tracking, and nurturing the development of every child you work with, from the first months of life through kindergarten.

This second edition of Trauma-Informed Practices for Early Childhood Educators continues to guide childcare providers and early educators working with infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, and early elementary-aged children to understand trauma as well as its impact on young children's brains, behavior, learning, and development. The book covers a range of trauma-responsive teaching and family engagement strategies that readers can use to create strength-based environments that support children's health, healing, and resiliency. Updates include a greater emphasis on resilience and collaborating with mental health specialists, a new chapter on developing children's sensory literacy and additional case studies to use in workshops or professional development. Supervisors and coaches will learn a range of powerful trauma-responsive practices that they can use to support workforce development and enhance their quality improvement initiatives.

This book provides a vital and original investigation into, and critique of, the situation facing the realisation of the child's right to play. The right to play has been referred to as a forgotten right - forgotten by States implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child, by the Committee on the Rights of the Child in monitoring and providing guidance on the Convention, and by human rights academics. Through multidisciplinary, original archival, novel doctrinal and primary empirical research, the work provides a thorough investigation of the right to play. It offers an innovative insight into its value, the challenges facing the realisation of the right, its raison d'etre and its scope, content and obligations. It also critiques the Committee's engagement with the right to play and shares lived experiences of efforts to support its implementation in the United Kingdom and Tanzania. The book highlights elements of best practice, challenges and weaknesses, and makes recommendations for its continued and improved realisation. The book will be a valuable resource for researchers, academics, advocates and policy-makers working in the areas of Children's Rights, International Human Rights Law, Public International Law, Child Welfare and Education.

This text provides a description and analysis of play and its use in helping young children to reach their potential. It is aimed at professionals working with young children with special educational needs and from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds.;The authors have sought to make sense of play from theoretical and practical sources to promote an interactive perspective. Included in the book is the authors' model of Play Based Assessment, a framework that can be used to assess and mediate children's learning and development.