What should children and students read? This volume explores challenging picturebooks as learning materials in early childhood education, primary and secondary school, and even universities. It addresses a wide range of thematic, cognitive, and aesthetic challenges and educational affordances of picturebooks in various languages and from different countries. Written by leading and emerging scholars in the field of picturebook studies and literacy research, the book discusses the impact of challenging picturebooks in a comprehensive manner and combines theoretical considerations, picturebook analyses, and empirical studies with children and students. It introduces stimulating picturebooks from all continents and how they are used or may be used in educational settings and contexts. The chapters touch on subjects like reading promotion, second-language acquisition, art education, interdisciplinary learning, empathy development, minority issues, and intercultural competence. Moreover, they consider relevant aspects of the educational environments, such as the inclusion of picturebooks in the curriculum, the significance of school libraries, and the impact of publishers. Exploring Challenging Picturebooks in Education sheds new light on the multiple dimensions relevant to investigating the impact of picturebooks on learning processes and the development of multimodal literacy competencies. It thus makes a significant contribution to the growing area of picturebook research and will be key reading for educators, researchers, and post-graduate students in the field of literacy studies, children's literature, and education research.

How do you broach family values with seven year olds? Can you help young children understand racism? Can you avoid bringing your own prejudices into the classroom?

Talking effectively about controversial issues with young children is a challenge facing every primary school teacher. Tackling Controversial Issues in the Primary School provides teachers with support and guidance as you engage with the more tricky questions and topics you and your pupils encounter.

Illuminated with case studies and examples of how teachers and children have confronted issues together, this book helps you understand your own perspectives and provides fresh approaches for the primary classroom.

It considers how best to work with parents and carers, whole-school policies for tackling issues, and ideas for circle time, setting up international links, school councils and buddying systems. The range of challenging topics covered includes:

• family values
• racism in mono and multi-cultural settings
• democracy and citizenship
• the environment and sustainability
• consumerism, finances and media advertising
• gender, health and identity
• grief and loss.

For all student and practising primary teachers, Tackling Controversial Issues in the Primary School provides much needed support as you help your learners face complicated ideas, find their voice and get involved in the issues that they feel make a difference.

Adventure Stories for Reading, Learning and Literacy takes a unique approach to cross-curricular teaching in the primary classroom. Providing eight original adventure stories, the authors build up a suite of resources and activities for teachers to use in the classroom, providing cross curricular links in line with the PNS framework, to literacy, science, PE, design and technology, numeracy, geography and history. Though the stories will interest both girls and boys, they take special care to appeal to boys, who are known to achieve less highly than girls in reading and writing, and include themes such as:

• cars
• football
• ghosts and ghouls
• heroic deeds
• space and aliens.

Each story is linked explicitly to moral and social values, and can be used to reinforce citizenship, PHSE and SEAL initiatives in primary schools. With photocopiable resources for each story, this book offers instant ideas which can be implemented easily in teacher's plans and in the classroom and assembly, and will appeal to all busy teachers, NQTs and teachers in training.

This fully revised second edition of Debates in Science Education explores the major issues that science teachers encounter in teaching their subject, encouraging the reader to make their own informed judgements and argue their point of view with deeper theoretical knowledge and understanding. Brand new chapters written by a team of international experts provide fresh insight into topics of central importance when teaching science. Written to aid and inspire beginning teachers, current teachers and established subject leaders, these focused chapters are essential to anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of salient issues within school science education, including: STEAM education sustainability and climate change science and sensitive issues equity and diversity science and sex education science and religion science and pedagogy (including science inquiry) transition from primary to secondary school Encouraging critical reflection and aiming to stimulate both novice and experienced teachers, this book is a valuable resource for any student or practicing teacher and particularly those engaged in continuing professional development or Master's level study.

The Castle in the Classroom describes a year in a kindergarten classroom as the children embark on literary exploration. Each child approaches the journey from a different perspective - some are self-sufficient, others more hesitant; some are literary adventurers, others shyly reluctant. The detailed focus lessons throughout the book use the power of stories - personal narratives, folktales, and fairy tales - to deepen the literary experience so that reading and writing become as much a part of kindergarten as playing and pretending are. As the book progresses through the year, teachers will find a wealth of resources, including practical models to teach strategies and skills; effective teaching schedules; ways to address, challenge, expand, and celebrate student learning; examples of student work; parent education materials; and ideas on how to manage assessment. By the end of the year, your students - like those in Ranu's class - will have built on their love of storytelling to establish a strong literacy foundation.

Small-scale Research in Primary Schools provides guidance and inspiration for students and practitioners undertaking practical investigations and workplace enquiry in the primary school. The 30 chapters are carefully selected to illustrate a range of approaches to educational enquiry, and are particularly relevant to the range of practitioners who may carry out school-based research as part of a course of study: teachers, trainee- and newly-qualified teachers, teaching assistants, learning mentors and staff who support children with individual needs. Research topics addressed in chapters include children's learning in the core curriculum subjects as well as themes central to teaching and learning. Important concepts and terminology are highlighted throughout. More specifically, areas of research explored include: Play Special Educational Needs Working with parents and families English as an Additional Language Creativity Language development Learning environments Small-scale Research in Primary Schools provides a straightforward, highly accessible introduction to enquiry approaches and research methodologies, and the questions and challenges adults in schools encounter about children's learning. It shows how small-scale research in primary education can impact on professional thinking and learning. It aims to provide constructive support for students and practitioners in extending their knowledge and understanding through workplace enquiry.

Get ready for kick off and prepare to meet all of your literacy goals with Literacy in Action: Football.

All year 5 and particularly year 6 teachers know about the pressure to help children deliver levels of achievement laid down by higher authorities than themselves. Many of the reluctant writers are passionate about football. Literacy in Action: Football could be the answer to their and your prayers, offering expert, tried and trusted techniques for teaching literacy, developed within the context of the 'Beautiful Game'. For those not bitten by the football bug there are alternative options. Literacy in Action: Football is a fun and inspiring addition to your literacy teaching.

This unique classroom resource contains twenty-four lesson plans, each structured like a football match. For an hour, transform your classroom into Wembley Stadium Each detailed lesson plan includes:

• short, kinaesthetic, focussed tasks with instant feedback and praise
• speaking and listening exercises ? children engage in talking and collaborative work before completing a writing task
• key points from research in to boys? writing in special notes for teachers
• alternative tasks available for those not interested in football
• differentiated material for a wide ability range.

Literacy in Action: Football is written by Heather Butler, a writer, literacy consultant and story writing workshop leader. Literacy in Action: Football has been tested extensively by year 5 and year 6 teachers in leafy-green, inner city, multi-cultural and rural settings with amazing results. Why not try it for yourself?

Novel standards framework offers a set of interlocking and mutually reinforcing elements that move from developing questions and planning inquiries to communicating conclusions and taking informed action. Presents a field-tested model based on work done with nearly 90 classroom teachers, university faculty, and state education department personnel. Makes a signature contribution to the field by appealing to both practitioner and academic audiences through the curricular and pedagogical opportunities evident in the Inquiry Design Model.

Games, Ideas and Activities for Primary Humanitiesprovides a wealth of activities to help make lessons in these key foundation subjects stimulating and enjoyable. Minimising planning time, this selection of activities will help teachers develop enthusiasm for teaching these subjects. All the ideas, activities and games are linked to key skills and concepts in primary humanities. A wealth of activities for teacher to help pupils develop their abilities to understand and use key skills and concepts in the humanities.

In many parts of the world, language minority children are educated through a second language. In these contexts, it has often been thought appropriate to teach such children separately until they are fluent enough in the medium of instruction to join in mainstream schooling. More recent experience and research shows that it is both socially more just and educationally more effective to integrate language minority pupils into mainstream education as early as possible. In this book, ESL and mainstream teachers from primary and secondary schools in Australia, Canada, the USA and the United Kingdom, describe how they go about 'mainstreaming'. Well-supplied with examples of teaching materials and pupils' work, their narratives are practical and detailed. At the same time they raise vital questions of school policy which the whole school community must address when launching initiatives of this kind. This book will be of very practical use to ESL and mainstream teachers, as well as to principals, advisers and those at all levels of the education service who work in multilingual communities. It will also serve as a handbook for teacher-educators and student teachers of any subject who are preparing to work in linguistically diverse classrooms.

This book increases understanding of, and provides inspiration for, the conduct of research in primary/elementary education. It discusses and evaluates the selection and development of research methods used for their own innovatory projects. They explore the relationship between their choice of research methods, the frameworks for analysis used and research findings. In so doing they address the topical and controversial issues posed by these methods and alternative data-gathering techniques. These include:

• the case for the use of random-controlled trials to inform policy-making and improve classroom practice
• the role of mixed methods to investigate the social aspects of inclusion
• children as researchers researching their peers
• the relationship between research and teacher development
• an analysis of the portrayal of teachers and education in the regional and national news
• the contribution of qualitative research in cross-national projects.

In research on teaching and learning in primary schools, accessing the views and experiences of children is crucial. Consequently, the possibilities and limitations of data collection techniques for collecting the views of children are central and concerns about validity and ethics posed by the power relationships between researchers and research participants are examined.

This book was based on a special issue of Educational 3-13 International Journal of Primary, Elementary and Early Years Education.

The book you can trust to guide you through your teaching career, as the expert authors share tried and tested techniques in primary settings. For this new edition Dominic Wyse, with Andrew Pollard, has worked with top practitioners from around the UK, to create a text that is both cohesive and that continues to evolve to meet the needs of today's primary school teachers. Reflective Teaching in Primary Schools uniquely provides two levels of support: - practical, evidence- based guidance on key classroom issues - including relationships, behaviour, curriculum planning, teaching strategies and assessment - evidence- informed 'principles' and 'concepts' to help you continue developing your skills. New to this edition: - More case studies and research summaries based on teaching in the primary school than ever before - New reflective activities and guidance on key readings at the end of each chapter - Updates to reflect recent changes in curriculum and assessment across the UK reflectiveteaching.co.uk provides a treasure trove of additional support.

Concise, simple, yet motivating and inspiring, Haigh's book hones in on the essential 'big' ideas behind the craft of teaching primary science, condensing them into manageable bite-sized chunks and step-by-step rules which can be put into practice from Day One. In a world driven by testing and assessment, there is often very little opportunity or time to explore new, creative and more effective approaches to teaching science at a primary level. In response to this, Alan Haigh has written a book that will equip you with the science knowledge, skills and confidence to plan your own lessons, teach creatively and encourage a discovery approach to learning. This book will not only improve your teaching of science but will make it hugely enjoyable to boot.

From the creator of the hugely popular Vocabulary Ninja comes an essential handbook of strategies and photocopiable resources to supercharge primary pupils and transform them into little comprehension ninjas! Comprehension Ninja for Ages 10-11 presents 24 high-quality non-fiction texts and photocopiable activities with strong links to the National Curriculum to help embed reading skills in the primary classroom. With accompanying question sets that challenge pupils to effectively skim, scan and retrieve information and improve subject knowledge, this practical guide features theory and teaching approaches that can be applied to any curriculum area. As well as improving their comprehension skills, Comprehension Ninja for Ages 10-11 provides excellent SATs practice for every child and covers topics from obesity and diabetes to Barack Obama and The Shard. If you're searching for an exciting way to bring comprehension more firmly into your primary setting using strategies and question types such as true or false, labelling, matching, highlighting, filling in the gap, sequencing and multiple choice, look no further than Comprehension Ninja for Ages 10-11.

Writers in every field play with words each time they sit down at their desks. In his newest book, Ralph Fletcher demonstrates how playful craft can energize student writing and breathe new energy into the writing workshop. Children have a natural affinity for language play; Pyrotechnics on the Page demonstrates how writing teachers can tap into it. This book provides a wealth of resources for teachers: Information on the roots and developmental importance of language play; A how-to on using the writer's notebook as a playground for students to explore and experiment with verbal pyrotechnics; An in-depth look at the kind of language play commonly used by writers, including chapters on Puns and Double Meanings, Idioms and Expressions, Inventing Words, and Harnessing the Supple Power of Sentences (these chapters end with a Bringing It to the Writing Workshop" section that includes explicit classroom connections) Twenty-four brand new craft lessons to bring pyrotechnics into the classroom An extensive bibliography of relevant mentor texts that make it easy to model language play for students. Pyrotechnics on the Page is vintage Fletcher: personal, anecdotal, and practical. It represents the latest chapter in Ralph's efforts to widen the circle in the writing classroom, make it a more engaging place for student writers and, in the process, lift the quality of their writing.

Unique in its field, the Encyclopedia of Primary Education brings together a wide-ranging body of information relating to current educational practice in a single indispensable volume. This book provides a series of descriptions, definitions and explanations that engage with important practical and conceptual ideas in primary education and contains over 500 entries incorporating:

Based on the author's extensive experience in primary education, entries combine an interrogation of educational concepts with the pedagogical and practical implications for classroom practice, children's learning and school management. This handy reference work will be invaluable to anyone currently teaching or training to teach at primary level, teaching assistants, school governors and parents. In fact it is essential reading for anyone with an interest and passion for primary education.

Mastery in Primary Mathematics contains clear, practical guidance for both teachers and leaders on how to implement a mastery approach in the classroom that transcends any particular context, school type or scheme currently being used. Filled with research-based evidence, case studies and concrete examples of teaching for mastery used successfully, this is the ideal toolkit to implementing a mastery approach across a school, regardless of expertise. Moulding pupils into confident and successful mathematicians is one of the most important jobs of a primary school. It can also be one of the most difficult. Teaching for mastery gives pupils the best possible understanding of mathematics and implementing it involves a two-pronged approach: mastery must be embedded in the classroom, but will only work with the full support of the school's leadership team. Based on educational research and school case studies, Mastery in Primary Mathematics gives practical advice on introducing and sustaining teaching for mastery, with sections for both class teachers and school leaders. In this must-have guide, Tom Garry, NCETM Maths Mastery Specialist Teacher, covers the areas of variation theory, mathematical reasoning and the use of correct mathematical language, and equips leaders with the necessary tools to make the mastery approach work across a school. With a view to planning at three levels - curricular, unit and lesson - in order to fully arm educators with the means to plan effectively, Tom draws on cognitive science as current developments in this field are crucial to understanding how children learn.

Unique in its field, the Encyclopedia of Primary Education brings together a wide-ranging body of information relating to current educational practice in a single indispensable volume. This book provides a series of descriptions, definitions and explanations that engage with important practical and conceptual ideas in primary education and contains over 500 entries incorporating:

Based on the author s extensive experience in primary education, entries combine an interrogation of educational concepts with the pedagogical and practical implications for classroom practice, children s learning and school management. This handy reference work will be invaluable to anyone currently teaching or training to teach at primary level, teaching assistants, school governors and parents. In fact it is essential reading for anyone with an interest and passion for primary education.

Professionalism and Leadership in Early Childhood Education and Care explores the tension between what early years practitioners are expected to achieve, and the level of expertise and understanding required to underpin this. It examines the impact of recent policies on the agency of individual practitioners, and the culture and ethos of their settings, and questions the driving factors behind reforms to curriculum and practice and where this locates practitioners and their provision. Bringing together the latest research and ideas on professionalism and leadership, the book explores how professional status is understood and acquired and what makes this problematic in ECEC. It explores the impact of different leadership approaches, what needs to be challenged and sets out how the workforce might assert its own identity and values and continue to advocate for the needs of young children. Including case studies to illustrate the lived experiences of individual practitioners as they worked towards becoming graduate professionals, this will be valuable reading for early years professionals engaged in undergraduate and postgraduate study and those researching policy development and professional identity within ECEC.

In A Place for Wonder, Georgia Heard and Jennifer McDonough discuss how to create "a landscape of wonder," a primary classroom where curiosity, creativity, and exploration are encouraged. For it is these characteristics, the authors write, that develop intelligent, inquiring, life-long learners. The authors' research shows that many primary grade state standards encourage teaching for understanding, critical thinking, creativity, and question asking, and promote the development of children who have the attributes of inventiveness, curiosity, engagement, imagination, and creativity. With these goals in mind, Georgia and Jennifer provide teachers with numerous, practical ways-setting up "wonder centers," gathering data though senses, teaching nonfiction craft-they can create a classroom environment where students' questions and observations are part of daily work. They also present a step-by-step guide to planning a nonfiction reading and writing unit of study-creating a nonfiction book, which includes creating a table of contents, writing focused chapters, using "wow" words, and developing point of view. A Place for Wonder will help teachers reclaim their classrooms as a place where true learning is the norm.

Combining theory with practical examples, Creative English, Creative Curriculum will stimulate students and teachers to be adventurous and creative in their teaching, while covering the mains strands of the Primary National Strategy for English: narrative, non-fiction and poetry. This book: reflects the new emphases on speaking and listening contextualises recent changes to the English curriculum, reviewing models of best practice provides practical examples and research evidence of creative approaches to the teaching of English considers the cross-curricular aspects in creating a thematic approach to teaching and learning. This book will appeal to both students and practising teachers in the primary school who either wish to implement creative approaches to their English teaching, or are undertaking extended study for a Masters Degree.

The under-representation of women in leadership positions in educational settings is a widely acknowledged, complex phenomenon that seems to persist, despite the fact that teaching as a profession is dominated by women. Over recent decades, scholars have investigated the factors contributing towards this under-representation, with a particular focus on the personal, organisational and social/cultural levels. This volume has been compiled in honour of Marianne Coleman, Emeritus Reader in Educational Leadership and Management at the Institute of Education, University College London. She is widely regarded as one of the most significant scholars globally in the field of gender and educational leadership, forging the research agenda and mentoring some of the scholars who contribute essays here. Amongst the key questions the book asks are: Why does society continue to accept male leaders as the norm? What barriers do women who seek leadership positions face? What supports do women require in order to encourage them to pursue leadership positions? How do women working in leadership positions conceive of their role as leaders? How might women's educational leadership be best supported at an institutional level?