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.

Once the Cinderella of the education system, early years education has evolved into a much more substantially funded sector with staff experiencing greater opportunities for higher-level training and education as well as increasing demands. This book reflects practitioner debates about fundamental questions such as whether or not their field of work is a profession at all. Two key arguments are presented. The first is that early years education has matured to the point that pedagogical and regulatory frameworks have been introduced and linked to a terminology of professionalism. This has opened up a space for early years practitioners - as insiders of this historically undervalued sector - to question the nature of their practice. The questioning leads to the second argument: the need for a new future for early years education marked by a 'critical ecology' of the profession. This is a future in which educators maintain an attitude of critical enquiry in all aspects of their role, assessing the genuine needs of the sector, factoring in the different political and cultural milieux that influence it, and acting to transform it.

In exploring the issues, this book begins by recording in detail the daily work of early years educators from six countries: Australia, England, Finland, Germany, New Zealand and Sweden. These case studies explore what it means to act professionally in a particular context; perceptions of what being a 'professional' in early childhood education means (including practitioners' self perceptions and external perspectives); and common features of practice in each context. It moves on to analyse the wider socio-political forces that affect this day-to-day practice and recommends that practitioners act as transformative agents informed by the political and social realities of their time.

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Children's early experiences of literacy have a major influence on how they continue to learn as they grow older. Children enter early childhood programs and school with a wealth of knowledge and understandings of literacy. It is critical that early childhood professionals and teachers recognise and build on this learning.Literacy Learning in the Early Years offers a practical introduction to literacy issues for early childhood professionals and teachers working with children aged 0-8, in childcare, preschool and school contexts.The authors take a socio-cultural approach to literacy learning, emphasising the importance of understanding the various contexts in which young children are involved in literacy practices. They explore a range of literacy issues that early childhood professionals and teachers are facing in the 21st century. These issues include the role of play in literacy learning, how to use information communication technologies with young children and ways of introducing critical literacy. Literacy is understood broadly and readers are encouraged to explore a range of print and other media with children.With chapters from both Australian and UK authors Literacy Learning in the Early Years is an ideal professional reference and student text. a very useful introductory text to literacy development in early childhood. It is clearly written and accessible to the wide range of professionals working with young children as well as to teachers and parents. It will be a valuable text in training at initial and in-service levels on a wide range of courses.Lesley Abbott, Professor of Early Childhood Education, Manchester Metropolitan Universitythis well written, comprehensive book combines many practical examples of learning to do literacy and suggestions for action, and all the while engages the reader with questions and starting points for reflection.Susan Hill, Associate professor, The Centre for Studies in Literacy, University of South Australia

A volume in Research on Religion and Education Series Editors Stephen J. Denig, Niagara University and Lyndon G. Furst, Andrews University Two major real-world problems prompted this study: maintaining the Catholic identity of the Catholic schools, and increasing interest in character education. Traditionally, Catholic schools in the United States were staffed exclusively by priests, sisters, and brothers. Today, they are predominately staffed by laypersons. This change has influenced the essential religious character and culture of Catholic schools. While Religious filter their teachings through their own religious training and emphasize the mission and charisma of Catholic education, lay staff often lack the same intensely religious experiences to bring to the teaching/learning environment. This qualitative interview study explored the influence that a series of spirituality and virtue seminars had on lay teachers' perceptions of the Catholic school and character education

Based on interviews with over 150 young people in education and training, this book reflects on their perspectives on the issues and challenges the education and training offered them. In doing so it is able to develop a comprehensive - and inclusive - response to policy and suggestions for improvements, particularly in the field of vocational education. Primarily based on UK research, the book will integrate some more generic analysis and introduce international comparisons.

The second edition of David Dunn's bestselling How to be an Outstanding Primary School Teacher, now updated to reflect changes in teaching initiatives and educational policy, including valuable new content on using technology in the primary classroom. This book features lots of easy-to-introduce activities and techniques that will propel satisfactory and good lessons into the outstanding category - not just when being observed, but all the time. And the best news? It tells you how to do this without spending lots more time planning, researching and preparing 'out of this world' lessons. David Dunn provides invaluable advice on all areas of classroom practice, from lesson planning to differentiation, questioning and assessment for learning. There are dozens of starters, plenaries and useful websites, and the author's own website offers resources to save you even more time. A must for all primary school teachers who want to become outstanding, not just for the inspectors but for every child they teach.

Covering each of the core curriculum areas in turn, this is a reference on school subject teaching. The authors assess the development of teaching within each subject area since the 1944 Education Act up to the year 2000. In doing so they provide a history of teaching in these fields and a critical assessment of the factors that drive curriculum development, the challenges facing the subjects and the way forward. Each chapter concentrates on curriculum development, research, the subject community, teacher education in that subject, the international context and future challenges.

Anglican Church School Education explores the contribution of church schools and considers how they might contribute to education in the future to allow for a better standard of understanding of church schools. Drawing together some of the leading writers and thinkers in church school education, this volume is divided into five parts: The Historical StoryCurrent Policy and Philosophy Reflection on Current Practice Instrumental in Shaping the Future Reflections and Recommendations This unique collection celebrates past achievements and informs the future engagement of the Church in education.

Focusing on private schools, this book makes an important contribution to our understanding of schools as social settings, illustrating their potential to create alternative cultures. Intriguing comparisons are made between the Waldorf School, a clear example of holistic education, and St. Catherine's, a traditional, elite college-preparatory school. The characteristics of each school are examined and compared. On the one hand, the Waldorf School, embracing an holistic model, advocates an aesthetically enriching life in harmony with nature for its students. Its emphasis on natural materials, as well as its developmental view of the child and curriculum focused on music and the arts, is unique. The Waldorf School asserts a romantic and progressive view of education that is relevant in a world that is becoming increasingly alienating and dehumanizing. On the other hand, St. Catherine's represents an academic elite model of education and faces the problems of our modern society in a different way, by teaching students to compete and excel in a competitive world while holding onto moral and ethical values. The schools' meanings are shown to be imbued through five cultural domains: history and myths; curriculum; rituals; time and space; and social relationships. The analysis reveals the schools' quite different responses to the world, to others, and toward the individual self.

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.

This volume presents an entirely new analysis of the economics of futures markets, that will be of interest to both specialists in the area and the generalist economist seeking a new perspective.
Through a combination of theoretical investigation and empirical application, three important themes are explored: the gains from futures trading and the efforts of emerging markets to reap these benefits; rationality and rival hypotheses of trader behaviour, such as noise trading; and the effect of regulatory tools on price formation.

Evaluating Creative Practice discusses:
*the function of evaluation in general
*the role of formal assessment and its relation with informal evaluation
*the role of the audience for the creative product
*the value of making within the subject discipline
*the balance within the subject paid to product and process
*the role of reflection and the place of the students voice.
Examples of practice from subject disciplines English, Art, Music, Drama, Media Studies, Design and Technology, Gallery Education and Digital Arts will enable those involved with primary, secondary, further, higher, gallery and community education to learn from each other and to develop a coherent approach to the range of creative work produced by young people. By focusing on questions of evaluation and containing a range of practical examples the book sets an agenda for creative work by young people in the school curriculum and beyond.

A Creative Approach to Teaching Science is filled with exciting and innovative ways to teach and meet the objectives for primary physics, chemistry and biology from Years 1-6. Each idea has been tried and tested, used in the classroom with children of the relevant age range, and all are deep rooted in practical enquiry with clear links to the statutory requirements for primary science. This book is jam-packed full of strategies and ready made ideas with a creative edge, aimed at engaging children and encouraging them to think critically and scientifically, and to consider key scientific topics in real life scenarios. This book is a must-have for teachers looking to inspire their pupils, and making sure they have fun along the way.

During the 1970s, the South African Department of Information attempted to manipulate and neutralize the international media treatment of South Africa. This programme was later exposed in what became known as the Information scandal. Meanwhile in Europe and North America, anti-apartheid campaigners increased pressure on the South African regime.

Contents:
1. Introduction: Evaluating Creativity Julian Sefton-Green, Weekend Arts College 2. Art Education and Talk: From Modernist Silence to Postmodern Chatter Karen Ramey, University of East London and Howard Hollands, Middlesex University 3. Evaluation and Design and Technology John Garvey, Brunel University School of Education and Anthony Quinlan, Sudbury Junior School, Wembley 4. Writing in English and Responding to Writing Muriel Robinson, University of Brighton and Viv Ellis, University of Brighton 5. Music as a Media Art: Evaluation and Assessment in the Contemporary Classroom Lucy Green, London University Institute of Education 6. Measuring the Shadow or Knowing the Bird: Evaluation and Assessment in Drama Education John Somers, Exeter University 7. Making the Grade: Evaluating Student Production in Media Studies David Buckingham, Institute of Education University of London, Pete Fraser, Long Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge and Julian Sefton-Green, Weekend Arts College 8. Whose Art is it Anyway? Art Education outside the Classroom Rebecca Sinker, Middlesex University 9. Making Multimedia: Evaluating Young People's Creative Multimedia Production Rebecca Sinker, Middlesex University 10. From Creativity to Cultural Production: Shared Perspectives Julian Sefton-Green, Weekend Arts College

This book examines reform in American education over the past fifty years and against this backdrop presents a compelling analysis of why contemporary voucher plans and charter schools have yet to fulfill the expectations of their advocates. It is the only book to date to attempt a comprehensive synthesis and analysis of the emerging research base on vouchers and charter schools. Suitable for courses in school policy, school reform, school leadership, or educational issues, it will also be of interest to anyone (parents, teachers, policymakers) directly involved with the charter school movement.
Key features of this timely new book include the following:
* A Historical Perspective--The early chapters look at American educational reform over the past fifty years and analyze why these efforts have fallen short of their goals.
* Student Achievement--Chapter 3 provides an insightful assessment of American students' school achievement from 1970 to the present and, in the process, counters the widely held myth that, overall, student achievement has deteriorated.
* Voucher Plans and Charter Schools--Chapter 4 looks specifically at choice and vouchers in American education while chapters 5-7 provide a comprehensive and balanced examination of the charter school movement.
* Policy Recommendations--The book concludes with explicit policy suggestions that attempt to balance the educational needs of children and youth against the rights of schools to experiment. Suggestions for developing broader coalitions to support public education, particularly in the inner cities, are also offered.

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.

This collection brings together studies and essays which represent the best work being done in the area of qualitative research in early childhood settings. The research spans the full range of early childhood settings from infant-toddler and home day care programs to primary classrooms.

The volume is designed to appeal to scholars doing early childhood research and to graduate students and their instructors in general early childhood research courses, specialized early childhood qualitative research courses, and general qualitative research courses. Experienced scholars doing qualitative work related to early childhood will see the book as essential because, for the first time, a comprehensive treatment of this emerging area of inquiry is provided. Less-seasoned researchers will find the collection useful in providing fundamental knowledge and concrete examples to guide their scholarly development.

For large numbers of school students in Japan school has become a battle field. Recent violent events in schools, together with increasing drop-out rates and bullying are undermining stereotypes about the effectiveness of the Japanese education system. This incisive and original book looks at Japanese high school from a student perspective and contextualises this educational turmoil within the broader picture of Japans troubled economic and political life.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203013603

This sixteen book series written and designed for busy primary school teachers takes one step-by-step through every stage of coordinating a subject. The books tackle the two main aspects of the coordinator's role: coordinating and subject leadership. It accomplishes this task by establishing systems and common practice, providing information, offering expertise and direction, guiding the development of the subject, and raising standards.

Each volume in the series conforms to a concise style, while providing a wealth of tips, case studies, and material that teachers can use immediately. Written to meet the needs of subject leaders, this comprehensive set of books will be an essential addition to the staffroom bookshelf.

Alan Penn traces the development of military drill, and of physical drill and exercises, for pupils in elementary schools from 1870-1914. Militarism was inseparable from imperialism in Britain no less than in the case of its European rivals. Its proponents saw schools as an ideal means by which the nation's youth might be given an early introduction to military drill, handling weapons, and even to firing them.

Packed with hands-on tips, Beaver/Wyatt's EARLY EDUCATION CURRICULUM: A CHILD'S CONNECTION TO THE WORLD, 8th Edition, shows you how to conduct observations and assessments, plan and implement a curriculum, set up an inclusive child-centered environment, plan developmentally appropriate activities in 11 subject areas and use technology in early learning programs. Students and experienced teachers alike will learn how to make informed decisions about curriculum content, develop creative thinking skills and effectively apply development and learning theory. Updated with the latest research and national standards, the 8th Edition presents material on brain research that underlies teaching ideas as well as information on reflective practice, intentional teaching, the environment as a teaching tool and equity and diversity. Case studies enable you to apply your knowledge to real-life issues.

One of the most important factors in pupils' success in school are the relationships developed with teachers and other children. Not only are these relationships important in their own right, but they have considerable bearing on pupil motivation, achievement, and on their perceptions of themselves as learners. Social and Learning Relationships in Primary Schools is based upon, but not confined by, recent research projects focused on a range of relationships that exist within English primary schools. This text provides substantial evidence and rich insights into the development and ongoing influences on these social and learning relationships, relating to both the academic and affective outcomes of pupils. The book is presented in four parts: i) social interaction and the curriculum; ii) classroom relationships and the impact on learning; iii) professional identity and professional development; and iv) individual differences and inclusion. Through these sections, the authors identify important features of primary schooling including, for example, delivery of the core subjects, learning environment, role of student teachers in schools, classroom technology, and the transition between phases of education. They examine a number of social psychological influences on these relationships in terms of career phase, professional identity, adult-child and peer relationships, and self-efficacy and provide powerful evidence of the complexities of primary school life. Drawing together the perspectives of a number of authors, all of whom have served as practising teachers as well as gaining a wealth of experience in the higher education sector, Social and Learning Relationships in Primary Schools offers a detailed and holistic understanding of the influences that shape learning, policy and practice in this context.