Edited and compiled just for kindergarten teachers, this resource explains developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) so teachers can apply DAP in their work with kindergartners. Chapters include: What Is Developmentally Appropriate Practice? A brief introduction to the main ideas of DAP Teaching in the Kindergarten Year Connecting DAP to excellent teaching An Overview of Development in the Kindergarten Year Overview of kindergartners’ learning and development Developmentally Appropriate Examples to Consider Examples of key DAP practices, as well as contrasting practices that are less likely to serve children well The Common Core State Standards and Developmentally Appropriate Practices Connecting the standards to DAP Young Children Articles Eight articles from Young Children that provide examples of applying developmentally appropriate practice when working with kindergartners

Successful and effective preschool teachers use creative, engaging approaches to support the development and learning of every child in the classroom. The highly relevant and practical articles in this volume, drawn from recent issues of NAEYC's journal Young Children, offer research-based, developmentally appropriate strategies that preschool teachers can use or adapt for their work with young children and families. Each article celebrates and informs the work of preschool teachers.

High-Quality Early Education Programs gives staff feedback that positively alters their practice. It is equally useful in helping teachers, or caregivers, take a thoughtful look at their own practices. This book's detailed descriptions of what one should see in high quality programs (and why) gives readers a strong foundation of child development knowledge and of principles translated into practice.

When engaged in social studies, with guidance and encouragement from adults, children develop awareness of self and family and become active participants in the larger community. The knowledge and skills learned through social studies prepare children to become informed and engaged citizens of their country and the world. In this collection of articles from Young Children and Beyond the Journal, experts discuss the historic roots of the social studies field, explain how quality books can help children understand themselves and others, and provide many examples of teachers and children engaged in meaningful social studies. The book includes a list of key resources as well as questions and activities designed to aid readers in reflecting on the articles.

How can you support children’s play, which is an essential part of development and learning? Play helps children learn to understand themselves and get along with others; explore their environment; investigate science, math, and literacy; learn about their communities; and much more. Use the articles in this collection that emphasize the importance of play—from infancy through the primary grades—to support and scaffold children’s play and connect play to learning. 

The benefits of an optimistic thinking style have slowly been seeping into early childhood teaching practice through research on resiliency, leadership, health, and what has been termed “grit.� Yet there remains a large vacuum in teacher education on both the importance and mechanics of teaching young children to become optimistic thinkers. Explanatory style is how we explain events that happen to us— either optimistically or pessimistically. Children develop an explanatory style by age eight. However, the roots of this explanatory style appear during the preschool years, when children start seeing themselves as either successes or failures. Making Lemonade is the first-to-market book on the topic of learned optimism in young children and provides practical, hands-on exercises and activities teachers and families can use to positively affect children’s explanatory styles and turn them into optimistic thinkers and learners. All activities have been field-tested in a diverse group of early childhood programs including Head Start and the military’s overseas program Sure Start. The concept of learned optimism, while well established in research, is relatively unknown in teacher education and in classroom and family child care practice. It is a straightforward, easy-to-do approach that will equip children to be more successful learners and healthier individuals.

Edited and compiled just for teachers, this resource explains developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) so teachers can apply DAP in their work with children in first, second, and third grades. Chapters include: What Is Developmentally Appropriate Practice? A brief introduction to the main ideas of DAP Teaching Children in First, Second, and Third Grades Connecting DAP to excellent teaching An Overview of Development in the Primary Grades Overview of learning and development in first, second, and third grades Developmentally Appropriate Examples to Consider Examples of key DAP practices, as well as contrasting practices that are less likely to serve children well Supporting Children’s Learning While Meeting Standards Connecting the standards to DAP Young Children Articles Ten articles from Young Children that provide examples of applying developmentally appropriate practice when working with children in first, second, and third grades.

Teachers of infants and toddlers can use this resource to learn about developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) so they can apply DAP in their work with infants and toddlers. Filled with information, practical ideas, and inspiration, this is a book that every infant and toddler teacher will want! Chapters include: What Is Developmentally Appropriate Practice? Key messages of NAEYC's position statement To Be an Excellent Teacher Connecting DAP to excellent teaching Understanding Development of Infants and Toddleres Overview of infants' and toddlers' learning and development Developmentally Appropriate Examples to Consider Examples of key DAP practices, as well as contrasting practices that are less likely to serve children well FAQs About Developmentally Appropriate Practice Responses to common questions Young Children Articles Nine articles from Young Children that provide examples of applying developmentally appropriate practice when working with infants and toddlers.