Intended for use in childcare, preschool, Head Start, and with children in kindergarten and early primary grades, the latest in the "Active Experiences" series is based on the most recent, nationally recognized research regarding children's approaches to learning as well as current NCTM curriculum guidelines for mathematics. The content is clear and concise, with practically applied chapters on ways to guide children's mathematical thinking and learning. Key topics involve group work, investigations, and projects; are grounded in children's interests and needs; and, build, one upon the other to form a coherent learning curriculum. Additionally, each reflects the most recent standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This edition has been thoroughly revised to include updated "Home-School Connection" features that illustrate various ways to support children's daily learning of mathematics; more developmentally appropriate and intentional assessment guidance than ever before; research-based guides explaining children's cognitive and skill development in all math content areas, based on the Learning Trajectories Approach; and a new technology resource found at the end of every chapter.

Part of a series of texts, "Active Experiences for Active Children: Science, Third Edition, " is unique to the market by providing a theoretical foundation for teaching science to preschoolers and primary-grade children alongside meaningful, standards-based, constructivist, hands-on learning "experiences" to guide teachers in their practice. Organized around the National Science Education Standards and the Benchmarks for Science Literacy, the textconsists of clear, concise, usable guides for planning meaningful learning experiences in science for children in childcare settings, preschool programs, Head Start and other federally funded programs, and kindergarten. Primary-grade children should be engaged in active experiential learning as well, and each experience is extended to the early primary grades (grades 1-3). The experiences in this book are meaningful because they: - are grounded in children's interests and needs in their here-and-now world.- have integrity in terms of content key to science.- involve children in group work, investigations, or projects based on inquiry learning.- have continuity: One experience builds on another, forming a complete, coherent, integrated learning curriculum for young children as well as connecting the early childhood setting to children's homes and communities. - provide time and opportunity for children to think and reflect on their experiences.- provide the teacher with the opportunity to document and assess children's learning. Organized to address a variety of audiences, the text is formatted in two parts: Part One offers a foundation for young children and science; Part Two offers thematic based units full of resources for teachers, teacher strategies, and inquiry-based experiences for children. The content has been expanded in the third edition to include a new chapter on engaging children with the natural world (Chapter 14), references to the most recent reports on science education from the National Academies, updated and expanded lists of books and Web sites for children and adults, and new activities. This highly- readable, user-friendly series text is formatted with an engaging, conversational style that will connect and resonate with its varied readers.

In recent years there have been significant changes in education across the globe, largely as a result of changing demographics, technological developments, and increased globalization. Relatedly, the changing needs of societies and families, along with new research findings, provide new directions in early childhood education. Consequently, early childhood teachers today are faced with higher and more complex expectations to help ensure that their students achieve their full potential. Such expectations suggest that early childhood teachers should be professionals who are able to draw on a robust knowledge base in making educational decisions. It follows that teacher education programs should develop and implement innovative programs that can potentially enhance the quality of our future teachers. An awareness of pressing issues in the field of early childhood teacher education led the editors to develop this volume. The chapters in these two volumes bring together scholars from across the US and the globe who are interested in improving the quality of early childhood teacher education. The chapters present their experiences, perspectives, and lessons learned as they addressed some of the challenging issues concerning the education and preparation of future early childhood teachers. The various issues and perspectives from different states in the US or countries across the globe provide insights into current issues and dilemmas facing the field. The contributions of these scholars should inform the discourse on early childhood teacher education and help those who work with preservice teachers improve the quality of their work.

In recent years there have been significant changes in education across the globe, largely as a result of changing demographics, technological developments, and increased globalization. Relatedly, the changing needs of societies and families, along with new research findings, provide new directions in early childhood education. Consequently, early childhood teachers today are faced with higher and more complex expectations to help ensure that their students achieve their full potential. Such expectations suggest that early childhood teachers should be professionals who are able to draw on a robust knowledge base in making educational decisions. It follows that teacher education programs should develop and implement innovative programs that can potentially enhance the quality of our future teachers. An awareness of pressing issues in the field of early childhood teacher education led the editors to develop this volume. The chapters in these two volumes bring together scholars from across the US and the globe who are interested in improving the quality of early childhood teacher education. The chapters present their experiences, perspectives, and lessons learned as they addressed some of the challenging issues concerning the education and preparation of future early childhood teachers. The various issues and perspectives from different states in the US or countries across the globe provide insights into current issues and dilemmas facing the field. The contributions of these scholars should inform the discourse on early childhood teacher education and help those who work with preservice teachers improve the quality of their work.