Across academic circles over the last few decades, the interest and inquiry on spirituality continues to broaden. Currently, the school system in the United States and many Western countries put their focus on academic achievement at the expense of preparing their students' inner cores for skills they will need to deal with a more complex and challenging world to come. Supporting Children and Youth Through Spiritual Education provides a platform for researchers and experts in the field of spirituality in children and youth to voice the urgent need for an educational system that truly nurtures the whole child. The book also considers the need to remove the misunderstandings about the terms "spirituality" and "religion" among those who work directly with children and youth. Covering key topics such as religion, cognitive development, and spiritual needs, this reference work is critical for principals, administrators, industry professionals, researchers, scholars, practitioners, academicians, instructors, and students.

This book explores the phenomenon of outdoor education, an approach that permits children from all backgrounds to explore environmental, sustainability, and other issues facing them and their communities. Organized around both the conceptual and the practical issues facing school leaders interested in outdoor education, the book provides a wealth of resources for those interested in implementing outdoor education in their schools or classrooms. Infinitely flexible, outdoor education provides a lens through which teachers may explore any content area with any age group of children. Providing readers with both the theoretical underpinnings that support place-based curriculum as well as practical ways to implement an outdoor education program, the book also provides seven case studies that examine the issues facing school leaders desiring to make such a change. Outdoor Education: A Pathway to Experiential, Environmental, and Sustainable Learning guides those interested in exploring outdoor education through the curricular, instructional, and policy considerations needed to accomplish this goal.  

Environmental studies provide an ideal opportunity for children of any age to build critical and creative thinking skills while also building skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Exploring issues related to sustainability and environmental concerns permits learners to identify problems, develop research questions, gather and analyze data, develop possible solutions, and disseminate this information to others. Despite the advantages of green education and its ability to improve student achievement, there is a gap in understanding the interplay between curriculum and instruction and how this affects teaching and learning. Building STEM Skills Through Environmental Education is an essential publication that addresses gaps in the understanding of green education and offers educators meaningful and comprehensive examples of environmental and sustainability education in the Pre-K through secondary grade levels. The book offers a unique combination of foundational understanding of green education and chapters that illustrate the principles and impact of green education across grade levels, content areas, assessment systems, instructional strategies, technology, and other related topics. It is ideally designed for educators, curriculum developers, instructional designers, advocates, policymakers, researchers, academicians, and students.

This book explores the effects of the REACH program (Recruiting and Enlightening through Access to and Communication with High-need schools), a seven-year initiative devised to help find, attract, and prepare diverse teacher candidates interested in working with young children. The book analyzes how the program, set at a national liberal arts college in the US, used the three R's: recruitment, retention, and recognition, to successfully draw in diverse educators for young children who then go on to became leaders and role models in their schools and communities. Chapters examine ways to provide the academic, social, and enrichment supports necessary for diverse teacher candidates and identify current teacher education practices that are effective as well as opportunities for change.

Growing Up Green allows young students (grades K-2) to build critical and creative thinking skills, while also improving skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The book: Includes 10 problem-based investigations that explore sustainability and environmental concerns. Covers topics such as reducing one's carbon footprint, developing green manufacturing processes, initiating a recycling program, and more. Is perfect for general education classrooms, single- or multi-grade gifted classrooms, or pull-out programs. Features crosscurricular connections. Includes a list of apps, websites, and books that can be used to increase students' understanding and curiosity. Each investigation includes comprehensive teacher instructions, ideas for differentiation, hands-on student activities, reproducible student resources, reflection opportunities, and assessment options. The engaging investigations guide learners through the process of identifying problems, developing research questions, gathering and analyzing data, developing possible solutions, and disseminating information to others. Grades K-2

Across academic circles over the last few decades, the interest and inquiry on spirituality continues to broaden. Currently, the school system in the United States and many Western countries put their focus on academic achievement at the expense of preparing their students' inner cores for skills they will need to deal with a more complex and challenging world to come. Supporting Children and Youth Through Spiritual Education provides a platform for researchers and experts in the field of spirituality in children and youth to voice the urgent need for an educational system that truly nurtures the whole child. The book also considers the need to remove the misunderstandings about the terms "spirituality" and "religion" among those who work directly with children and youth. Covering key topics such as religion, cognitive development, and spiritual needs, this reference work is critical for principals, administrators, industry professionals, researchers, scholars, practitioners, academicians, instructors, and students.

Environmental studies provide an ideal opportunity for children of any age to build critical and creative thinking skills while also building skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Exploring issues related to sustainability and environmental concerns permits learners to identify problems, develop research questions, gather and analyze data, develop possible solutions, and disseminate this information to others. Despite the advantages of green education and its ability to improve student achievement, there is a gap in understanding the interplay between curriculum and instruction and how this affects teaching and learning. Building STEM Skills Through Environmental Education is an essential publication that addresses gaps in the understanding of green education and offers educators meaningful and comprehensive examples of environmental and sustainability education in the Pre-K through secondary grade levels. The book offers a unique combination of foundational understanding of green education and chapters that illustrate the principles and impact of green education across grade levels, content areas, assessment systems, instructional strategies, technology, and other related topics. It is ideally designed for educators, curriculum developers, instructional designers, advocates, policymakers, researchers, academicians, and students.