Learn how current research and theory from educational psychology can be applied to create child-centered learning environments and developmentally appropriate practices in Grades PreK–3!

Developmental Education is an approach to education in school that aims at promoting children’s cultural development and their abilities to participate autonomously and well-informed in the cultural practices of their community. From the point of view of Cultural-historical Activity theory (CHAT), a play-based curriculum has been developed over the past decades for primary school, which presents activity contexts for pupils in the classroom that create learning and teaching opportunities for helping pupils with appropriating cultural knowledge, skills, and moral understandings in meaningful ways. The approach is implemented in numerous Dutch primary schools classrooms with the explicit intention to support the learning of both pupils and teachers. The book focuses especially on education of young children (4 – 8 years old) in primary school and presents the underpinning concepts of this approach, and chapters on examples of good practices in a variety of subject matter areas, such as literacy (vocabulary acquisition, reading, writing), mathematics, and arts. Successful implementation of Developmental Education in the classroom strongly depends on dynamic assessment and continuous observations of young pupils’ development. Strategies for implementation of both the teaching practices and assessment strategies are discussed in detail in the book.

"This book helps the practicing educator turn research into seamless classroom practice. The practice exercises can be implemented immediately to help build student success." —Katina Keener, Science/Social Studies Teacher, T. C. Walker Elementary School, Gloucester, VA Launch young learners on positive pathways through school! The early school years provide critical opportunities for children to develop foundational skills and positive attitudes toward learning. This book, the first in the Classroom Insights from Educational Psychology series, gives current and prospective PreK–3 teachers valuable insight into how young children feel, think, and learn. Denise H. Daniels and Patricia K. Clarkson show how current research and theory from educational psychology can be applied to create a child-centered learning environment and to develop best practices for instruction. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of: How children develop from the early years to middle childhood The importance of fostering positive teacher-child, child-child, and caregiver-child relationships Developmentally appropriate classroom practices that foster learning Children′s experiences with technology and outdoor environments Vignettes and case studies, practice exercises, suggested games, and reflection questions make A Developmental Approach to Educating Young Children a valuable asset in helping teachers design stimulating learning experiences for young children.

Armed with the mantra knowledge before action, this introduction to early childhood education allows teachers to first understand the development of the whole child and then to plan an environment and curriculum that will allow them to learn and thrive. Using a largely developmental approach, this first edition text explores both time-honored theories of early childhood development and current models and modern research in the field. Part One of the text discusses the history and theories of childhood development, while Part Two instructs teachers how to support children's emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development. The final section of the book explains how to assessment and guidance to support children and how to implement developmentally appropriate curriculum in the classroom. This text is supplemented with a number of features and ancillaries that make learning easier for students and teaching easier for instructors. Students will benefit from the many boxed activities and aides as well as by the online features contained in MyEducationLab. Teachers may take advantage of the online instructors' guide, online test back, numerous videos, and PowerPoint slides.

The long-awaited new edition of NAEYC's book Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs is here, fully revised and updated! Since the first edition in 1987, it has been an essential resource for the early childhood education field. Early childhood educators have a professional responsibility to plan and implement intentional, developmentally appropriate learning experiences that promote the social and emotional development, physical development and health, cognitive development, and general learning competencies of each child served. But what is developmentally appropriate practice (DAP)? DAP is a framework designed to promote young children's optimal learning and development through a strengths-based approach to joyful, engaged learning. As educators make decisions to support each child's learning and development, they consider what they know about (1) commonality in children's development and learning, (2) each child as an individual (within the context of their family and community), and (3) everything discernible about the social and cultural contexts for each child, each educator, and the program as a whole. This latest edition of the book is fully revised to underscore the critical role social and cultural contexts play in child development and learning, including new research about implicit bias and teachers' own context and consideration of advances in neuroscience. Educators implement developmentally appropriate practice by recognizing the many assets all young children bring to the early learning program as individuals and as members of families and communities. They also develop an awareness of their own context. Building on each child's strengths, educators design and implement learning settings to help each child achieve their full potential across all domains of development and across all content areas.

Children are already learning at birth, and they develop and learn at a rapid pace in their early years. This provides a critical foundation for lifelong progress, and the adults who provide for the care and the education of young children bear a great responsibility for their health, development, and learning. Despite the fact that they share the same objective - to nurture young children and secure their future success - the various practitioners who contribute to the care and the education of children from birth through age 8 are not acknowledged as a workforce unified by the common knowledge and competencies needed to do their jobs well. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 explores the science of child development, particularly looking at implications for the professionals who work with children. This report examines the current capacities and practices of the workforce, the settings in which they work, the policies and infrastructure that set qualifications and provide professional learning, and the government agencies and other funders who support and oversee these systems. This book then makes recommendations to improve the quality of professional practice and the practice environment for care and education professionals. These detailed recommendations create a blueprint for action that builds on a unifying foundation of child development and early learning, shared knowledge and competencies for care and education professionals, and principles for effective professional learning. Young children thrive and learn best when they have secure, positive relationships with adults who are knowledgeable about how to support their development and learning and are responsive to their individual progress. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 offers guidance on system changes to improve the quality of professional practice, specific actions to improve professional learning systems and workforce development, and research to continue to build the knowledge base in ways that will directly advance and inform future actions. The recommendations of this book provide an opportunity to improve the quality of the care and the education that children receive, and ultimately improve outcomes for children.

In the World Library of Educationalists international experts compile career-long collections of what they judge to be their most significant pieces – excerpts from books, key articles, salient research findings, major theoretical and practical contributions – so the world can read them in a single, manageable volume. Readers will be able to follow the themes and strands and see how their work contributes to the development of the field. Educating Young Children: A Lifetime Journey into a Froebelian Approach draws together Professor Tina Bruce CBE’s most prominent writings from her accomplished 40-year international career in education centred on the Froebelian tradition. Chosen to illustrate the changes that have occurred in Professor Bruce’s thinking and practices over the last four decades, carefully selected readings address key Froebelian themes such as literacy, play, inclusion and creativity. Short introductions are provided for each chapter and excerpt, helping readers to understand the significance of what is presented and explaining how this relates to other chapters in the book. Including chapters from Tina Bruce’s best-selling books and articles, as well as leading journals, this collection offers a unique commentary on some of the most important issues in Early Childhood Education over the last four decades; it will be engaging and inspiring reading for anyone interested in the development and state of early years education in the UK and internationally.