For students taking courses in early childhood special education. A practical, activity-based approach to early childhood special education built on a foundation of theory and research. This comprehensive text on early childhood special education emphasizes a developmental focus over a disability focus. The authors believe that children are more alike than different in their developmental processes and avoids the negative impact of labeling children with disability categorical names. The authors have produced a book that offers educators a practical and effective guide to finding learning opportunities within daily curriculum activities and routine. The current edition maintains the focus on inclusive, family-centered, real-world approaches that are also theoretically based. The text also provides ample detail related to specific intervention strategies that enhance teachers' ability to work with young children with special needs and their families. Readable and practical, the illustrations of techniques and strategies throughout make this text a valuable resource long after students leave their formal education.

Early Childhood Curriculum for All Learners: Integrating Play and Literacy Activities is designed to teach early childhood professionals about the latest research on play and early literacy and then to show them practical methods for adapting this research to everyday classroom practices that will encourage the development of learning skills. The authors link solid, play-based research to specific developmentally appropriate practices. By combining these two areas, the text demonstrates that academic learning and play activities are highly compatible, and that children can and do develop academic skills through play. In addition, the text focuses on socio-dramatic play, a recently acknowledged, essential aspect of child-initiated play interactions. It provides specific strategies that link these interactive behaviors with the early academic skills needed for the initial primary grades. Implementation of the information presented in this book will enable children to experience a richer transition into primary education classrooms.

Now in its third edition, this classic text remains the seminal resource for in-depth information about major concepts and principles of the cultural-historical theory developed by Lev Vygotsky, his students, and colleagues, as well as three generations of neo-Vygotskian scholars in Russia and the West. Featuring two new chapters on brain development and scaffolding in the zone of proximal development, as well as additional content on technology, dual language learners, and students with disabilities, this new edition provides the latest research evidence supporting the basics of the cultural-historical approach alongside Vygotskian-based practical implications. With concrete explanations and strategies on how to scaffold young children’s learning and development, this book is essential reading for students of early childhood theory and development.

Have you researched Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education but discounted it as old-fashioned and overtly religious? Then this is the book you need to read. In A Literary Education, Emily Cook lays out how she has brought Miss Mason's ideology into the modern age for secular homeschoolers. In conversational prose she discusses the key tenants used in Charlotte Mason homeschooling and explains how to make them work for your family. You'll read about:� Living books and how to use them� Reading aloud: the why and the how� Nature study in the 21st century� How to inspire creativity in your children� How to get the most out of the preschool years� How to combine children of multiple ages� And much more!In A Literary Education, Emily shares her 14 year homeschool journey and how she has learned to take Charlotte Mason's method of home education into the 21st century to give her children a beautiful living books education.

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.

Accessible, easy-to-follow guide to teaching parents and other caregivers to value and support a child's development.

This practical, hands-on guide provides strategies and adaptations to accommodate young children with disabilities or special needs. It puts theory into practice with clear examples and directions to ensure all children can participate equally in the inclusive classroom. Adaptations are offered by activity rather than by disability, and the focus is on embedding instruction within daily routines. Short chapters, clear discussion of rationale, and the plentiful examples prepare readers to effectively support children with a variety of common disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, visual impairment, hearing loss, and behavioral challenges. Readers have commented on the usefulness of the strategies, details, and scenarios for working in general and special early childhood education. The text is especially appropriate for seminars accompanying student teaching and internships in general education, special education, and inclusive early childhood classrooms. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.