Starting from the Child supports early years practitioners to be advocates for young children and their learning needs. In the fourth edition of this highly influential and inspirational book, Julie Fisher outlines the important theories and research which should underpin best early years practice. She takes a robust and principled stand against downward pressure to formalise young children’s learning too soon, and offers practical and meaningful ways to develop high quality learning and teaching in the early years. Starting from the Child challenges all early years practitioners to consider: How to build on children’s innate desire to learn and their competence and autonomy as effective early learners How to plan environments indoors and out that make learning irresistible How to plan for high quality child-initiated learning to take place seamlessly alongside learning that is adult-initiated The role of the adult in supporting and extending young children’s learning How daily observation of children informs and underpins planning for their individual and unique learning needs Revised and updated throughout, this fourth edition includes the latest research on early brain development and reference to recent government initiatives including the revised Early Years Foundation Stage. Starting from the Child is essential reading, not only for early years practitioners, but for all those who manage and make decisions about early learning. “Julie draws on her extensive work with practitioners to present the everyday realities and complexities of their practice, and to sound welcome notes of caution about the ways in which policy frameworks are used... The book also reflects deeply held convictions about the moral and ethical responsibilities we have to teach young children in ways that respect their extraordinary enthusiasm for learning.” Professor Elizabeth Wood, University of Sheffield, UK “The title says it all. Julie takes the reader by the hand and says ‘Look and listen, give these children your full and respectful attention and they will teach you how to be with them.’ All the practical ideas in the book support practitioners in using their skills and knowledge to recognise early childhood as valuable in its own right - to be relished and enjoyed, not to be rushed through or seen merely as preparation for the next stage.” Helen Moylett, Early Years Consultant and writer “Julie Fisher’s work has been a staple of Early Childhood Education since the first edition of Starting from the Child in 1996. Her fourth edition does not disappoint, and is a welcome development of her thinking... This is a book for students, teachers and other early years workers seeking to find their way through the conflicting needs of a rapidly changing area of work.” Nick Swarbrick, Programme Lead for the Undergraduate Modular Programme in the School of Education, Oxford Brookes University, UK

How can early years practitioners build on children’s competence and autonomy as effective early learners? How do adults get to know children sufficiently well to plan effectively for their learning needs? How can early years practitioners plan for high quality child-initiated experiences alongside more focused adult-initiated learning? Early years practitioners continue to face the dilemma of planning for the needs of individual children whilst meeting the demands of targets and goals set by government. In such a pressurized climate, it can be all too easy to go with what is imposed, rather than stand up for what young children need and are entitled to. In a practical and realistic way, the third edition of Starting from the Child supports practitioners in the Foundation Stage to be advocates for young children and their learning needs. Julie Fisher outlines the important theories and research which should underpin decisions about best practice. She offers meaningful and inspirational ways of developing appropriate learning environments and experiences for Foundation Stage children. Revised and updated throughout, the new edition includes: Latest research impacting on our understanding of early learning Reference to recent government initiatives such as the Early Years Foundation Stage An extended explanation of how to plan for child-initiated learning alongside adult-initiated learning A completely revised chapter on ‘The place of play’, with a new focus on different types and contexts for play, cultural influences and the role of the adult in supporting play Two new chapters on the observation and assessment of children’s learning, and self-evaluation for practitioners Starting from the Child is essential reading, not only for early years practitioners, but for all those who manage and make decisions about early learning.

Make learning visible in the early years Early childhood is a uniquely sensitive time, when young learners are rapidly developing across multiple domains, including language and literacy, mathematics, and motor skills. Knowing which teaching strategies work best and when can have a significant impact on a child’s development and future success. Visible Learning in Early Childhood investigates the critical years between ages 3 and 6 and, backed by evidence from the Visible Learning® research, explores seven core strategies for learning success: working together as evaluators, setting high expectations, measuring learning with explicit success criteria, establishing developmentally appropriate levels of learning, viewing mistakes as opportunities, continually seeking feedback, and balancing surface, deep, and transfer learning. The authors unpack the symbiotic relationship between these seven tenets through Authentic examples of diverse learners and settings Voices of master teachers from the US, UK, and Australia Multiple assessment and differentiation strategies Multidisciplinary approaches depicting mathematics, literacy, art and music, social-emotional learning, and more Using the Visible Learning research, teachers partner with children to encourage high expectations, developmentally appropriate practices, the right level of challenge, and a focus on explicit success criteria. Get started today and watch your young learners thrive!

Are you managing your brain? Or is your brain managing you? If you value self-knowledge, sooner or later you will face the profound role that the radically different perspectives of your left- and right-brain hemispheres play in your daily decisions. This timely book guides you in integrating these contrasting views of the world, and delves into the impact of brain lateralization on political progress, cultural polarization, and even the quest for personal and world peace. A practical field guide to whole-brain, heart-centered living, "The Whole-Brain Path to Peace" takes you a crucial step beyond the science of brain lateralization; this book invites you into a new way of perceiving your world through whole-brain living. But success on this path also requires the illumination of philosophy and the far-reaching insights of modern revelation. Olson's broader view highlights the distortions that each side of the brain can have when not informed by the other, and points us to more sensible ways of achieving greater balance.

The fourth edition is essentially still about putting the principles of early childhood education into practice.

First Published in 2009. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This accessible guide to child development is for students of degrees and foundation degrees in Early Years, Early Childhood Studies and related disciplines and for early years practitioners. *Introduces the context of child development *Develops an understanding of development and of how early years practitioners can support this *Explores the biological/social debate, and the importance of holistic development *Examines factors affecting development and includes a chapter on reflective practice *Considers the complexity of children′s development and argues that is is not always a straight forward progression This fifth edition: *is updated in line with the new EYFS and the updated Development Matters; *is updated to include child development learning from 0-8 *includes up-to-date guidance on assessment processes in the Early Years; *includes a new section with key knowledge on well known theories of child development.