Search results for ""redleaf press""

UniversalDesign for Learning (UDL) is a framework for the proactive design of classroom instruction, with an emphasis on meeting the needs of all learnersin the classroom.With three principles at its core: multiple means of engagement, representation, and action and expression, UDL is designed to ensure that classroom instruction offers the supports needed to help young children become expert learners who take ownership of their own learning.Creating Young Expert Learners includes a theoretical introduction to the concept of UDL as it applies to young children, as well as practical examples of common early childhood learning units designed within a UDL framework. Vignettes and examples help early childhood educators connect the theory to practice and sample learning units are included for teachers to use in their own classrooms. Use UDL to help you design your teaching to reach all the children in your early childhood program.

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Teaching Off Trail describes Peter Dargatz's, a national board certified teacher and public school coordinator, transformation from an anxious assessor to a fair and fun facilitator of learning. It shares the his personal professional journey detailing his evolution as an educator while simultaneously offering strategies for readers to implement Peter's unique teaching philosophy to increase opportunities for play, creative expression, and personalization in both the indoor and outdoor classroom. In his own classroom Peter brought learning outside by creating a nature kindergarten program that emphasizes community partnerships, service learning, and meaningful and memorable experiences in the outdoors. Teaching Off Trail aims to inspire educators, administrators, and parents across all levels to turn their outrage for today’s educational system into outreach that promotes passionate and purposeful problem-solving.

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Create a larger vision in your child care program and perform your job as a center director with motivation and creativity. Early childhood leaders Deb Curtis, Margie Carter, and Luz Casio provide inspiration and support in this newly updated edition of The Visionary Director.The third edition: Reflects new requirements and initiatives in early childhood programs. Adds QR Code access links with short video stories and print resources that further illuminate the ideas under consideration. Has a stronger focus on creating an organizational culture that is shaped by more diverse perspectives with an anti-racist, anti-bias, equity lens. Updates content to address current early childhood education trends and leadership for an expanded definition of quality. Find a concrete framework for approaching and organizing your work, as well as principles, strategies, and self-directed activities to support your vision for building a strong learning community for your staff and the young children in their care.

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Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based framework for preventing and addressing challenging behaviors in the classroom; it has shown to be effective from preschool through high school. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports for Preschool and Kindergarten will provide specific information for preschool and kindergarten teachers on creating and implementing a classroom-wide behavior management system, as well as research-based interventions for addressing challenging behaviors. Anecdotes and real-world examples illustrate the concepts presented by Dr. Marla J. Lohmann.

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Biting is an issue that is more than skin-deep. It can affect any toddler in any setting and can have developmental, emotional, or environmental causes. While, not an unexpected occurrence among toddlers, biting is more than a physical act. It is a serious, complicated issue that brings frustration to the biter, bitee, par¬ents, and child care providers. This book offers technique-build¬ing advice for approaching biting in ways that work effectively for everyone involved. No Biting, Third Edition, has over 50% new and updated content, such as a ready-to-use curriculum, organized into eight short training modules. Perhaps no other concern in toddler programs challenges teachers and parents as much as biting does. This how-to handbook helps you work through biting with successful strategies and trusted guidance.

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David Sobel’s follow-up to Nature Preschools and Forest Kindergartens walks readers through the nitty-gritty facts of running a nature-based program. Organized around nine themes, each chapter begins with an overview from the author, followed by case studies from diverse early childhood programs, ranging from those that serve at-risk children to public preschools to university farm programs to Waldorf schools. Sample newsletters in each chapter show how real programs have tackled tough questions and sticky situations. The program featured in these newsletters are from across the United States: Maryland, New York, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Alabama, Con¬necticut, Illinois, Vermont, California, Michigan, Rhode Island, Louisiana, and Indiana.

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Family Child Care Contracts and Policies, Fourth Edition offers the most up-to-date tools for family child care providers to establish and enforce contracts and policies. Topics include: how to establish good business relationships with parents, what to look for before signing contracts with parents, what information is vital to include in contracts and policies, how to prevent conflicts with parents over contracts and policies, when and how to end a contract.Updates to the new Fourth Edition include: offering and charging for part-time care and extended care rates and policies for child care during the summer months expanded advice for how to handle siblings and family discounts expanded advice on charging for vacation time how to handle parent objections to paying for care when a child stays home information on bad-weather policies advice on how to deal with parents visiting during program hours caring for children who aren’t immunized expanded advice for how to turn down a client updated information on comparing income to minimum wage expanded advice for how enforce polices that previously weren’t enforced

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Social competency is a set of skills that provide children with the tools and abilities to successfully navigate the world around them. This book looks at each of the 7 Cs of social competence. Communicate Community building Coping Confidence Conflict resolution Control Curiosity During any given day, a child will enter and exit many group situations. More often than not, children lack the knowledge and experience to be socially competent in all situations. There is not a switch or a specific age when children automatically become socially competent, and it’s often assumed when children reach a certain age or milestones they were taught to effectively employ the 7Cs of social competency. These skills must be taught and environments need to be designed to encourage the development of these skills while intentionally providing opportunities to test and hone these skills. Developing Social Competency in Young Children examines the role of the adult in designing the environment and using intentional strategies to maximize a child’s success. At the end of each skill discussed there are parent and staff educational tips and strategies that can be used in everyday life.

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Develop the leadership skills needed to build sustainable early childhood systems and work toward continuous improvement. Building Together is a journey focused on the leadership necessary for today’s early childhood education system building. This book provides a road map to what effective leaders do, how they do it, and the leadership necessary to work towards collaborative systems level change.Building Together includes a wealth of information on the leadership skills, styles and competencies necessary to address today’s challenges and opportunities in the field of early childhood education. It also includes how to put leadership skills and knowledge into action to work towards sustainable system planning, implementation, and continuous improvement. Author Fiona Stewart includes success stories throughout the book from professionals in the field as well as examples from her own leadership work.Today’s systems-level work requires sophisticated leadership skills. Building Together provides all the leadership information needed for both emerging and experienced leaders.

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Teaching STEM Literacy is comprised of ready-made, open-ended lesson plans reviewed and tested by teachers, that help educators integrate STEM learning into the early childhood classroom. The lessons are written in the 5 E’s format, and are linked to the Next Generation Science Standards. They encourage young children to explore STEM connections and link to children’s books about STEM topics.

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Working Well with Babies describes the comprehensive competencies (including the knowledge, dispositions, and skills) that educators of infants and toddlers must have to provide optimal support for infants and toddlers. Designed as a learning resource for both in-service and pre-service infant/toddler practitioners, this text details the nine competency dimensions of infant/toddler educators developed by the Collaborative for Understanding the Pedagogy of Infant/Toddler Development (CUPID).The nine competencies are: 1. Reflective Practice 2. Building and Supporting Relationships 3. Partnering with and Supporting Diverse Families 4. Guiding Infant and Toddler Behavior 5. Supporting Development and Learning 6. Assessing Behavior, Development, & Environments 7. Including Infants and Toddlers with Special Needs 8. Professionalism 9. Mentoring, Leadership, and Supporting Competencies in Adults Supplemental appendices include rich and well-organized information to build core knowledge of development over the first three years and apply this knowledge to practice. Reproducibles designed to enhance active and engaged learning are organized by chapter and provide examples, reflective exercises, and information to share with families.

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Twelve Essential Topics in Early Childhood Meetings is a tool for program administrators to prepare successful professional development experiences for their staff during monthly meetings. The book includes an agenda and outline for each topic along with a materials list, handouts, and instructions for activities. Also included is a CD-ROM with twelve PowerPoint presentations and reproducibles for each topic.

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It appears the days of fun and games for children have been replaced with apps and screen time. Electronic games promote individual play and connect us to screens, not people. Game On! is a collection of 300+ screen-free, traditional games and activities for children and adults that require minimal materials other than people and their brains to play. All games and activities are adaptable according to the players age, their interests, and their abilities. Unplug from screened, individual play and connect with Game On!

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Tying together the theory and practice of child guidance and behavior in clear and accessible ways, this book provides educators actionable and developmentally appropriate practices to teach children healthy emotional and social development. Using contemporary brain research on toxic stress, vignettes, and discussion questions, this book gives you the tools to move children from simply surviving to thriving.

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Creative art should offer children the opportunities for originality, creativity, fluency, flexibility, and sensitivity. Remember, there is no right or wrong way of doing things in art. This collection of activities focuses on the process and not the finished product, to allow for growth and fun. All activities are easily adaptable for children from age two to eight. The 145 process-oriented art activities cover a wide range of media including painting, crayons, collage and sculpture, chalk, and printing. Activities are easy to prepare, to set-up, and to develop into project-approach explorations building on young children's interests and inquiries. These hands-on projects have been classroom-tested to ensure they keep learning fun and engaging.

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Take the uncertainty out of teaching science to young children with this comprehensive curriculum framework that aligns with national early learning standards. Enjoy over 100 interactive activities guaranteed to encourage children to explore the wonders of their world. Each activity includes background scientific information for teachers, a guide to implementation, and children’s typical responses for stress-free science fun.

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An encyclopedic how-to guide for the universal early childhood program problems. Practical Solutions to Practically Every Problem attempts to provide solutions to every possible problem faced by early childhood teachers—before teachers encounter them. This classic resource has been updated to focus on current issues faced by educators, including teaching twenty-first century life skills, technology, and cultural responsiveness. This easy-to-use guide gives you quick practical help, now! Educators will save time and energy with over eight hundred solutions to two hundred problems, including: Daily dilemmas and classroom issues; Partnering with families to raise happy children; Dealing with problematic behaviors from co-workers; Learning to take care of yourself to prevent burn-out.

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In her second adventure, the mostly sweet, but sometimes sour, Wisteria Jane Hummell returns with her dog Bingo for more fun and mischief. When Momma’s teacups get broken Wisteria blames Bingo, but is it the right thing to do? Wisteria learns a lesson in taking responsibility, one that other children can relate to.

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Updated information and unbiased, developmentally appropriate strategies and activities to celebrate, rather than exclude, diversity, traditions, and holidays. Many programs are establishing a ""no holiday"" policy, but this book shows you how to celebrate and adhere to school policy. Among other topics, it includes evaluating holiday activities for appropriateness, addressing commercialism and stereotypes, involving families, and developing inclusive policies.

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More than 100 activities for a successful anti-bias and multicultural program.Use the updated activities, examples, and research to improve your anti-bias and multicultural education programs. This clear and practical guide includes expanded information on English language learners, family engagement, culturally responsive teaching, and staff training. Create a positive environment for working with diverse groups of children and families.

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An inspiring step-by-step guide to documenting children's ideas, questions, and learning.Pedagogical Documentation in Early Childhood is an inspiring step-by-step guide to documenting children's ideas, questions, play, and learning in a way that enhances teachers' thinking and understanding at the same time. This book supports teachers on their journey to tell the stories behind children's work and inquiry.

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A charming story coupled with engaging illustrations, When You Just Have to Roar! helps children and the adults who care for them make every day its best. The book contains a page of information to help parents, caregivers, and educators reinforce these important concepts and support children's development of emotional control and self-regulation.

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A biographical history of the evolution of Developmentally Appropriate Practice, written by best-selling early childhood author David Elkind, PhD.Examine the evolution of developmentally appropriate practice with this biographical history of early childhood education. This book explores the theory's progression from its beginnings in writings of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century philosophers, its experimental implementation by eighteenth- and nineteenth-century practitioner, to its scientific grounding in contemporary theory and research. Included are biographical sketches and perspectives of eleven philosophical, pedagogical, and theoretical figures - the giants - whose contributions mark turning points in early childhood education.

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Physical education is a critical part of every early childhood curriculum. Children need to move to channel their energies in creative, beneficial ways and to learn habits for lifelong health and fitness. Preschoolers and Kindergarteners Moving & Learning provides 80 developmentally appropriate activities that contribute to a well-rounded curriculum in any classroom or program.The book contains An updated introduction reflecting new research and trends in early childhood health and fitness and information on how movement benefits children's learning and development Twenty lesson plans, each with one body parts activity, one nonlocomotor activity, one locomotor skill experience, and one activity exploring an element of movement, for a total of 80 activities Extension ideas and adaptations to use with children who have special needs Curriculum connections for each activity and explanations about how activities are aligned with and meet early learning standards from NAEYC and NASPE A CD with original music to add joy and energy to the activities

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Learning to lead a healthy lifestyle begins during the early years. Part of the Growing, Growing Strong series, this body care curriculum includes activities and background information to help children develop lifelong healthy habits. Children's social and emotional skills form a critical foundation for learning and wellness that guide them into adulthood and influence how they deal with both successes and adversity in life. These activities support children as they learn about self-esteem, emotions and feelings, family and friends, and changes in life. This book includes An overview of the social and emotional well-being topics covered in the curriculum Suggested interest area materials and supports for creating the learning environment Learning objectives and vocabulary words Suggestions for evaluating children's understanding of each social and emotional well-being topic More than 30 classroom activities Family information and take-home activities

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Help children using observation and reflection to create a comprehensive action plan.Almost anyone who works with three- to six-year-olds knows what it feels like to spend time with children who are particularly puzzling or challenging. This story-based book takes a close look at how early childhood professionals can make sense of what is going on with these hard-to-help children and provides a framework and practical strategies without leaning heavily on the medical and mental health diagnosis that often do little to help teachers understand how to be compassionate and effective forces for change in young children's lives.

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Present clear and concise information as you teach focused observation and systematic documentation skills in staff development sessions, college courses, or in-service workshops. This fifty-slide PowerPoint presentation directly corresponds to each chapter in the book Focused Observations: How to Observe Young Children for Assessment and Curriculum Planning. It highlights key concepts and helps students or participants reflect on their own observation styles, learn new techniques, and apply findings to their work. An instructional booklet with guidelines and tips is included.

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Sometimes when children are sad, it can be difficult for them to imagine ever feeling happy again.Playing at the water table is fun. But Erik thinks getting splashed is not fun. When his sleeve gets wet, Erik gets sad, and he can't imagine ever being happy again. Then, with a classmate by his side, Erik becomes absorbed by a new idea: to make the water disappear. As it vanishes, Erik discovers his happiness has reappeared, like magic. Airdah-taroo!This story provides a helpful reminder to children that sadness is a temporary feeling. The book contains a page of information to help you connect the story to children's experiences, which makes it a great teaching tool for your classroom or child care setting.

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Children make developmental leaps during the preschool years. This three-pack of Understanding Preschoolers workbooks provides essential information to help early childhood caregivers and educators enhance their role in promoting growth by better understanding preschoolers' development. Practical tips, self-assessments, exercises, and reflection questions are included.

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Professionalism, partnerships with families, and teamwork are vital in early childhood settings. With practical information, these self-training workbooks are ideal for people just beginning their careers and professional development trainings. This assorted three-pack set includes one copy each of Being a Professional, Becoming a Team Player, and Partnering with Families.

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Create a high quality school-age program that is developmentally appropriate and filled with stimulating experiences. Colourful photographs and ideas reflecting the authors’ visits to a variety of school-age programs, along with questionnaires and worksheets, provide inspiration and guidance as you plan a dynamic environment where children will enjoy their time. Whether your program operates before or after school, on non-school days, during the summer, or overnight, this book will help you think about your space in new ways. As you create a more engaging program, you will be encouraged to consider the Temporal environment: schedules, routines, rules, and learning opportunities that meet children’s needs Interpersonal environment: the relationships and social interactions of children, staff, families, and the greater community Physical environment: the indoor and outdoor setting, furnishings, and architectural elements of lighting, colour, and physical layout of the space

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Keep the day moving with 109 playful dance activities, each providing children with opportunities to exercise, practice and improve age-appropriate large motor skills, and develop body awareness and control. Enhance children's physical, social and emotional, and kinesthetic learning with movement activities while creating structure throughout your day, including greetings and goodbyes, group time, transitions, and quiet time. Accessible and adaptable for all children, including those with special needs or different learning styles, each dance-and-music pairing is irresistibly fun. An accompanying music CD is included with 42 tracks written and performed by Debbie Clement. Age Focus: 3-6.

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2019 Independent Publishers Book Awards (IPPY) Bronze Medal Award winner!2018 Robert & Judi Newman Award for Literature & Journalism!For centuries, men and women have sought to express beauty in architecture and art. But, it is only recently that neuroscience has helped determine how and why beauty plays such an important role in our lives. Founded on a series of lectures architect Donald H. Ruggles has given over the past ten years, Beauty, Neuroscience and Architecture: Timeless Patterns and Their Impact on Our Well-Being postulates that beauty can and does make a vital difference in our lives, including improving many aspects of our health. In this volume, Ruggles suggests that a new, urgent effort is needed to refocus the direction of architecture and art to include the quality of beauty as a fundamental, overarching theme in two of humanity's most important fields of endeavor - the built and artistic environments. ""Since the beginning of time,"" Ruggles notes, people have ""looked for certain patterns and a balance of space. . . . There is a deep-seated need for beauty and when that need is filled, a sense of safety and comfort is created."" In Beauty, Neuroscience and Architecture Ruggles draws on more than fifty years of architectural experience to delve into the forces behind the transformative emotion of beauty. Focusing on new discoveries in the science of the mind and neuroscience, as well as recent developments in fractal geometry theory, microbiology, and psychology, Ruggles leads the reader on a journey through architectural and art history to discover the importance of patterns in our perception of beauty - and its emotional content.

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The Redleaf Press Sign Language Cards for Preschoolers give early childhood professionals simple directions on how to use sign language with preschoolers and shares the practical benefits of teaching preschoolers sign language. Common categories like colors, animals, and emotions are included in the preschooler set. The front of each card includes a colorful illustration and a short description of how to make the sign. The back of each card explains when to use the sign and how doing so will help children develop.

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The Redleaf Press Sign Language Cards for Infants and Toddlers give early childhood professionals simple directions on how to use sign language with infants and toddlers and shares the practical benefits of teaching infants and toddlers sign language. Common words like “mom,” “dad,” “eat,” “banana,” and “diaper” are included in the infant and toddler set. The front of each card includes a colorful illustration and a short description of how to make the sign. The back of each card explains when to use the sign and how doing so will help children develop.

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Examine and discuss the early childhood education profession.Join the movement to mobilize and professionalize the early childhood education field with this comprehensive guide. Share and converse about why change is necessary, and why organizing as a profession is the solution. Included are participant and facilitator guides, as well as a conversation workbook to help mediate discussion.

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Understand the important indicators of development in children in five developmental domains: Physcial/motor, social/emotional, language, cognitive, and the recently added approaches to learning.Developmental Milestones of Young Children will help you: Observe and document children’s progress with proper technique. Develop partnerships and communication with families. Understand the most up-to-date developmental indicators. This handbook is not meant to be a diagnostic tool for children with developmental delays. Instead, it serves as a guide to the benchmarks of typical development for each age and stage that almost all children go through.

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Creating Diversity-Rich Environments for Young Children is an easy-to-use guide that shows how early childhood professionals can create a positive and inclusive environment for children of all cultures. The newest addition in the Redleaf Press Quick Guide series includes: Elements of the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) developmentally appropriate practice and ethical standards. Early childhood progress indicators. Best practices in adult learning. Principles of Integrated Multicultural Universal Design in Education. Guides for reflection and planning for educators and cross-cultural competence checklists will be included to further assist educators.Early childhood educators have the power to help all children learn to respect themselves and others. This resource will help you create a diversity-rich environment where all young children can thrive.

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Keeping children safe is a basic expectation for early childhood programmes. This two-hour training session introduces practices that staff members can use to promote children’s safety. Participants will develop an understanding and approach to risk management by considering the program’s use of supervision, the environment, emergency preparation, and injury prevention.Printable files include: A Facilitator’s Guide with instructions and script; A Participant Guide; and Info-to-Go resource flyers for families and staff members.Part of the Healthy Children, Healthy Lives Training and Resources series, this CD-ROM provides materials that support Healthy Children, Healthy Lives: The Wellness Guide for Early Childhood Programs, also available from Redleaf Press.

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Emotions can have a domino effect in the classroom when teachers' emotional states influence their interactions with students and alter the children's moods. Don't Get So Upset! will show child care providers how to express themselves in appropriate ways so that children will learn to do the same. This book approaches the subject in a practical, personal, and self-helping manner that will ultimately assist you in supporting children's emotional development.Don't Get So Upset! explains early childhood behavior management, explores anger-related feelings, and describes how to accept the negative and positive aspects of all our emotions. Through these topics, you will be able to uncover your own feelings as you manage children's behavior and discover strategies that work in your classroom.

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Early childhood educators are facing a crucial inflection point in the profession. Research shows that children need movement and play and joy to learn to their fullest potential—yet the educational system pushes worksheets and takes away time outdoors, among many other harmful and developmentally inappropriate teaching practices. Educators everywhere are tired of witnessing unrealistic expectations and impossible attempts to accelerate child development, stripping children of authentic learning—and their giggles. They are disturbed by the inequities that exist in education and want to see every child provided with the good foundation a quality early education can supply. They are fed up with the nonsense depriving children of childhood, requiring them to teach in ways that they know aren't right!This book challenges and inspires early childhood professionals to advocate for change in the field while giving them the research underpinnings and tools they need to take real action. It dispels the fears associated with speaking up and banishes all doubts about the need to advocate bravely and widely, proving the need to change course and providing practical and actionable steps for speaking to decision makers and convincing them to pursue change. Spark a Revolution in Early Education busts four myths—earlier is better, children learn by sitting, digital devices are important to learning, and play time is not productive time—to push for "Rae's Revolution" and get educators everywhere to stand up for the children.

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From the award-winning authors of StoryMaking and Makerspaces comes ArtMaking.ArtMaking?is a process of making meaning by reading children's books, investigating how this meaning is expressed and then inviting the child to use art to communicate their own meaning.?It is the perfect language to give all children a voice, regardless of age or ability. In ArtMaking children are invited to "read their worlds" as they learn about images, explore materials and elements of art (color, lines, shapes, textures, spaces, design) and communicate their thinking through their own art processes and products. Along the way these skills build a strong literacy foundation.Using artwork as well as illustrations from children's books as provocations, children make meaning with their visual literacy skills as they use the receptive and productive languages of literacy and art to make connections. When children engage in ArtMaking they apply the highest level of the comprehension and visual literacy continuums to new art experiences and makerspaces. They aren't just making art, they are making meaning of the book and the world.

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