Search results for ""National Association for the Education of Young Children""

What Does Developmentally Appropriate Practice Look Like in an Infant and Toddler Program? If you’ve ever wondered how effective teachers actually do DAP with very young children, this is the book for you. Here, you can peek into classrooms to see teachers making intentional decisions in key areas of practice. These areas form the six guidelines for DAP in action:1. Building a community where everyone is welcomed and supported to grow 2. Facilitating reciprocal partnerships with families 3. Observing, assessing, and documenting children’s development and learning 4. Using teaching strategies that enhance learning for each child 5. Implementing curriculum tied to meaningful learning goals 6. Demonstrating professionalism You’ll discover More about what each guideline means for working with infants and toddlers and their families Chapters that showcase article

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The goal of this book is to help teachers assess where they are in their current teaching goals and become more intentional and organized in planning. Teachers can begin with tools they already have and build on previous activities that worked well. Great lesson planning helps teachers to choose a range of strategies that match what children are learning and doing —from directed mini-lessons to facilitated group activities. Each chapter provides a wealth of tips and ideas. The strategies discussed in each chapter helps build a toolbox with tips that match each teacher’s approach.Child-centered lesson planning provides a system to strengthen teaching. In each chapter contains step-by-step hints and action steps to make the most of your unique setting. You will explore new ways to: Build on early learning guidelines and standards to maximize planning and communication. Identify learning goals for materials, activities, routines, and interactions. Design dramatic play themes that relate to daily life, families, cultures, and communities. Infuse vocabulary to scaffold language development. Support executive function skills and self-regulation. Activate emotion coaching goals. Evaluate and adapt spaces and materials to address physical needs. Meet the linguistic and social needs of dual language learners. Prepare meaningful and stimulating cognitive experiences. Connect content skills, language, and literacy to dramatic play. Integrate family engagement as a strength and asset for development and learning. Communicate effectively with colleagues to ensure high-quality learning experiences.

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Home–school relationships have always been a cornerstone of children’s success and well-being. But cultivating positive, supportive partnerships between educators and families is an ongoing process, one that requires reciprocal respect and communication to grow. Use the practical information and ideas in this book to develop and embed a culture of family engagement in all aspects of your early childhood program, from curriculum planning to addressing children’s individual needs, by Creating a welcoming environment for families Providing many ways for families to engage in the program and their children’s learning Ensuring two-way communication and addressing communication challenges Building on learning opportunities families already provide at home Supporting diverse home languages and cultures Collaborating on community-wide efforts Packed with strategies, resources, and examples from early childhood programs, this book illustrates numerous ways to engage families in your early childhood community so that together, families + educators = thriving children.

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Meaningful, developmentally appropriate observation and assessment are core components of every early learning setting. In today’s world of data collection, high-stakes testing, and accountability, it is vitally important to understand how to effectively assess young children in familiar settings; use this data to inform the curriculum; and communicate this information with staff, families, and communities.   Carrying on the work of the first volume of Spotlight on Young Children: Observation and Assessment,

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Early childhood educators know how important it is to choose the right materials to include in your preschool classroom. There are so many options, and often your budget won’t stretch cover everything you’d like to include. With this guide, discover ideas for both familiar and new play materials and how they not only support the cognitive, physical, and social and emotional development of children ages 3 to 5 but also meet the diverse needs of individual children. With a thoughtful selection of appropriate materials, you can enhance the quality of your classroom and create an accessible, inclusive, and equity-based environment that makes all children feel welcome.

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Early childhood educators know how important it is to choose the right materials to include in your infant and toddler program. There are so many options, and often your budget won’t stretch cover everything you’d like to include. With this guide, discover ideas for both familiar and new play materials and how they not only support the cognitive, physical, and social and emotional development of children from birth to age 3 but also meet the diverse needs of individual children. With a thoughtful selection of appropriate materials, you can enhance the quality of your program and create an accessible, inclusive, and equity-based environment that makes all children feel welcome.

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Helpful information for all family child care providers including: Tips and strategies to help develop and manage a well-organized business Ways to maximize dual-use spaces and enhance learning materials and routines Guidelines and tips to help balance home and professional needs Creative ideas to boost children’s learning Practical information to help you build positive and meaningful relationships with families Expand your knowledge and skills to meet the needs of children and their families.

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A collection of YC articles that highlights advancing equity and diversity in early childhood education. Tied to the forthcoming position statement on equity and diversity, this collection includes articles focused on self-reflection to recognize implicit bias, strategies to create equitable learning opportunities for all children, and advocacy.

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Full of engaging, effective ways to introduce the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and explore real-life, thorny ethical issues that face early childhood educators. Includes tools and techniques that the aughtors developed through their extensive experience teaching about ethics and the NAEYC Code.Companion resource the Ethics and the Early Childhood Educator: Using the NAEYC Code, Second Edition.

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Creativity is a cornerstone of complex, unconventional thinking, and developing creativity begins at a young age. With this book, early childhood teachers will discover how to tap into and scaffold children’s natural curiosity and creative abilities.

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Edited and compiled just for teachers, this resource explains developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) so teachers can apply DAP in their work with children in first, second, and third grades. Chapters include: What Is Developmentally Appropriate Practice? A brief introduction to the main ideas of DAP Teaching Children in First, Second, and Third Grades Connecting DAP to excellent teaching An Overview of Development in the Primary Grades Overview of learning and development in first, second, and third grades Developmentally Appropriate Examples to Consider Examples of key DAP practices, as well as contrasting practices that are less likely to serve children well Supporting Children’s Learning While Meeting Standards Connecting the standards to DAP Young Children Articles Ten articles from Young Children that provide examples of applying developmentally appropriate practice when working with children in first, second, and third grades.

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New delights and opportunities for learning await each time children venture outdoors. This updated and expanded edition of The Great Outdoors will inspire teachers to make it possible for children to spend more time outdoors, have safe environments, and be free to learn through exploration.Each chapter ends with action items to improve children’s access to safe, clean, and interesting places in your community and is packed with resource ideas for further exploration. The Great Outdoors will enable you take up the challenge to advocate for enticing outdoor spaces for children.

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When engaged in social studies, with guidance and encouragement from adults, children develop awareness of self and family and become active participants in the larger community. The knowledge and skills learned through social studies prepare children to become informed and engaged citizens of their country and the world.In this collection of articles from Young Children and Beyond the Journal, experts discuss the historic roots of the social studies field, explain how quality books can help children understand themselves and others, and provide many examples of teachers and children engaged in meaningful social studies. The book includes a list of key resources as well as questions and activities designed to aid readers in reflecting on the articles.

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Spring 2023 Smart Book winners from the Academics' Choice Awards Literacy Learning begins at birth and continues throughout our lives! Birth to age 5 is a critical period in building the foundation for later success in reading and writing. Educators play a vital role in nurturing young children’s early language and literacy knowledge and skills. However, the specific practices that support literacy development in early childhood are often different than those used with older children.     From some of the foremost early literacy development experts in the field comes this practical resource that is a must-have for all educators of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Using eight key practices—Knowing, Showing, Designing, Including, Engaging, Explaining, Observing, and Responding—as the framework, the authors discuss how educators can support five important areas of young children’s early literacy development: Language and knowledge Print concepts Sounds and letters Writing Text comprehension A range of features highlights information about these areas and practices, including the latest research findings, recommended resources, tips for integrating technology into play and learning, and more.      With this book, explore how to create effective, appropriate, and fun learning opportunities for our littlest literacy learners. 

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Becoming a skilled anti-bias teacher is a journey. With this volume’s practical guidance, you’ll grow in your ability to identify, confront, and eliminate barriers of prejudice, misinformation, and bias about specific aspects of personal and social identity. Most important, you’ll find tips for helping staff and children learn to respect each other, themselves, and all people. Over the last three decades, educators across the nation and around the world have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in anti-bias work. The result is a richer and more nuanced articulation of what is important in anti-bias education. Revolving around four core goals—identity, diversity, justice, and activism—individual chapters focus on culture and language, racial identity, family structures, gender identity, economic class, different abilities, and more.

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Learn how to connect your curriculum planning to children’s interests and thinking. With this book, educators will discover a systematic way for using documentation to design curriculum that emerges from children’s inquiries, what they wonder, and what they want to understand. Get strategies for designing a classroom environment at the start of the year to facilitate emergent inquiry curriculum. Each chapter guides teachers to document and reflect on their thinking through each of the five phases of a cycle of inquiry process, including observing, interpreting the meaning of the play they see, and developing questions to engage children.

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Guided play is a powerful tool educators can use to help preschoolers and kindergartners learn essential knowledge and skills in the context of playful situations. Apply the information, strategies, and ideas in this book to: Provide content-rich, joyful learning experiences Balance child-guided and adult-guided play Set up play environments with learning goals in mind Offer suggestions and questions during play to prompt children’s reflection and deeper learning Young children’s natural curiosity and dynamic imaginations can lead to exciting and meaningful learning opportunities. Discover how to provide guided play experiences along with opportunities for unstructured play to support children’s knowledge in key areas and their lifelong enjoyment and pursuit of learning.

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Listening to All Families Matters Families are their children’s first teachers. Early childhood educators know this, but what does it mean in practice? Participation, involvement, and engagement are only the first steps toward the true goal: reciprocal family partnerships. Discover how to move beyond inviting families to program events or connecting them to resources and instead recognize them as experts who meaningfully contribute to children’s learning and development. Based on over two decades of research by the author, this resource Establishes why reciprocal family partnerships are essential within the contexts of child development theories, developmentally appropriate practice, and anti-bias education Analyzes the important role that using a strengths-based approach plays in successfully building long-lasting relationships and partnerships Provides practical strategies and activities to help teachers and administrators examine and improve their practices for partnering with families Uplifts the authentic feelings and words of a diverse breadth of families Families have voices that are waiting to be heard—it’s time to listen.

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What Does Developmentally Appropriate Practice Look Like in a Preschool Classroom?    If you’ve ever wondered how effective teachers actually do DAP, this is the book for you. Here, you can peek into classrooms to see teachers making intentional decisions in the six key areas of practice that form the six guidelines for DAP in action:  1. Building a community of learners where everyone is welcomed and supported to grow  2. Facilitating respectful partnerships with families  3. Observing, assessing, and documenting children’s development and learning   4. Using teaching strategies that enhance learning for each child  5. Implementing curriculum tied to meaningful learning goals  6. Demonstrating professionalism    You’ll discover  More about what each guideline means for preschool teaching  Chapters that showcase articles from Young Children and Teaching Young Children—plus brand-new content—illustrating excellent teaching strategies related to each guideline  Examples you can model, adapt, and implement in your own practice  Your teaching will be richer and deeper, and children’s learning will flourish! 

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Helping Children Create, Collaborate, and Communicate—with Technology Children are growing up with technologies as part of their daily lives at home and in school. For educators, it is important to understand how to use technologies to promote learning in developmentally appropriate ways. This book helps you make thoughtful, informed decisions that will enhance what you are already doing to support children’s learning. Learn how to Use technologies in ways that build on, not detract from, the learning children gain through play Introduce technologies using a gradual release of responsibility model Foster children’s storytelling, reflection, early coding skills, and more Use technologies to enrich your partnerships with families and invite them into the classroom community Work with colleagues to develop a digital culture that supports the program’s goals With the guidance in this book, you’ll be able to evaluate technologies and understand how to put them to their best uses in your program.

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Tap into the Power of Child-Led Math Teaching and Learning Winner of the 2022 Excel Silver Award for Technical Book. Everything a child does has mathematical value—these words are at the heart of this completely revised and updated third edition of The Young Child and Mathematics. Grounded in current research, this classic book focuses on how teachers working with children ages 3 to 6 can find and build on the math inherent in children’s ideas in ways that are playful and intentional. This resource · Illustrates through detailed vignettes how math concepts can be explored in planned learning experiences as well as informal spaces · Highlights in-the-moment instructional decision-making and child–teacher interactions that meaningfully and dynamically support children in making math connections · Provides an overview of what children know about counting and operations, spatial relations, measurement and data, and patterns and algebra · Offers examples of informal documentation and assessment approaches that are embedded within classroom practice Deepen your understanding of how math is an integral part of your classroom all day, every day. Includes online video!

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In early childhood settings, children and teachers interact all day long. The benefits to everyone—teachers and children—are enormous when even some of those everyday interactions become intentional and purposeful Powerful Interactions! In step one of a Powerful Interaction, Be Present, you pause to tune in to how you are feeling and consider how you might need to adjust to create a “just-right” fit with a child. In step two, Connect, you let that child know that you see her; are interested in what she is doing, saying, and thinking; and want to spend time with her. Deepening your relationship this way helps the child feel safe, confident, and open to learning. Staying connected and observant helps you make good decisions in step three. In step three, Extend Learning, you make use of your strong connection with the child to stretch her knowledge, skills, thinking, or language and vocabulary just a bit. Now revised and updated, this reflective guide contains everything you need to understand what Powerful Interactions are, how to make them happen, and why they are so important in increasing children’s learning and your effectiveness as a teacher. Whether you work in a child care center or family child care setting, Early Head Start or Head Start program, or a public pre-K or primary classroom, you make a difference in the lives of children and families—and Powerful Interactions can make that difference even bigger.

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Enhance your own comfort level with math in order to develop and implement a rich math program through the lens of emergent learning while increasing children’s interest, confidence, and success in mathematics. This book provides a strong pedagogical discussion with relevant, easy-to-implement examples of how to cultivate a learning space for complex exploratory math learning without textbooks or worksheets. Be inspired to reflect upon your curriculum through a mathematical lens and to see the potential for math learning in all aspects of your program. Educators will easily relate to this collection of math-related topics told from the perspective of a teacher who was initially nervous about her ability to teach math to young children and her journey to becoming a more confident teacher of math.

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What every preschool teacher needs! Filled with practical strategies and useful information on art, music and movement, and dramatic play, this book offers: Learning center ideas Engaging activities Practical suggestions that are easy to implement Ideas that support the development and learning of every preschooler Children’s book recommendations This excellent resource of engaging learning experiences for preschoolers was developed for you by the editors of Teaching Young Children.

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There’s a whole world outdoors waiting to embrace young children—with their curiosity, imagination, and enthusiasm—and to impart its treasures. Experiencing Nature With Young Children invites you to explore this world with children from birth to age 8 in ways that will: Awaken their enjoyment and appreciation of nature Nurture their emotional development Enhance their cognitive growth Spark their creativity Help them discover how we all—people, animals, plants—are connected Engage families and communities in preserving nature Part ballad to nature, part irresistible invitation to teachers, this book will awaken and renew your own joy in nature—and move you to experience it with young children.

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Drawing from evidence-based practice and the latest research, this book explains the multitude of benefits of big body play for young children's social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Also learn how to organize the physical environment, set rules and policies, and supervise the play.

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Through teacher research, teachers engage in the systematic study of their own practice to answer questions they have about teaching and learning, and their own effectiveness. This book explores: What teacher research in early childhood settings looks like Why it is important to the field of early childhood education How teacher educators can support it

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The long-awaited new edition of NAEYC’s Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs is here, fully revised and updated! Since the first edition in 1987,this book 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.

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It is important for teachers to incorporate mathematics into the daily curriculum to help ensure young children gain the foundational skills for later success in math. In this collection of articles from NAEYC’s journal, Young Children, teachers of children from infancy through age 8 will learn how to help children develop, construct, test, and reflect on their mathematical understandings. Articles offer ways to provide in-depth, engaging learning experiences focusing on key math concept areas: number and operations, geometry, measurement, and data analysis.

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Nurturing Children’s Social and Emotional Learning and Well-Being Children’s relationships and experiences during their formative years have a far-reaching impact, and early childhood educators play a critical role in fostering the social and emotional competence children need to process and learn from these interactions. Explore how teachers can use the opportunities embedded in their curriculum, practices, and routines to support positive, healthy behaviors in children from birth through age 8. The revised and updated edition of this volume reflects recent advances in brain science, the field’s heightened recognition of children’s cultural contexts as central components of their social and emotional development, and more. It covers a wide range of timely and timeless topics, including how to Establish trusting relationships to teach, model, and reinforce positive behaviors Honor each child’s dimensions of diversity and support the development of their individuality and humanity Engage in social justice projects that increase children’s empathy and sense of agency Mitigate the effects of trauma in children’s lives Implement strategies that relieve anxiety and teach coping skills Each article in this collection also includes questions to prompt deeper thinking on the content, highlighting connections to developmentally appropriate practice. Using the guidance in this resource, help children develop the social and emotional skills essential to their future well-being and success.

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Understanding and implementing inclusion starts here. Educators looking for a simple, straightforward introduction to the core concepts of teaching and supporting children with disabilities alongside their peers will want to have this resource at their fingertips.Every year, the number of children with developmental delays or disabilities in early childhood programs and classrooms is increasing. What do you need to know to support them? This guide is filled with practical information that will help educators who work with children ages birth through 8 teach children with disabilities alongside their peers. Learn the essentials of what you need to know.

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This updated third edition of the bestselling Ethics and the Early Childhood Educator seeks to inform and guide those who work with children and families through the tough decisions they must confront. Feeney and Freeman provide new, well-chosen examples and questions that not only clarify key points about ethical conduct and decision-making but also stimulate reflection and discussion on critical issues confronting early childhood educators.

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This expanded and updated classic helps teachers discover exciting possibilities for block play. It details the rich contributions of blocks to creative and dramatic play as well as to science, math, social studies, and other learning domains. Includes practical tips for equipping and organizing the block area, plus a chapter on large blocks.

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From the authors of the bestselling book Powerful Interactions comes a guide crafted especially for coaches and all professionals supporting the work of early childhood teachers. When the quality of interactions improves, relationships become deeper and stronger, which in turn leads to more effective learning and growth. Taking the three-step Powerful Interactions framework—originally created to enhance the interactions between children and their teachers—this resource applies it to the interactions between teachers and coaches. This new edition offers Coaching principles, strategies, and stories to inspire and motivate your practice Insights about developing a strengths-based coaching stance Information and ideas for building respectful, trusting relationships that evolve into mutual learning partnerships You can set in motion ripples of positive change that extend to teachers and, ultimately, to young children and their families.

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Learning to Work Cooperatively and Respectfully with Others Democratic life skills are skills that enable all of us—children and adults alike—to be caring, thoughtful members of families, schools, communities, and societies. But these emotional and social skills don’t just happen. Teachers and families support and nudge young children toward them, using guidance techniques that calm and teach. Completely updated and revised, the second edition of this classic resource provides relatable anecdotes and practical strategies for teachers to understand Why building secure relationships with children and families is so important—and eight communication practices to build them How viewing misbehavior as mistaken behavior allows you to focus on helping a child learn better ways to meet their needs When and how to use specific guidance practices to promote children’s healthy personal development and social cooperation How an encouraging learning community helps everyone move toward achieving their potential Whether you’re a veteran teacher or just embarking on your teaching journey, you’ll find what you need in this book to provide young children with a solid foundation for their—and society’s—future.

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Now more than ever, the health and safety of children requires the collaboration of educators, program administrators, healthcare professionals, communities, and families. Understanding children’s health; creating, implementing, and following sound health and safety policies and procedures; and learning to treat and respond to health concerns and emergencies are critical to the success of every early learning program. Developed by pediatric physicians, healthcare providers, and early childhood educators, the fully revised sixth edition of Healthy Young Children focuses on how education and healthcare professionals can work with children and families to promote physical and mental health and provide safe and healthy environments. 

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Midwest Book Review calls this book a " seminal and groundbreaking instructional guide [that] is an essential and substantive contribution that should be a part of every professional, school district, college, and academic library Early Child Education and Media Literacy collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists." It's also a Spring 2023 Smart Book winner from the Academics' Choice Awards.Media literacy is about wonder and imagination, questioning and learning, thinking and reflecting! Media Literacy for Young Children: Teaching Beyond the Screen Time Debates is about all these things, and more importantly, it is about how early childhood educators and professionals can prepare children for their digital future. This book is a first-of-its-kind guide for pre-service and currently practicing teachers and child care professionals looking for pedagogically sound and developmentally appropriate ways to help today’s children navigate their media-rich world with confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking. Detailed descriptions of media literacy competencies, along with dozens of activities, strategies, and tips designed for children ages 2–7, demonstrate how to integrate foundational skills, knowledge, and dispositions into existing routines as well as experiment with new lessons. By examining media through a literacy lens, this book will show you ways to · Use inquiry and media-making to teach children about media · Plan activities to engage children in meaningful media discussions · Engage with families about the importance of media literacy education for young children · Address media concerns with joy and creativity rather than anxiety or fear . . . and much more!

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How can you support children’s play, which is an essential part of development and learning? Play helps children learn to understand themselves and get along with others; explore their environment; investigate science, math, and literacy; learn about their communities; and much more.Use the articles in this collection that emphasize the importance of play—from infancy through the primary grades—to support and scaffold children’s play and connect play to learning.

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This resource highlights the wonder of infants’ and toddlers’ development, learning, and loving capabilities. The authors describe how very young children eagerly engage with teachers and the environment to gain a sense of self and self-worth; of belonging, relating to others in healthy ways; communicate easily and effectively; act on their ideas; problem-solve; and move successfully. The book describes how teachers support both development and learning with relationship-based interactions and program planning as well as provide young children the protection, affection, and emotional connections they need to thrive. Throughout, the authors address the teacher’s critical role in reflecting, observing, and facilitating learning; working with families; and creating supportive environments and responsive learning opportunities.

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Questions are powerful tools, especially in the classroom. Asking rich, thoughtful questions can spark young children’s natural curiosity and illuminate a whole new world of possibility and insight. But what are “big” questions, and how do they encourage children to think deeply? With this intentional approach—rooted in Bloom’s Taxonomy—teachers working with children ages 3 through 6 will discover how to meet children at their individual developmental levels and stretch their thinking. Featuring contributions from respected names in the field, this bookOffers a foundation for using high-level questions in preschool and kindergarten interest areasProvides tips for getting started and examples of questions at each of the six levels of questioningExplores the use of high-level questions during daily classroom routines and in a variety of contextsRecommends picture books that support the use of high-level questionsIncludes an extensive resource section for teachers and familiesWith the guidance in this book as a cornerstone in your day-to-day teaching practices, learn how to be more intentional in your teaching, scaffold children’s learning, and promote deeper understanding.

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Rituals and traditions have the power to shape classroom routines into times that build meaningful connections and bonds among children, families, and teachers, creating a sense of community and a positive learning environment. This book includes examples and practical information about developing rituals and traditions in your classroom or preschool program.

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How do pre-schoolers learn and develop? What are the best ways to support learning in the early years? This revised edition of The Intentional Teacher guides teachers to balance both child-guided and adult-guided learning experiences that respond to children’s interests and focus on what they need to learn to be successful in school and life.This edition includes: New chapters on science, social studies, and approaches to learning Updated, expanded information on social and emotional development, physical development and health, language and literacy, math, and the creative arts Practical teaching strategies that are illustrated with classroom-based anecdotes Intentional teaching does not happen by chance. This book will help teachers apply their knowledge of children and of content to make thoughtful, intentional use of both child-guided and adult-guided experiences. Co-published with HighScope Press.

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Can you build a sturdy house that is safe from the big, bad wolf?Imagine your dream car. What special features does it have? What can you use to create it?Teaching and learning STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is more accessible than ever before! Children will be inspired, delighted, and challenged as they use everyday materials and STEM concepts to design and build solutions to problems faced by characters in their favorite books. This practical, hands-on resource includes: 25 engineering design challenges appropriate for children ages 3–8 Suggestions for creating a makerspace environment where children can tinker with materials, use tools to make creations, and improve on their ideas A list of 100 picture books that encourage STEM-rich exploration and learning Questions and ideas for expanding children’s understanding of STEM concepts A planning template so you can create your own design challenges Use engaging children’s books together with the guidance and ideas in this book to extend children’s problem-solving skills and creative thinking.

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This book brings together multiple voices from a range of thought leaders in early childhood education to describe both how structural inequities deeply embedded in US society have a negative impact on children’s development and learning and how educators who have a strong understanding of how children's development and learning takes place within a cultural context are equipped to create effective and affirming environments, instructional activities, and assessments. Research indicates that children benefit from highly qualified, reflective teachers who provide developmentally appropriate, culturally relevant, and linguistically responsive experiences and interactions. The book includes recommendations for ways the broader early childhood system, institutions of higher education, and policy can support early childhood educators in meeting their professional and ethical responsibilities to our most vulnerable populations. Also includes concrete examples and approaches classroom teachers can implement to address equity as they plan lessons, select materials, and support children and families. The book expands on key points of NAEYC’s Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education position statement (2019) so that educators, policymakers, and other key stakeholders are knowledgeable, skilled, and equipped to transform the lives of children and their families.

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Case studies provide real-world examples that make for rich discussions and greater learning in educational and professional development settings. Engage with case studies on developmentally appropriate practice to enhance your knowledge and skills. Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) requires a nuanced understanding of child development, individual children, and the social and cultural contexts of children, families, and educators. This casebook presents nearly 50 cases addressing infancy through third grade and across multiple, diverse settings. Written and edited by teacher educators, researchers, classroom teachers, and other early childhood professionals, these cases offer unique opportunities for critical thinking and discussion on practice that supports all children and families. The cases are organized into eight parts that reflect the six guidelines of DAP plus the topics of supporting children with disabilities and supporting dual language learners. Brief overviews of each guideline and the additional topics set the stage for study of the cases. Each case provides an opportunity to Make connections to the fourth edition of Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Think critically about the influence of context on educator, child, and family actions Discuss the effectiveness of the teaching practices and how they might be improved Support your responses with evidence from the DAP position statement and book Explore next steps beyond the case details Apply the learning to your own situation Use this book as a companion to the fourth edition of Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs in higher education coursework, as professional development in programs, or for stand-alone study.

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Learning Stories and Teaching Inquiry Groups is a practical text focused on how ECE practitioners can establish teacher inquiry and reflection groups and integrate the use of learning stories to strengthen their assessment, teaching practices, and knowledge of child development. Drawing on relevant research and the authors’ direct work with teachers, the book focuses on describing ways the authors have adapted the framework of the learning stories approach from New Zealand to specific US educational contexts via examples from several urban and rural ECE contexts. The book provides practical examples of novice through veteran early childhood teachers engaging and collaborating in onsite and cross-site inquiry and reflection with a focus on learning stories. This text will be useful for infant, toddler, and preschool teachers taking courses at the AA, BA, and MA levels, as well as teachers engaged in onsite professional development. This text will help early childhood educators learn to write learning stories as an observational and assessment approach to document young children’s learning experiences and to deepen teachers’ understanding of the role of narrative in linking child development knowledge with effective environmental design, high-quality curricular approaches, and socially and culturally inclusive relationship practices. The text will support early childhood educators’ professional development through easily understood instructions and case study samples of inquiry work with learning stories through community of practice. Educators will learn how linking learning stories with regular, systematic forms of teacher inquiry, documentation, and reflection promotes a new image of children as holistic learners.

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This robust collection of articles from Teaching Young Children offers practical guidance and tips for keeping equity at the forefront of the curriculum and classroom practices. A wide range of diverse voices from the early childhood education field provide insight on various aspects of advancing equity, from supporting family diversity to considering children’s language and culture when planning learning activities. This accessible, concrete guide on hot-button, timely issues helps classroom teachers determine what exactly being equitable means in their everyday context and interactions with children, their families, and colleagues.

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