During the second half of the twentieth century, Ann Brown was one of the worlds premier researchers into the cognitive development of young children. Sponsored by the Spencer Foundation, this edited festschrift honors her work and memory by bringing together a collection of original studies that extend many of the theories and themes of

During the second half of the twentieth century, Ann Brown was one of the world's premier researchers into the cognitive development of young children. Sponsored by the Spencer Foundation, this edited festschrift honors her work and memory by bringing together a collection of original studies that extend many of the theories and themes of Brown's earlier work. Most of the contributors are researchers who once worked with Brown.

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.

Provides researchers, practitioners and advisers working in the fields of psychology and education with an overview of research across a broad spectrum of work within the domain of psychology of education. This book focuses on typically developing school-age children, although issues relating to specific learning difficulties are also addressed.

This book provides students and practising teachers with a solid, research-based framework for understanding creative problem solving and its related pedagogy. Practical and accessible, it equips readers with the knowledge and skills to approach their own solutions to the creative problem of teaching for creative problem solving. First providing a firm grounding in the history of problem solving, the nature of a problem, and the history of creativity and its conceptualisation, the book then critically examines current educational practices, such as creativity and problem solving models and common classroom teaching strategies. This is followed by a detailed analysis of key pedagogical ideas important for creative problem solving: creativity and cognition, creative problem solving environments, and self regulated learning. Finally, the ideas debated and developed are drawn together to form a solid foundation for teaching for creative problem solving, and presented in a model called Middle C. Middle C is an evidence-based model of pedagogy for creative problem solving. It comprises 14 elements, each of which is necessary for quality teaching that will provide students with the knowledge, skills, structures and support to express their creative potential. As well as emphasis on the importance of self regulated learning, a new interpretation of Pólya's heuristic is presented.

′Developing Early Literacy presents an interesting range of literacy-related topics which address issues of current importance to early years practice and, in places, question current thinking. There is an excellent balance of theoretical background and case study examples which would make this a relevant and practical text for both students and early years professionals.′ - Mary-Louise Maynes, Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, Bishop Grosseteste University Providing clear guidance on how to develop early literacy, this book offers support with the planning and teaching of this vital aspect of the curriculum using innovative and exciting methods. Linking theory with practice, topics covered include: babies and very early communication the importance of role play corners outdoor learning and literacy how rhyme and repetition help to develop literacy teaching literacy to children who have English as an Additional Language (EAL) literacy and diversity using picture books to develop literacy supporting transitions different approaches to the teaching of phonics and early reading. Each chapter has learning objectives, case studies featuring younger and older children from the Birth to 8 age range, a summary and suggested Further Reading. This text is essential reading for those on Early Childhood Studies, Early Years, Primary PGCE and Early Years teacher education courses. Virginia Bower is Senior Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University.

For the increasing number of diverse young learners, academic and social success can hinge on a teacher's ability to bridge home and school by making emotional connections with students and their families. This book demonstrates how combining teaching methods with an authentic appreciation of children's backgrounds builds the confidence young learners need to succeed.

What is science for a child? How do children learn about science and how to do science? Drawing on a vast array of work from neuroscience to classroom observation, Taking Science to School provides a comprehensive picture of what we know about teaching and learning science from kindergarten through eighth grade. By looking at a broad range of questions, this book provides a basic foundation for guiding science teaching and supporting students in their learning. Taking Science to School answers such questions as: When do children begin to learn about science? Are there critical stages in a child's development of such scientific concepts as mass or animate objects? What role does nonschool learning play in children's knowledge of science? How can science education capitalize on children's natural curiosity? What are the best tasks for books, lectures, and hands-on learning? How can teachers be taught to teach science? The book also provides a detailed examination of how we know what we know about children's learning of scienceâ€"about the role of research and evidence. This book will be an essential resource for everyone involved in K-8 science educationâ€"teachers, principals, boards of education, teacher education providers and accreditors, education researchers, federal education agencies, and state and federal policy makers. It will also be a useful guide for parents and others interested in how children learn.

“This excellent book promises much and delivers a whole lot more. It provides a description of the practicalities of combining evidence from a variety of data collection modes in order to enrich our responses to educational research questions. This is achieved with thoroughness and clarity and even some wit. There are outstanding teaching materials here…. This is the best book on educational research methods published in this country for decades.” Professor Charles Desforges, University of Exeter "In this timely and important contribution, Stephen Gorard and Chris Taylor help us move beyond the wasteful schism of 'qualitative versus quantitative' research by offering sound basic theorising and extensive practical illustration of the combining of research methods... I see their book as essential reading for anyone concerned for effective educational and social research." Professor Peter Tomlinson, University of Leeds There is growing interest in the possibilities of combining research approaches in education and social sciences, as dissatisfaction mounts with the limitations of traditional mono-method studies and with the schism between quantitative and qualitative methods. This book argues the case for combining multiple research methods, and provides much-needed practical guidance for researchers who want to use this mixed-methods approach. The authors believe that all research has an over-arching logic and that, within this, the fruitful combination of quantitative and qualitative methods is possible. They develop the idea of the ‘new’ education and social researcher, for whom the combination of approaches is a representation of a diverse skills base, rather than a matter of ideological or theoretical allegiance.The book outlines and evaluates methods that are currently used, and looks at combining different methods across and within studies, including complex interventions, Bayesian approaches, new political arithmetic, triangulation, life histories and design studies. It offers a radical, new and very simple way of working with numbers. Drawing on examples across the social sciences, this book is key reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students in Education and social science courses with a research element, as well as academics and professionals undertaking research projects.

Articles within this e-book are focused on the health of children with disabilities. Various frameworks have been used to articulate the dynamic interaction of the individual, environment and the task as it relates to child health. A majority of the contributing authors in this special topic are researchers within the field of adapted physical activity. This field embraces a broad perspective of inclusiveness and attitudes of acceptance.