The second edition of Early Childhood Curriculum provides a comprehensive and lively introduction to curriculum theories, approaches and issues in early childhood settings. Drawing on contemporary research and case studies, the book employs a cultural-historical framework to illustrate a variety of approaches to early childhood education. In this new edition there is an up-to-date coverage of national curriculum documents, including the Early Years Framework and Te Whariki, a glossary of key terms and learning intentions at the beginning of each chapter. There is also an updated companion website at www.cambridge.edu.au/academic/earlychildhood. In each chapter, hypothetical transcripts and real-world examples help bring theory to life. The book explores specific domain areas, including science and mathematics; literacy and language; information and communication technology; the arts; and health and well-being. Early Childhood Curriculum equips pre-service teachers with the practical skills and tools to promote young children's learning. It is an essential resource for pre-service teachers and practitioners alike.

Effective teaching leads to positive student outcomes, and professional development for early childhood teachers is key to improving both. But what exactly do we mean by 2professional development3? What effect does it have on school readiness? Which models and approaches really work? This is the book the early childhood field needs to take the crucial first steps toward definitive answers. Top experts in early childhood education help readers: define professional development; examine research across a range of settings Head Start, public preschools, private programs on professional development and school readiness; consider both the extent and the content of professional development; learn from detailed explorations of promising professional development models; investigate key economic considerations and policy implications; identify areas for further exploration.

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.

Clearly babies come into the world remarkably receptive to its wonders. Their alertness to sights, sounds, and even abstract concepts makes them inquisitive explorersâ€"and learnersâ€"every waking minute. Well before formal schooling begins, children's early experiences lay the foundations for their later social behavior, emotional regulation, and literacy. Yet, for a variety of reasons, far too little attention is given to the quality of these crucial years. Outmoded theories, outdated facts, and undersized budgets all play a part in the uneven quality of early childhood programs throughout our country. What will it take to provide better early education and care for our children between the ages of two and five? Eager to Learn explores this crucial question, synthesizing the newest research findings on how young children learn and the impact of early learning. Key discoveries in how young children learn are reviewed in language accessible to parents as well as educators: findings about the interplay of biology and environment, variations in learning among individuals and children from different social and economic groups, and the importance of health, safety, nutrition and interpersonal warmth to early learning. Perhaps most significant, the book documents how very early in life learning really begins. Valuable conclusions and recommendations are presented in the areas of the teacher-child relationship, the organization and content of curriculum, meeting the needs of those children most at risk of school failure, teacher preparation, assessment of teaching and learning, and more. The book discusses: Evidence for competing theories, models, and approaches in the field and a hard look at some day-to-day practices and activities generally used in preschool. The role of the teacher, the importance of peer interactions, and other relationships in the child's life. Learning needs of minority children, children with disabilities, and other special groups. Approaches to assessing young children's learning for the purposes of policy decisions, diagnosis of educational difficulties, and instructional planning. Preparation and continuing development of teachers. Eager to Learn presents a comprehensive, coherent picture of early childhood learning, along with a clear path toward improving this important stage of life for all children.

This book aims to help policy makers, stakeholders, practitioners, and teachers in psychology and education provide more effective interventions in educational contexts. It responds to disappointment and global concern about the failure to implement psychological and other interventions successfully in real-world contexts. Often interventions, carefully designed and trialed under controlled conditions, prove unpredictable or ineffective in uncontrolled, real-life situations. This book looks at why this is the case and pulls together evidence from a range of sources to create original frameworks and guidelines for effective implementation of interventions.

The burgeoning multidisciplinary field of social and emotional learning (SEL) now has a comprehensive and definitive handbook covering all aspects of research, practice, and policy. The prominent editors and contributors describe state-of-the-art intervention and prevention programs designed to build students' skills for managing emotions, showing concern for others, making responsible decisions, and forming positive relationships. Conceptual and scientific underpinnings of SEL are explored and its relationship to children's and adolescents' academic success and mental health examined. Issues in implementing and assessing SEL programs in diverse educational settings are analyzed in depth, including the roles of school- and district-level leadership, teacher training, and school-family partnerships.

Understanding the Te Whriki Approach is a much-needed source of information for those wishing to extend and consolidate their understanding of the Te Whriki approach, introducing the reader to an innovative bicultural curriculum developed for early childhood services in New Zealand. It will enable the reader to analyse the essential elements of this approach to early childhood and its relationship to quality early years practice. Providing students and practitioners with the relevant information about a key pedagogical influence on high quality early years practice in the United Kingdom, the book explores all areas of the curriculum, emphasising: strong curriculum connections to families and the wider community; a view of teaching and learning that focuses on responsive and reciprocal relationships with people, places and things; a view of curriculum content as cross-disciplinary and multi-modal; the aspirations for children to grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body, and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society; a bicultural framework in which indigenous voices have a central place. Written to support the work of all those in the field of early years education and childcare, this is a vital text for students, early years and childcare practitioners, teachers, early years professionals, children's centre professionals, lecturers, advisory teachers, head teachers and setting managers.

"A highly significant contribution on best practices in the supervision of school psychologists. Essential reading for school psychologists who are new to the role of supervisor and an important source of guidance for experienced supervisors." —Susan Jacob, Professor of School Psychology Central Michigan University "The most comprehensive look at issues facing supervisors of school psychologists today, and a tremendous asset in bringing the field to the next level of competency." —Sharon Gorenstein, School Psychologist Baltimore City Public School System, MD Acquire the values, attitudes, and skills to effectively supervise school psychologists! Skilled and well-trained school psychologists are critical to students′ well-being and academic success. This second and substantially revised edition of Effective Supervision in School Psychology comprehensively addresses the administrative and clinical supervision skills necessary for school psychologists to thrive and offers guidelines for fostering the growth of both new and seasoned professionals. The authors discuss school psychologists′ expanding roles in offering prevention and intervention services, using evidence-based practices, and demonstrating measurable outcomes to help schools meet legal mandates for accountability. This new edition also has an increased focus on system-based delivery, multicultural issues, and clinical supervision. Chapters provide school psychologists, staff developers, and school and district administrators with: Multiple vignettes illustrating the principles presented Tools for assessing supervisor effectiveness, including ready-to-use questionnaires and evaluation forms Methods for evaluating professional growth Sample supervisory dilemmas and reflection questions for individual or group study Effective supervision facilitates the essential ongoing professional development—and enhanced competency—of school psychologists. Based on the most current research, this practical guide helps school leaders meet the needs of new and veteran school psychologists through effective mentoring, clinical supervision, and administrative support.