The primary years are recognised as a distinct period in a child's development with significant consequences for ongoing educational success. During this critical time, formal schooling and the associated activities introduce children to new and extended social roles where they learn to cooperate and collaborate with their peers and adults. Children also begin to develop a sense of themselves and their competence in a range of domains including social, academic, sport and music. This edited collection provides specialist guidance in developing curriculum, pedagogy and assessment to meet the needs of primary years children. The text begins by exploring the unique characteristics of this age group including cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. It considers the expectations of teachers, including ethical and legal issues and guidance on how to develop positive learning spaces and collaborative approaches. There is an exploration of the needs of the child including facilitating transition from the early years and into secondary school. The text then considers the curriculum in depth including language and literacy, mathematics and numeracy, science and technology, health and physical education and the humanities. A focus on some of the key challenges in primary education bring the book to its conclusion, including effectively harnessing digital technology, developing age appropriate pedagogies, practising differentiated learning and effective assessment. Rich with insights from experts in the field and featuring case studies and practical examples throughout, this is a key resource for both pre-service and in-service primary teachers. Other professionals working with primary years students and parents will also benefit from engaging with this book.

This book is intended as a textbook for teacher education in the primary years. Drawing on much recent research into language and literacy, especially Systemic Functional Linguistic theory, it provides basic principles for understanding the teaching of the English language.

How do people become effective teachers? This is the textbook students need to support them on this journey, no matter their training route or whether primary or early years in focus. Through a unique pairing of academic research and teaching expertise, each chapter is collaboratively authored by an academic specialist and an experienced practitioner to provide a realistic and practical view of teaching children from years 3 - 11. The book combines all the major topics, theories and research students need to know, along with up-to-date policy and legislation. Inventive and practical learning aids and carefully crafted online resources will help readers to: Understand: helpful learning aims at the beginning and summaries at the end of every chapter guide students through each topic Apply: Spotlight on Practice features highlight real teaching examples, Putting it into Practice features provide advice on how key concepts can be employed in real life whilst classroom activities on the website provide further ideas for teaching Reflect on key concepts, as well as your own practice and values, through the refection points and author podcasts on the website outlining key issues to stimulate critical thinking Go further with informative annotated further reading at the end of every chapter, links to relevant websites integrated throughout, and carefully selected SAGE journal articles freely available on the website This is an essential textbook for use across all your primary and early years teaching courses - whether students are training to be lower/upper primary school teachers or early years practitioners, including those on undergraduate or postgraduate teacher training courses and employment-based routes.

Many trainee primary teachers are uncertain as to the place and purpose of RE in primary schools. This book is designed to alleviate such fears and give trainees the security and confidence to teach RE effectively. Trainees are encouraged to recognise their own religious position and understand how they handle their own beliefs and commitments in the classroom. In addition, they will learn how to be sensitive to children′s religious viewpoints, allowing children to share their beliefs in a secure and supportive environment. A range of strategies help readers to provide engaging and appropriate RE across the primary age phase.

Practical, useful and informative, this book provides ideas and suggestions on how to interpret and develop the primary science curriculum in an interesting and challenging way. Bringing together creative thinking and principles that still meet National Curriculum requirements, the themes in the book encourage teachers to: teach science with creative curiosity value the unpredictable and unplanned thrive on a multiplicity of creative approaches, viewpoints and conditions be creative with cross-curricular and ICT opportunities reflect on their own practice. For teachers new and old, this book will make teaching and learning science fun by putting creativity and enjoyment firmly back onto the primary agenda.

This textbook focuses on the main areas of teaching young children, covering the 3-7 years age range that spans the early years and primary phases. The majority of chapters are written by both an academic and practitioner, reflecting a genuine theory and practice approach, and this helps the reader to set theoretical discussion in the context of real practice. Key themes explored within the book include: - Play and playfulness in the curriculum - Child development in practice - Literacy development and subject pedagogy - Creativity and outdoor learning Packed full of learning features such as case studies, reflective questions and lesson plans, Teaching Early Years is an essential resource for both students and practitioners, and will enhance your knowledge of how young children think and learn.

Teaching Health and Physical Education in Early Childhood and the Primary Years offers a practical resource for pre-service teachers that covers Health and Physical Education (HPE) in child development from birth to 12 years of age whilst linking to the Early Years Learning Framework and the Australian Curriculum. Practical and engaging, the text examines the importance of HPE for children and how this can be taught effectively in early childhood settings and schools. Covering fundamental movement skills, sports specific skills and game-based pedagogies, the book will have implications for a range of disciplines including the sport sciences, human movement studies, health and education, social policy and physical education. Supported by a range of learning materials such as critical investigations, case studies and videos, Teaching Health and Physical Education in Early Childhood and the Primary Years provides students with the knowledge, and understanding to enhance wellbeing and equip them with the skills to inspire a healthy lifestyle in the children they teach.

Finding Mrs. Warnecke tells the inspiring story of Cindi Rigsbee, a three-time Teacher of the Year, and Barbara Warnecke, the first-grade teacher who had a profound and lasting impact on Cindi's life. Cindi, an insecure child who craved positive attention, started her first-grade year with a teacher who was emotionally abusive and played favorites in the classroom. Two months into the school year, her principal came into the classroom and announced that half the students were being moved to another classroom--a dank, windowless basement room, with a young and inexperienced teacher. This change turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to Cindi. Her new teacher, Mrs. Warnecke, made learning come alive for her students. She went overboard caring for each child, made her classroom "magical," and encouraged students to pursue their dreams. Although Cindi was reluctant to explore her creativity as a student, Mrs. Warnecke encouraged her to read and write poetry, which became a lifelong passion. The two kept in touch for several years but lost track of each other when Mrs. Warnecke moved out of state. Cindi spent many years trying to reconnect so she could thank Mrs. Warnecke for making such a difference in her life, but to no avail. Eventually Cindi became a teacher herself, and thirty years later she has taught more than 2,000 children and been named Teacher of the Year for her home state. She later came to realize that all those years she wasn't really trying to track down Barbara Warnecke, but rather, she was trying to "find Mrs. Warnecke" within herself. In Fall 2008 Cindi and Barbara were reunited on Good Morning America; the show's producers had tracked Barbara down and brought both women on-set for a tearful reunion. Barbara was floored at this attention--she had no idea she could have made such an impact on a former student's life. As Cindi travels around talking with new and veteran educators, she is always approached by audience members who are moved to tears and want to share the story of the "Mrs. Warnecke" in their own lives. Finding Mrs. Warnecke not only tells the story of this teacher who made a lifelong impact on her students, it illustrates the importance of the teacher/student relationship in the classroom, and offers principles for other teachers to follow to make a positive impact in their own classrooms.

Linking the development of reading, writing, speaking and listening, this book offers a distinctive holistic approach to literacy and language acquisition. It emphasizes the value of active, collaborative learning, and includes sections on literacy accross the primary curriculum, new technology and assessment. Each chapter is linked to a component of the National Curriculum Programme and contains points of interest, sources of further information and suggestions for follow-up actvities in the classroom.

Discover new, practical methods for teaching literacy skills in your early childhood classroom. Has teaching early literacy skills become a stumbling block to getting your preschool students kindergarten ready? Break out of the tired “letter of the week” routine and learn how to transform your lessons with fun and effective techniques. Teach Smarter: Literacy Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers will equip teachers to infuse every aspect of their teaching with exciting hands-on literacy teaching methods that engage students and help them build authentic connections with books, so that 100% of their students will have a strong literacy foundation and will be fully prepared for success in kindergarten and beyond. Respected author Vanessa Levin, veteran early childhood educator and author of the “Pre-K Pages” blog, breaks down the research and translates it into realistic, actionable steps you can take to improve your teaching. Features specific examples of teaching techniques and activities that engage students in hands-on, experiential learning during circle time, centers, and small groups. Offers a simple, four-step system for teaching literacy skills, based on the foundational principles of early literacy teaching Demonstrates how to build your confidence in your ability to get 100% of your students ready for kindergarten, long before the end of the school year Understand the problems with traditional literacy teaching and identify gaps in your current teaching practice with this valuable resource.