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.

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.

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.

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.

This book includes full coverage of the content of professional studies modules and goes beyond to support trainees on placements and in their learning on the course.

Presenting a range of exciting activities that support the development of creative English lessons within the existing structures of the Foundation Curriculum and the National Curriculum, this book: is packed full of interactive and creative teaching strategies provides guidance on assessing creative work highlights opportunities for creative literacy activities across the curriculum covers ages 3-11.

It is now widely recognized that learners are more successful when they are active participants in the learning relationship. This book offers a general introduction to primary education and child development, using the learning relationship between teachers and children as its focus. Divided into two parts, the first looks at the child's contribution to the learning relationship, and the second examines that of the teacher.

As primary subjects are increasingly being taught on an interdisciplinary level, Russell Grigg and Sioned Hughes have created an innovative new text, Teaching Primary Humanities. This new text explores current debate, encourages reflection and provides clear guidance on planning, teaching and assessing the humanities from the Early Years to Key Stage 2. Through a blend of theory and real-life examples, Grigg and Hughes demonstrate the contribution that history, geography and religious education can make to enhancing children’s thinking, literacy, numeracy and ICT skills. Whether you are a trainee or a practitioner, this book will develop your knowledge of how young children’s understanding of place, time and community can be fostered through a play-based curriculum. It will also benefit teachers of older children looking to encourage more independent learning in their schools. About the authors: Dr Russell Grigg is Head of the South West Wales Centre of Teacher Education. He is a trained primary inspector for England and Wales. He has written widely in the field of history and primary education including Wales in the Victorian Age and Becoming an Outstanding Primary Teacher. Dr Sioned Hughes is Senior Lecturer in Initial Teacher Training at the South West Wales Centre of Teacher Education. She has published many educational materials, especially in primary geography. Her work on Patagonia was recognised by the Welsh Books Council as the ‘Bestselling Children’s Book’ in 2011.

Flexible, effective and creative primary school teachers require subject knowledge, an understanding of their pupils and how they learn, a range of strategies for managing behaviour and organising environments for learning, and the ability to respond to dynamic classroom situations. This third edition of Learning to Teach in the Primary School is fully updated with reference to the new National Curriculum, and has been revised to provide even more practical advice and guidance to trainee primary teachers. Twenty-two new authors have been involved and connections are now made to Northern Irish, Welsh and Scottish policies. In addition, five new units have been included on: making the most of your placement play and exploration in learning behaviour management special educational needs phonics. With Masters-level reflective tasks and suggestions for research-based further reading, the book provides valuable support to trainee teachers engaged in learning through school-based experience and through reading, discussion and reflections as part of a teacher education course. It provides an accessible and engaging introduction to knowledge about teaching and learning that every student teacher needs to acquire in order to gain qualified teacher status (QTS). This comprehensive textbook is essential reading for all students training to be primary school teachers, including those on undergraduate teacher training courses (BEd, BA with QTS, BSc with QTS), postgraduate teacher training courses (PGCE, SCITT) and employment-based teacher training courses (Schools Direct, Teach First), plus those studying Education Studies. This textbook is supported by a free companion website with additional resources for instructors and students and can be accessed at www.routledge.com/cw/Cremin.