Inspiring Spaces for Young Children
Inspiring Spaces for Young Children

Author: Jessica DeViney

Publisher: Gryphon House Incorporated

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780876593172

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The classroom environment is an essential component for maximizing learning experiences for young children. "Inspiring Spaces for Young Children "invites teachers to enhance children's educational environment in a beautiful way by emphasizing aesthetic environmental qualities that are often overlooked in early childhood classrooms, such as nature, color, furnishings, textures, displays, lighting, and focal points. Step-by-step instructions and lush photographs take educators through the process of transforming ordinary classrooms into creative, beautiful learning spaces, providing children with an environment where they can learn and grow. With easy-to-implement ideas that incorporate nature, children's artwork, and everyday classroom materials, the photographs and ideas in this book promote creativity, learning, and simple beauty.

Early Learning Environments that Work
Early Learning Environments that Work

Author: Rebecca T. Isbell

Publisher: Gryphon House, Inc.

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 196

ISBN-13: 0876592566

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Noting that the early care and education environment is a vital contribution to children's learning, this book examines the early childhood learning environment with the vision of making it a place where young children will be physically, emotionally, esthetically, and intellectually nurtured. The chapters are: (1) "The Power of the Environment and Its Impact on Children"; (2) "Contemporary Childcare Spaces"; (3) "The Teacher's New Role: Designer"; (4) "Principles of Meaningful Environments"; (5) "Aspects of Quality Environments for Children"; (6) "Assessing What You Have"; (7) "Making a Plan That Works for You"; (8) "The Designer's Toolbox"; (9) "Enriching the Environment," including ideas for using displays, planning work and sitting spaces, and growing plants; and (10)"Extending Your Understanding," including classic resources about early childhood environments. Each chapter includes detailed illustrations and photographs to assist teachers in setting up a classroom. The book's 10 appendices include an inventory form, equipment checklist, team inventory, storage ideas, and an anthropometric chart for a child-scaled environment. (Contains 79 references.) (KB)

Creating Inclusive Learning Environments for Young Children
Creating Inclusive Learning Environments for Young Children

Author: Clarissa Willis

Publisher: Corwin Press

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 1412957192

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This accessible, reader-friendly resource provides important information and helpful strategies for preschool and kindergarden teachers in inclusive environments who have little or no training in special education and assisting students with special needs.

Young Children and the Environment
Young Children and the Environment

Author: Julie M. Davis

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 353

ISBN-13: 1107636345

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This is an essential text for students, teachers and practitioners in a range of early childhood education and care settings.

Thinking Critically About Environments for Young Children
Thinking Critically About Environments for Young Children

Author: Lisa P. Kuh

Publisher: Teachers College Press

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 217

ISBN-13: 0807773085

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Using a practice-based focus and a researcher lens, the contributors consider the ways in which environments for children enhance or diminish educational experiences, how social constructs about what is good for children influence environmental design, and what practitioners can do in their own work when creating learning environments for young children. There are copious examples from practice, lessons learned, and illustrations and photographs of key aspects of the environments they discuss. Organized into three parts, this essential text addresses: Aesthetics, politics, and space configurations in school environments for young children. Outdoor spaces, beginning with intentionally designed playscapes, children’s gardens, and spontaneous improvisational play venues. The role of environments outside school, including informal learning environments that promote science knowledge, museum spaces, and virtual environments. “Through rich examples and clear explanations of the historical, political, and aesthetic dimensions of design, [Kuh and her colleagues] help us think critically about environments and provide theoretical and practical tools to support our efforts.” —Benjamin Mardell, professor, Early Childhood Education, Lesley University. “An enlightening book that gives educators new lenses for thinking about and creating the kinds of places that can optimize children’s growth and learning, especially in this era of standardization. Educators need this book!” —Nancy Carlsson-Paige, professor emerita, Lesley University “For everyone who wants to take educational settings beyond minimal standards, this collection is a thoughtful and inspiring guide.” —Louise Chawla, professor, Environmental Design Program, University of Colorado, Boulder

Caring Spaces, Learning Places
Caring Spaces, Learning Places

Author: James T. Greenman

Publisher: Ingram

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 372

ISBN-13:

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"Children deserve to spend their days in well-designed environments that support their needs and stimulate their learning. Adults who spend their days teaching and caring for young children deserve environments that maximize their skills. Caring Spaces, Learning Places is a book of ideas, observations, problems, solutions, examples, resources, photographs, and poetry. Here you will find best of current thinking about children's environments - 360 pages to challenge you, stimulate you, inspire you." - product description.

Inquiry-Based Early Learning Environments
Inquiry-Based Early Learning Environments

Author: Susan Stacey

Publisher: Redleaf Press

Published: 2018-09-18

Total Pages: 245

ISBN-13: 1605545821

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What does it mean to inquire? Grownups would say it means to question, to search for information, or to finding out about a topic of interest. For children in an early childhood classroom, the definition is no different. From the time of their birth, children want to know how the world works and actively seek out information. How educators respond to their quest is what this book is all about. Inquiry-Based Early Learning Environment takes an in-depth look at children’s inquiry. What does inquiry look like in early childhood settings? How does the environment affect children’s inquiries and teachers’ thought processes? Inquiry-Based Early Learning Environment examines inquiry in all its facets, including environments that support relationships, that create a culture of risk-taking in our thinking, that support teachers as well as children, that include families, that use documentation as a way of thinking about our work, and of course, the physical environment and all the objects and spaces within it. Throughout, stories about environments and approaches to inquiry from around the world are included as examples.

Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8
Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2015-07-23

Total Pages: 587

ISBN-13: 0309324882

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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.

Creating a Learning Environment for Babies and Toddlers
Creating a Learning Environment for Babies and Toddlers

Author: Ann Clare

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2012-02-21

Total Pages: 153

ISBN-13: 1446291227

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Shortlisted for the 2012 Nursery World Awards! Understanding the factors that contribute to a positive learning environment is vital for those working with children from birth to 3 years. Using extensive case study material, Ann Clare focuses on the experiences of babies and toddlers in various care settings, and the role adults play in developing creative and supportive environments. The effect on speech and language development is explored, with reference to recent research and initiatives. Information gathered from parents and childcare workers helps provide a deep consideration of parents′ childcare choices. Topics covered include: - the emotional environment - the role of adults in the environment - the physical environment - the creative environment - parents and the environment - observing and questioning This detailed study of current research and literature provides an invaluable source of information for those planning to work with babies and toddlers, as well as experienced childminders wanting to reflect on the care and learning they offer children and families. Ann Clare is an Early Years Foundation Stage Consultant in England.

Early Childhood Playgrounds
Early Childhood Playgrounds

Author: Prue Walsh

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2016-05-05

Total Pages: 130

ISBN-13: 1136186352

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The outdoor play environment has an integral role to play in a child’s learning across the pivotal early childhood years. An outside space that is well designed allows for enriching, stimulating and challenging play experiences that meet children’s ongoing developmental needs. Early Childhood Playgrounds provides a step-by-step guide to planning, designing and creating an outdoor learning environment for young children. Written by an experienced practitioner that has consulted on over 2000 early childhood settings and schools internationally, this book considers all aspects of the outdoor learning environment and provides practical support on: planning procedures and ideas for designs; a wide variety of play within a playground through the inclusion of quiet, open and active play areas; stimulating and challenging play; a natural environment that will provide interest and sustainability; spaces for toddlers and babies; playground needs for children with additional needs. This book will be fascinating reading for those studying early childhood and practitioners looking into the ways and means of setting up, improving or expanding their outdoor play facilities. It is also geared towards other disciplines, making it an essential guide for architects and planning professionals wanting to gain a greater understanding of play and the vital role it takes in meeting children’s needs and development.