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Bill Laar and Jackie Holderness'Reclaiming the Curriculum examines the nature of a broad-ranging, content-rich primary school curriculum and presents case studies that exemplify how it can be effectively delivered. Many schools believe that the value of their work is undermined by a test-driven agenda that limits the breadth of the education they provide and who can blame them? In Reclaiming the Curriculum Bill and Jackie inspire teachers to escape such narrow confines by unearthing a rich seam of case study examples from schools who are broadening their provision with specialist content that transcends the core curriculum: taking pupils into the realms of exploration and enquiry while also providing for higher attainment in the core subjects. Featuring a variety of exciting initiatives, ranging from the development of an IT-enabled collaborative learning space to the artful application of storytelling across the curriculum, this book will embolden primary schools to identify and enhance their own creative practice and more effectively prepare pupils for the tests of life, not a life of tests. The 18 case studies written by a diverse line-up of contributors including school leaders, teachers and special-ist coaches are sourced from a mixture of different settings and offer detailed descriptions of the initiatives'unique backgrounds: their genesis and inspiration, their underpinning aims and objectives, and the ways in which they were resourced, realised and, eventually, evaluated. At the beginning of each chapter, Bill and Jackie briefly summarise the educa-tional value of each example of curriculum development, the significance of specific aspects and the ways in which they are likely to help maintain full and relevant learning. Each case study then presents the contributors'first-hand perspectives as they: describe in detail the structure that underpins the provision including the number of staff involved and the time and resources allocated; share interesting insights into the level of pupil involvement and, where relevant, the extent of parental and community participation; paint a vivid picture of how the initiatives have been made compatible with their school's wider educational programme; and provide practical guidance, useful links and relevant resources to aid readers'own pursuit of curriculum development. Suitable for primary school teachers and leaders.

Connect nature play, outdoor experiences, and STEM learning for young children with activities, real-life examples, and educator resources. Nurture young children's innate tendencies toward exploration, sensory stimulation, and STEM learning when you connect outdoor learning and STEM curriculum. Discover the developmental benefits of outdoor learning and how the rich diversity of settings and materials of nature gives rise to questions and inquiry for deeper learning.Full of activities, examples, and resources to take the fun of STEM outside, this book will help teachers articulate connections between nature play, outdoor experiences, and STEM learning in young children. Use STEM and nature-based learning to nurture children's curiosity and exploration of the world.Patty Born Selly is an assistant professor of environmental education and STEM at Hamline University. She previously served as the executive director of the National Center for STEM Elementary Education at St. Catherine University. Selly has over twenty years of experience in early childhood education, has written two books, and regularly consults other educators on science and nature education approaches for young children.

Parents have a crucial role in supporting children's learning, development and well-being. The act of forming effective partnerships with families and carers is a key feature of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Achieving this takes time, reflective practice, skill and a solid understanding of the barriers that can impede forming effective working relationships with parents.This guide offers an informed and comprehensive framework for working with parents, drawing on the latest evidence and containing practical advice from practitioners and parents, to support sound partnership practice. Full of examples and activities for training and resources to support practice across a wide range of settings, it focuses on key areas such as: Working with parents of different aged children The development of strategies to support the relationship The barriers to partnership working, including cultural differences and working with hard to reach families Setting up home and setting visits Creating parent-friendly environments Including case studies and questions for reflective practice, this book will be ideal for Early Years students on Foundation Degrees, Childhood Studies Courses and those training to become Early Years teachers as well as Early Years practitioners and managers responsible for staff training.

Play is important for cognitive, emotional, and physical development of children. Use the four components experts have identified for safety: supervision, age-appropriate design, fall-surfacing that contains approved materials, and equipment maintenance.This handbook is what you need to maintain an existing, or to create a new, pleasing, and challenging playground that is safe, but not boring.Heather M. Olsen, EdD, is executive director of the National Program for Playground Safety.Susan D. Hudson, PhD, has been an educator, consultant, and practitioner in the field of leisure, youth, and human services for over thirty-nine years. Donna Thompson, PhD, founded the National Program for Playground Safety.

The research is indisputable. The more involved parents are with their child's education, the more successful that child will be in school. Therefore, finding ways as a teacher to reach out to students and their parents is crucial in improving academic performance.Quick and Easy Ways to Connect With Students and Their Parents, Grades K-8 provides strategies to enrich the classroom environment, motivate students, and improve communication with parents. Supplying numerous sample forms, documents, and letters that teachers can use or adapt for their own purposes, author Diane Mierzwik offers simple, classroom-tested methods for building relationships with students and their parents.Designed for both beginning and experienced teachers, this hands-on guidebook includes information on:• Facilitating constructive parent-teacher conferences• Preparing for Back-to-School nights• Reaching out to uninvolved parents• Talking to parents about troubled students• Motivating even the most difficult students• Using e-mail as a communication tool and other time-saving tipsThe activities, suggestions, and techniques in this book can help any teacher make a substantive impact on the lives of students.

This collection of simple to use and fun activities will jumpstart pupils'understanding of the historical skills of chronology, enquiry, historical inference and knowledge and understanding of people, places and time. History is an effective way to engage pupils in a topic and can act as a fantastic hook for learning. This book will enable you to make history a fundamental part of your classroom, to enhance not only the pupils'historical understanding but also to deepen their understanding in other subjects.Areas covered include:- Egyptians Ancient Greeks and Romans Saxons, Vikings and Normans Stone Age Bronze Age Iron Age Tudors and Stuarts Victorians World War Two Post-War Britain This indispensable classroom resource will celebrate history and give children the opportunity to experience the thrill of finding out about the past. It will be a lifeline to any classroom teacher looking to teach history in a fun and exciting way.

Being taught by a great teacher is one of the great privileges of life. Teach Now! is an exciting new series that opens up the secrets of great teachers and, step-by-step, helps trainees to build the skills and confidence they need to become first-rate classroom practitioners. Teach Now! The Essentials of Teaching provides the fundamental knowledge for becoming a great teacher. Combining a grounded, modern rationale for learning and teaching with highly practical training approaches it covers everything you need to know from preparing for your teaching practice to getting your first job.Harnessing a range of simple, but powerful techniques, the book shows you how you can translate the Teachers'Standards into your own classroom practice and provide the evidence that you have met them. It also demystifies what the best teachers know and do instinctively to create students who want to learn and get a buzz from developing new skills. The book is structured in clear sections which are then divided into short, easy-to-absorb units offering clear, straightforward advice on all aspects of teaching including: why teach? the application and recruitment process for training helping students'achieve good progress planning, differentiation and assessment behaviour management using language effectively in the classroom managing parents'evenings being an effective tutor how to have lunch! With talking points to encourage reflection and a wide range of examples to illustrate practice, Teach Now! The Essentials of Teaching provides expert guidance as you start your exciting and rewarding career as an outstanding teacher.

The characteristics of effective learning – playing and exploring, active learning and creating and thinking critically – underpin young children's learning and development and are central to the revised Early Years Foundation Stage. Practitioners need to be confident of planning, observing and assessing characteristics of effective learners and understand how they support children's learning and development. The book explores what the characteristics of effective learning look like and how practitioners can create opportunities for children to express them. It considers the ways in which they connect with children's natural explorations, play, enjoyement and the environments created by adults. Throughout the focus is on building on children's own interests as practitioners plan for, observe and assess playing and exploring, active learning and creativity and critical thinking.Including encounters from authentic settings and provocative questions for reflective practice, the book covers: children's well-being and motivations creating effective learning possibilities for all children engaging children's interests the role of the adult and environment sustained shared thinking This timely new text aims to help practitioners and students develop their understanding of the charactersitics of effective learning and show them how they can support young children in become effective and motivated learners.

All key issues of research and practice in comprehension instruction are addressed in this highly regarded professional resource and course text. Leading scholars examine the processes that enable students to make meaning from what they read--and how this knowledge can be applied to improve teaching at all grade levels. Best practices for meeting the needs of diverse elementary and secondary students are identified. Essential topics include strategies for comprehending different types of texts, the impact of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), cutting-edge assessment approaches, and the growing importance of digital genres and multimodal literacies. User-friendly features include end-of-chapter discussion questions. New to This Edition •Incorporates the latest research and instructional practices. •Chapters on the CCSS, critical theory, culturally responsive instruction, and response to intervention. •Chapters on teaching fiction and informational texts in the secondary grades. •Expanded coverage of multimodal literacy learning. •Timely topics such as text complexity, close reading, digital literacies, and neuroscience are discussed in multiple chapters.

Dramatic Science is an invaluable tool for any teachers and primary science leaders who have classes of 5 – 10 year olds. It provides the busy professional with a range of tried and tested techniques to use drama as a support and aid to the teaching of science to young children. The techniques within this book offer innovative and creative strategies for teaching a challenging area of the curriculum and broadening teachers'own scientific knowledge and understanding.All the strategies in this book have been shown to work effectively in a range of primary schools. The approaches described offer an inclusive and participatory way to teach science and the authors provide a pedagogical commentary on the ways that teachers have tried the techniques and how they have worked best. Reflective discussion on the strategies will include discussion about how the children have responded to these strategies and how the drama experiences have impacted on their learning.This invaluable resource:- Supports working and thinking scientifically Develops critical and creative thinking Scaffolds creative learning Broadens teachers'scientific knowledge and understanding Enhances children's understanding of science Provides guidance on active and participatory learning Can engage children and teachers at a variety of levels Links science to real life Heightens children's application of science to different situations Develops problem solving and enquiry skills Enhances and extends speaking and listening skills Any teachers wishing to hone their practice to motivate children and improve their science learning and attainment will find this an invaluable resource. It will also be useful for science leaders, specialist teachers and other professionals who are involved in supporting schools to improve the quality of learning in science and other subjects, trainee teachers and NQTs interested in developing creative learning in their classrooms.

Today's students need to know how to locate, comprehend, evaluate, and use online information efficiently and effectively. This widely used teacher guide and course text provides a framework for maximizing students'critical, creative use of the Web in grades 3-8. Research-based strategies for instruction and assessment across the content areas are clearly explained and linked to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). In a large-size format for easy photocopying, the book is packed with graphics, sidebars, lesson plans, and more than 90 reproducible handouts. Purchasers get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials. New to This Edition •Incorporates state-of-the-art research and Web resources. •Chapter on major Web 3.0 developments, such as the rise of social media and mobile devices. •Connections to the CCSS are identified throughout. •Stronger focus on Universal Design for Learning and differentiated instruction. •Larger format facilitates photocopying of the updated reproducible tools.

This stimulating text shows how primary mathematics can be creative, exciting and enjoyable. Offering teachers a dynamic and different perspective, it enables them to see and teach in creative ways that will develop their pupil's mathematical thinking potential. Creative Teaching: Mathematics in the Primary Classroom encourages students, trainees and practicing teachers to envision and develop a classroom where children can take risks, enjoy and experiment with mathematical thinking, and discover and pursue their interests and talents in an imaginative yet purposeful way. This second edition contains key updates to reflect the changes to the primary curriculum and includes: new sections on: specialist teaching, parental engagement and approaches to homework; creative classroom environments; working walls, displays and outdoor settings; links to assessment, speaking, listening and learning theory; use of media, film, news and stories for creative learning; cross-curricula work. Featuring reflective tasks in every chapter, this book will prove essential and inspiring reading for all trainee and practising teachers looking to develop their creative practice.Aimed at primary and early years trainee teachers, NQTs and experienced teachers, this is a timely publication for teachers and schools seeking to broaden their maths curriculum, making it more creative and appealing to young minds.

Young Citizens of the World takes a clear stance: Social studies is about citizenship education that is informed, deliberative, and activist—citizenship not only as a noun, something one studies, but as a verb, something one DOES. Its holistic, multicultural approach is based on this clear curricular and pedagogical purpose. Straightforward, engaging, and highly interactive, the book encourages students (and their teachers) to become informed, think it through, and take action. Each chapter is written as a civic engagement which is teacher-ready for use in elementary classrooms. A set of six teaching strategies that are constructive, inquiry-driven, dramatic, and deliberative bring the curricular framework to life through intensive, integrated meaningful studies of special places, important people, and significant times. Readers are invited to rehearse the projects in their social studies education courses and then to reinterpret them for their classrooms. The projects are supported by important resources for teaching, including supportive children's literature, links to internet sites, and visual sources and by a Companion Website that enhances and extends the text.

Reading for pleasure urgently requires a higher profile to raise attainment and increase children's engagement as self-motivated and socially interactive readers. Building Communities of Engaged Readers highlights the concept of ‘Reading Teachers'who are not only knowledgeable about texts for children, but are aware of their own reading identities and prepared to share their enthusiasm and understanding of what being a reader means. Sharing the processes of reading with young readers is an innovative approach to developing new generations of readers. Examining the interplay between the ‘will and the skill'to read, the book distinctively details a reading for pleasure pedagogy and demonstrates that reader engagement is strongly influenced by relationships between children, teachers, families and communities. Importantly it provides compelling evidence that reciprocal reading communities in school encompass: a shared concept of what it means to be a reader in the 21st century; considerable teacher and child knowledge of children's literature and other texts; pedagogic practices which acknowledge and develop diverse reader identities; spontaneous ‘inside-text talk'on the part of all members; a shift in the focus of control and new social spaces that encourage choice and children's rights as readers. Written by experts in the literacy field and illustrated throughout with examples from the project schools, it is essential reading for all those concerned with improving young people's enjoyment of and attainment in reading.

This trusted teacher resource and widely adopted text presents effective ways to demystify essential reading skills and strategies for K–8 students who are struggling. It has been fully revised to focus on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English language arts. Following a concise introduction to the CCSS and explicit teaching, 30 engaging examples show how to be explicit when teaching each Literature, Informational Text, and Foundational Skills standard. Grounded in authentic reading tasks that teachers can adapt for their classrooms, the examples guide teachers to differentiate instruction, model and scaffold learning, assess student skills, and align reading instruction with Common Core writing standards. New to This Edition •Significantly revised and restructured with a CCSS focus. •The teaching examples are all new or revised. •Provides practical ways to develop'close reading'of text. •Incorporates recent research on authentic tasks and adaptive teaching

Physical Education 5-11 is about lighting or relighting a fire in all those who have the privilege and the responsibility of teaching children physical education in Primary schools today. It is written at a time of great change: a revised Primary curriculum; an increased drive to raise achievement and potentially a narrowing of curricular scope in favour of literacy and numeracy. It is little wonder that teachers are looking for certainty and answers to questions such as:- What do I teach in PE? What do I need to know about children's development? What does good teaching look like in PE? How can I assess such a practical subject effectively? This new and updated edition provides answers to those questions, covers issues in Physical Education and provides a wealth of practical advice on teaching across the stages of the new 2014 curriculum.Drawing upon the author's experiences as a teacher, coach, lecturer and adviser, it delivers a justification for PE as an essential element in the Primary curriculum, imbues a theory into practice approach that provides readers with clarity, instils confidence and offers a licence to teach all practical aspects of PE effectively and creatively underpinned by knowledge of children's development, their learning and the critical professional issues in PE today. This book is the essential companion to inform and inspire students and practising teachers in this most dynamic and exciting of subjects!

Playing and Learning Outdoors shows early years practitioners how to get the very best from outdoor playing and learning for the enjoyment, health and education of all children from ages three to five years.Fully updated to reflect the current status and understandings regarding outdoor provision within early childhood education frameworks, this new edition will allow practitioners to develop rich and stimulating outdoor play provision in Early Years settings and enable them to feel confident to offer wonderful play experiences outdoors. Playing and Learning Outdoors offers practitioners achievable advice and support, based on approaches which are appropriate and effective for young children's all-round well-being and development. This invaluable resource also includes practical advice on: movement and physical play playing with sand, natural materials and water plants, living things and growing construction, creative and imaginative play. This second edition also includes a brand new chapter on ‘Providing experiences beyond the garden walls'which will urge practitioners to harness the huge potential contained in the locality (physical world) and local community (human world) around the early years setting's own boundaries. Filled with advice and support, this lively, inspiring and accessible book will help practitioners to develop a truly practical and enjoyable approach to learning through play outdoors for all children aged from 3 to 7.

Dorothy Heathcote MBE was a unique educator whose practice had a vital influence on the international development of Drama in Education. For more than half a century she inspired generations of teachers and educators all over the world by her original and authentic approach to teaching and learning. This new collection of the essential writings of Dorothy Heathcote traces the development of her practice over her long professional life. It combines the most important and influential articles from the first edition with more recent pieces to show the significant development in Heathcote's thinking and practice. The book reveals the increasing complexity of her engagement with Mantle of the Expert as an approach to the curriculum and revisits earlier themes that are central to her work in such pieces as Productive Tension and Internal Coherence. In everything she writes she is concerned with introducing teachers to the power of drama as a means of activating the curriculum and giving them the insight and understanding to enable them to generate significant learning experiences with their students.Each section is accompanied by an introduction, a summary of key points and an extensive list of resources. Edited by a leading expert in drama education and featuring a Foreword by Gavin Bolton, this new collection of Dorothy Heathcote's work will be welcomed by academics, teachers of drama, and student teachers.

Children deserve to play and learn in safe environments. The earlier children understand safety concepts, the more naturally they will de¬velop the attitudes and respect that lead to lifelong patterns of safe behavior. Support children as they begin to incorporate actions into their lives that make them feel more secure and learn about pedestrian safety, seat belt use, fire and burn prevention, weapons avoidance, poisoning prevention, and tobacco and alcohol awareness.The curriculum includesOverviews of the six safety topicsSuggested interest area materials and supports for creating the learning environmentLearning objectives and vocabulary words to introduce and useSuggestions for evaluating children's understanding of each topicMore than 30 hands-on classroom activitiesFamily information and take-home activitiesThis book is part of the Growing, Growing Strong series, a whole-health curriculum for children age three though kindergarten. Together, the books provide a complete set of activities and resources to help you support children's growth and wellness.

Explore the unique and expansive learning opportunities offered by gardening with childrenGardens are where children's imaginations engage nature, and the result is joyful learning. Gardening helps children develop an appreciation for the natural world and build the foundation for environmental stewardship. This book is packed with information and inspiration to help you immerse children in gardening and outdoor learning experiences—green thumb or a perfect plot of land not required.Learn how a gardening curriculum supports learning and development across all domains. You'll also find heaps of suggestions for planning, planting, and caring for a garden suited to your unique setting, such as container gardens, raised beds, in-ground gardens, gardens grown vertically on a wall or fence, and even rooftop gardens.Cultivate children's wonder and appreciation for nature. This book providesMore than 60 hands-on learning activities for children of all ages to explore plants and garden creaturesVibrant photographs and classroom stories describing showcasing great programs from around the countryNew content reflecting childhood issues and gardening trends that have surfaced in recent years, including concerns that children are becoming alienated from nature, and that childhood obesity is becoming an epidemicResources to help your garden flourish, seed and garden supply lists, information on poisonous plants, and books about gardens and garden creatures

Lesson planning is an essential component of every teacher's practice. It is part of a three-tiered, integrated pedagogy: planning, teaching and evaluation. Drawing on the work of skilful teachers and the latest research, this book provides a rationale for lesson planning as an integral part of a teacher's work. It introduces the key concepts and skills of lesson planning and provides a practical framework for their development.The book helps the reader to make an informed choice about the approaches they use to plan lessons, taking into account their subject area and the requirements of individual learners. Covering all aspects of short, medium and long-term planning, chapters include: Writing Appropriate Learning Objectives and Outcomes Designing and Structuring Engaging Teaching Activities Resourcing the Lesson Assessing Students'Learning Strategies for Personalised Learning Evaluating Your Lesson The book also includes practical and reflective activities to help the reader apply the ideas discussed to their own work and key questions to encourage the development of their skilful pedagogy. This highly practical book is essential reading for trainee and practising teachers.

Amy Buswell and Bruce Lansky's Giggle Poetry Reading Lessons turns struggling readers into happy readers -- For Grades 2-5. Many struggling readers are embarrassed to read aloud. They are often intimidated or bored by texts that conventional programs require them to practice. So, instead of catching up, they fall further behind. Currently 67% of American fourth graders can't read grade-level text. Reading specialist Amy Buswell has spent eight years looking for remediation methods that work.'What is needed,'Buswell explains,'is a program that improves the motivation of struggling readers, because that accounts for 90% of the problem.'Four years ago, Buswell came up with a brainstorm. She knew her best readers enjoyed reading Bruce Lansky's poetry books for pleasure. The more poems they read, the better the reading got. Why not use Lansky's kid-tested poems as texts struggling readers could practice on to improve their reading -- using six research-based strategies: choral reading, echo reading, paired reading, repeated reading, sustained silent reading and'say it like the character'reading. -- This book is the result of that brainstorm and the resulting collaboration between Buswell and Lansky. It gives teachers and parents everything they need to help children improve their reading: -35 kid-tested poems by Bruce Lansky -35 customized reading lessons by Amy Buswell -35 off-the-wall illustrations by Stephen Carpenter -35 sets of zany performance tips by Bruce Lansky -- all of which is designed to make the process of reading improvement more like fun than work. -- What Amy Buswell and Bruce Lansky have created is the most entertaining fluency intervention ever. That's why it is so successful at overcoming negative attitudes to improve reading skills and scores. Ninety-five percent of participating students made significant improvement in their fluency (reading rate). And average reading scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) for Buswell's school raised her school's rating to an A for the first time. In 2011, Buswell's school achieved one of the highest-percentage reading gains in the county. -- There's no reason parents can't get in on the fun, too. Parents will enjoy Lansky's funny poems and Stephen Carpenter's delightful illustrations as much as their children. By reading the poems with their children and encouraging their children to try some of Lansky's entertaining performance tips (by adding gestures, sound effects, props and finding additional readers: be they friends, family or neighbors), they can dramatically speed up their child's reading progress (and have lots of fun in the process.)

This collection of simple to use and fun activities will jumpstart pupils'understanding of the geographical skills of enquiry, outdoor learning, graphicacy and communication. Pupils will develop their knowledge and understanding of people, places and issues through being encouraged to ‘think geographically'about the world they live in. Areas covered include:- Places in my world (personal geography) Continents and oceans of the world Human geography (including population, migration, towns and cities, and recreation) Physical geography( including rivers, forests, coasts and deserts Environment, Sustainable schools and global citizenship All sections include information on some useful knowledge and reference to important key concepts or big ideas in geography that are being developed through the fun activities. Jumpstart! Geography is an indispensable classroom resource that will celebrate geography and give children the opportunity to experience the thrill of finding out about their world. It will be a lifeline to any classroom teacher looking to teach geography in a fun and exciting way.

Fourth grade is ground zero in the fierce debates about education reform in America. It's when kids (well, some of them) make the shift from “learning to read” to “reading to learn,” and tomes have been written about the fourth-grade year by educators, administrators, philosophers, and pundits. Now, in a fascinating and groundbreaking book, Inda Schaenen adds the voices of actual fourth-grade kids to the conversation.Schaenen, a journalist turned educator, spent a year traveling across the state of Missouri, the geographical and spiritual center of the country, visiting fourth-grade classrooms of every description: public, private, urban, rural, religious, charter. Speaking of Fourth Grade looks at how our different approaches to education stack up against one another and chronicles what kids at the heart of our great, democratic education experiment have to say about “What Makes a Good Teacher” and “What Makes a Good Student,” as well as what they think about the Accelerated Reader programs that dominate public school classrooms, high-stakes testing, and the very purpose of school in the first place.A brilliant and original work at the intersection of oral history, sociology, and journalism, Speaking of Fourth Grade offers unique insight into the personal consequences of national education policy. The voices of the children in Speaking of Fourth Grade will stay with readers—parents, teachers, and others—for many years to come.

In this important book for pre- and in-service teachers, early math experts Douglas Clements and Julie Sarama show how'learning trajectories'help diagnose a child's level of mathematical understanding and provide guidance for teaching. By focusing on the inherent delight and curiosity behind young children's mathematical reasoning, learning trajectories ultimately make teaching more joyous. They help teachers understand the varying levels of knowledge exhibited by individual students, which in turn allows them to better meet the learning needs of all children. Using straightforward, no-nonsense language, this book summarizes the current research about how children learn mathematics, and how to build on what children already know to realize more effective teaching. This second edition of Learning and Teaching Early Math remains the definitive, research-based resource to help teachers understand the learning trajectories of early mathematics and become quintessential professionals. Updates to the new edition include: • Explicit connections between Learning Trajectories and the new Common Core State Standards. • New coverage of patterns and patterning. • Incorporation of hundreds of recent research studies.

A recent survey of 200 teachers asking the question ‘spelling is…?'resulted in the following adjectives: ‘difficult', ‘complex', ‘confusing', ‘random', ‘confounding'. Spelling for Life offers lucid, accessible tools which help to reveal that, when explicitly and systematically taught, spelling is scientific, law-abiding and even elegant. It explains that spelling is the manipulation of symbols according to agreed-upon patterns that produce predictable results. Spelling errors also fall into sets of predictable patterns. Success in spelling is not a product of intelligence. Many people struggle to spell due to coping strategies developed in place of explicit instruction. What gives spelling its ‘complex'veneer is the fact that different ways of thinking are required at different levels from word to word. Some words can be spelt as they sound, others have to be visually memorised and some rely on knowledge of core rules about word-structure. A lot of words require more than one strand of knowledge. This book makes clear which strand needs to be applied in different situations. Often pupils who can read and express themselves competently nevertheless find spelling difficult. False assumptions about spelling, such as believing the English language is complex and/or irregular, damage confidence and lead to reluctance to even attempt to spell correctly. Spelling For Life enables teachers and pupils to: learn what the common spelling coping strategies are gain insights into undoing poor spelling habits work together to notice patterns not only in regular spelling, but also in words which on the surface seem to break the spelling rules practise successful spelling strategies, progressing from simple to complex words rapidly and with confidence. Using a synthesis of theory, research and teaching experience, the fascinating nature of English spelling is systematically teased out. The examples and exercises offer an encouraging, accessible way to implement the programme of study and strive to reveal the beauty of spelling. Aided by example lessons, progressive assessments, unique tools and extensive practice lists, this highly acclaimed overview of spelling succeeds in developing critical thinking and confidence when reading and spelling. It can be used in conjunction with any established phonics programme.

Studies suggest that up to half of high school dropouts leave school because their classes are boring or irrelevant to their lives and aspirations. Yet the majority of U.S. schools continue their attempts to engage some 50 million students through conventional methods such as lectures, note-taking, and rote learning, often with dismal results. In Deeper Learning, award-winning education strategist Monica Martinez and education sociologist Dennis McGrath offer a transformative framework for learning that has led to standout results in schools across the country and has the potential to support the development and success of every student.Through examples from eight public schools, the authors chart the path to crafting flexible learning environments that meet the widely varied needs of individual students. They showcase interactive approaches that compel students to learn how to learn and provide an invaluable guide for teachers and communities wondering how their schools will be able to adapt to the Common Core standards and new assessments. Above all, Deeper Learning shows how inspired, engaging education does not have to be the province of elite private schools and how all young people can become creators, collaborators, and critical thinkers.

As schools are being encouraged to develop more flexible and creative approaches to education, Using the Visual Arts for Cross-curricular Teaching and Learning provides practical guidance and ideas on using the visual arts as a starting point for imaginative, effective learning across a wide range of curriculum subjects. Underpinned by established and current educational thinking, it uses real-life examples to explore how this approach has been used successfully by individual class teachers and as whole-school projects. Offering proven strategies supporting the principles of personalized learning, it will help you involve children in devising cross-curricular themes and setting their own lines of enquiry. Supplemented throughout with case studies and ideas for great artworks to get projects started, as well as examples of children's own work, it explores: developing individual pupils'talent and respect for their own and other cultures; using a single painting as a starting point for learning in a range of subjects; finding inspiration for your own cross-curricular projects using the visual arts; underpinning all activities with educational purpose; planning for and assessing progression in learning; discovering and using art resources in your region. The tried and tested strategies in Using the Visual Arts for Cross-curricular Teaching and Learning will give all primary school teachers the confidence to explore the benefits of placing the visual arts at the centre of a creative, appealing curriculum.

More than 100 movement activities for early elementary childrenPhysical education is a critical part of every early childhood curriculum. Children need to move to channel their energies in creative, beneficial ways and to learn habits for lifelong health and fitness. Early Elementary Children Moving & Learning provides more than 100 developmentally appropriate activities that contribute to a well-rounded curriculum in any classroom or program.The book containsAn updated introduction reflecting new research and trends in early childhood health and fitness and information on how movement benefits children's learning and developmentMore than 100 activities that fall under five categories: openers and closers, basic movement, cooperative activities, educational gymnastics, and rhythm and danceExtension ideas and adaptations to use with children who have special needsCurriculum connections for each activity and explanations about how activities are aligned with and meet early learning standards from NAEYC and AAHPERDOriginal music to add joy and energy to the activities

Children develop a sense of security and self-worth by becoming familiar with themselves, their home, and the world around them. Increase children's awareness of their own communities and the ways they can help within their home and environment with this Community and Environment curriculum. It will help children learn about their homes and neighborhoods, safety helpers, health helpers, consumerism, citizenship, and environmental education.The curriculum includesOverviews of the six community and environment topicsSuggested interest area materials and supports for creating the learning environmentLearning objectives and vocabulary words to introduce and useSuggestions for evaluating children's understanding of each topicMore than 30 hands-on classroom activitiesFamily information and take-home activitiesThis book is part of the Growing, Growing Strong series, a whole-health curriculum for children age three though kindergarten. Together, the books provide a complete

More than 75 empowering and healing classroom activitiesChildren living with uncertainty and insecurity often have difficulty focusing on learning. They might demonstrate disrespectful or defiant behaviors, act out, or act with aggression. As an educator, you may provide the only stability in their otherwise turbulent world.Making It Better explains trauma-informed education, an approach that recognizes the impact of traumatic stress on children and its effect on the growing brain, and applies the latest neurological research to teaching methods, disciplinary policies, and interactions to support grieving children.This book responds to the learning and behavioral needs of children who have experienced traumatic events or toxic stress—such as natural disasters, community violence, or abuse or neglect within the child's familial relations—and includes a collection of activities and strategies to help children heal and feel empowered.Distressed children need absolute emotional security and an opportunity to engage in healing activities. With your help, children can begin to build resiliency and find renewed hope for the future.Barbara Oehlberg, MA, is an education and child trauma consultant who has presented for many organizations throughout the country. With a career that has spanned many levels, Barbara has spent more than 30 years making a positive impact on children's lives.

Teaching Spelling: Exploring commonsense strategies and best practices equips teachers with the vital knowledge and skills needed to help their students become proficient writers and spellers.Peter Westwood provides a very clear and concise account of the important skills and processes that underpin accurate spelling, and describes in very practical terms, many evidence-based strategies and methods that teachers can use to help all students become confident, capable and independent spellers. The book also addresses the purposes of various forms of assessment of spelling skills, to guide teaching and planning. Chapters in this accessible and timely text include: the importance of correct spelling visual, auditory and cognitive components of spelling ability general principles for planning instruction proven teaching strategies and methods word study as a teaching approach formal and informal assessment At the end of each chapter the author provides a list of online and print resources, thus enabling readers to extend their knowledge in the various topics. The extensive reference list is also an invaluable source of information on recent research and thinking on the topic of spelling instruction. Teaching Spelling: Exploring commonsense strategies and best practices is an essential resource for all those in teacher education and taking in-service courses.

Taking a broad approach, Beyond Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care relates issues of early childhood to the sociology of childhood, philosophy, ethics, political science and other fields and to an analysis of the world we live in today. It places these issues in a global context and draws on work from Canada, Sweden and Italy, including the world famous nurseries in Reggio Emilia.Working with postmodern ideas, this book questions the search to define and measure quality in the early childhood field and its tendency to reduce philosophical issues of value to purely technical and managerial issues of expert knowledge and measurement.With a brand new Preface to this classic text, the authors argue that there are other ways than the'discourse of quality'for understanding and evaluating early childhood pedagogical work and relate these to alternative ways of understanding early childhood itself and the purposes of early childhood institutions.

Bringing together prominent scholars, this book shows how 21st-century research and theory can inform everyday instructional practices in early childhood classrooms (PreK-3). Coverage includes foundational topics such as alphabet learning, phonological awareness, oral language development, and learning to write, as well as cutting-edge topics such as digital literacy, informational texts, and response to intervention. Every chapter features guiding questions; an overview of ideas and findings on the topic at hand; specific suggestions for improving instruction, assessment, and/or the classroom environment; and an engrossing example of the practices in action.

A year of drama – ready to use schemes at your fingertips. 25 topical schemes of work 100+ drama lessons'This book really will offer some new and exciting ideas for teachers to teach. Even teachers who enjoy their job often complain that they become stale after teaching the same things every year. They look for new ideas that will reignite their enthusiasm. I think this book could offer some sparks'Jo Howells, English Advisor, Warwickshire Educational Development ServiceLooking to engage, enthral and educate your pupils in timely and topical drama- based activities? In need of dynamic and inventive cross-curricular exercises for single lessons, extended units or school assemblies? From the September blues of change, through Great Fires, Guy Fawkes, Antarctic penguins, Rainbow Fish and Chinese Walls to Mandela's mighty day, this book offers a fascinating array of lives to be lived and journey's to be made.Drama Lessons for the Primary School Year will enable teachers to develop their expertise and confidence in order to create active and imaginative schemes of drama for the classroom. It offers a programme of ready-to-run workshops linked to specific dates in the calendar and specific themes into which teachers can readily dip on a regular basis. The first section uncovers the author's own creative processes in generating drama experience and offers it to the reader in a set of simple, practical steps. The rest of the book is a wide-ranging compendium of schemes of work attached to specific calendar dates throughout the school year. These detailed drama lesson plans can be run as ‘one-off'workshops or can be used by teachers as a basis for creating their own drama-led curriculum experiences. The book offers a practical structure to support these new creative planning tasks. This indispensable resource is for all Primary teachers looking for inspiration in developing effective drama sessions, exploring kinaesthetic learning, and developing creative cross-curricular approaches to their teaching.

As the Forest School movement gains popularity among UK educators, teachers are increasingly recognising the benefits of creative outdoor play. But how can busy primary school teachers fit regular, high quality outdoor learning into an already crowded timetable? How can they plan a range of rich, imaginative and creative experiences that build up into full topics? And how can they translate the excitement and engagement that they find out doors into increased enthusiasm and attainment indoors?Learning on Your Doorstep integrates creative outdoor play with curricular attainment, while increasing the challenge, enjoyment and professional development of the teachers using it. The book presents a series of topics which channel the children's outdoor experience into writing outcomes to reflect the current Primary Framework for Literacy. Using child-led, kinaesthetic teaching and learning techniques, each topic helps teacher and class build an imaginary world to explore and includes: Session plan tables to enable teachers to easily access relevant information; collaborative activities, games and drama to stimulate discussion; photo-copiable items such as letters, imaginary maps and animal fact jigsaws; optional classroom follow-up activities and a final writing task; tips on how to prepare and resource each session. Guidance on adapting for different abilities and ages is also given, along with curriculum links and pedagogical rationale, to let primary teachers put creative outdoor play at the centre of the primary teaching timetable. The ideas in this book are suitable for implementation in any school environment, using resources commonly found in the stock cupboard or home. All you will need to add is some preparation and imagination!

Better than Best Practice offers a new way of thinking about classroom practice, professional development, and improving teaching and learning. This companion book and website together offer a selection of rich and realistic video-based case studies, context and narrative, step-by-step guidance through key issues, and commentary and debate from a range of expert contributors. Carefully chosen video clips from primary school literacy lessons show real teachers in a variety of often knotty situations: classroom conversations that take unexpected turns; grappling with assessment; managing disagreements, to name a few. The book explores the educational potential of classroom talk and, in particular, the promise and problems of dialogic pedagogy. With an emphasis on the complexity and ‘messiness'of teaching, Better than Best Practice considers how to learn from observing and discussing practice in order to develop professional judgment. It offers practical advice on how to organise and facilitate video-based professional development in which teachers share their practice with colleagues in order to learn from one another's challenges, problems, dilemmas and breakthroughs. This exciting new resource argues that critical discussions of practice, which highlight dilemmas instead of prescribing solutions, help to develop and support thoughtful, flexible, and insightful practitioners: an approach that is better than best practice.

Write Out of the Classroom is a ground-breaking, highly practical book which provides teachers and creative writing tutors with great ways of tapping into the huge inspirational and educational potential of the richly diverse world beyond the classroom walls.Effective learning occurs when the process feels exciting, inspiring and ‘real', and there is nothing more stimulating and ‘real'than the real world itself. Working with groups in interesting and evocative settings can generate exceptional participant involvement. Well-led ‘locational brainstorming'in such places increases vocabulary and produces an astonishing freshness of observation, ideas, language, plot and metaphor. Teachers commonly notice a quantum leap in writing quality arising from these sessions.Based on the author's extensive experience in developing and leading out-of-classroom ‘intelligent observation'and writing workshops, this unique book steers educators through the subtleties of guiding thoughtful data collection sessions in varied environments; selecting appropriate and motivational places and forms of writing, and running sessions linked to specific creative and factual writing tasks.The book covers the following areas and techniques and how they relate to out-of-classroom work: planning outings and choosing locations; leading language and ideas brainstorm sessions; descriptive poetry inspired by outdoor settings; ‘reflective haikus', cinquains, and minimalist poetry; creating stunning plots and storylines; collective story writing; fictitious diary forms; descriptive travel writing; understanding poetry's mechanics and sound patterns; assisting students with editing. This detailed, practical book also contains examples of remarkable student creative writing produced through these techniques, as well as photocopiable pages which include original examples of specific writing forms to model from, explanatory diagrams, helpful checklists and handy teachers'‘crib sheets'.Write out of the Classroom is the perfect ‘insider's guide'to teaching and inspiring creative writing. It is an essential tool for classroom teachers in both Primary and Secondary schools, creative writing tutors, literacy co-ordinators and PGCE students, as well as leaders in residential centres and forest schools.

In order to learn, kids'need to move! Grounded in best practices and current research, this hands-on resource connects the dots that link brain activity, movement, and early learning. The expert authors unveil the Kinetic Scale: a visual map of the active learning needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and primary graders that fits each child's individual timetable. Teachers, parents, and caregivers will find a wealth of information, actionable tips, and games they can use to support children's healthy development—all presented in a lively, full-color format with demonstrative diagrams and photos. A final section offers easy-to-implement activities geared to the Kinetic Scale.Downloadable digital content includes printable charts, games, and activities from the book plus a PowerPoint presentation for professional development, parent handouts, and bonus activities. An ideal tool for coaches, mentors, and trainers.Introducing the Kinetic Scaleunique framework encompassing all the elements of movement: reflexes, sensory tools (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, balance, and intuition), motor tools (power, coordination, and control), and languagebased on six stages of movement development from birth to age 7: snugglers, squigglers, stompers, scampers, scooters, and skedaddlersdesigned to foster a balanced diet of physical activity that helps each child move, grow, and learn on the child's individual timetable

Are you striving to establish a more creative and imaginative classroom? Are you interested in: the generosity of creativity; creative conjecture; being an advocate for creativity; welcoming the unexpected, the unpredictable and the unconventional; taking risks; learning which leads to new or original thinking which is of value? If so, this completely updated new edition of a classic text will show you how to achieve these ideals.The book is written in a clear and practical way by leading researchers and practitioners, offering help and advice on the planning and implementation of effective creative teaching and learning, and providing examples of best practice through a rigorous theoretical rationale.A hallmark of the book is its exploration of creativity through curriculum subjects. It builds on this in its first and last chapters by addressing key cross-curricular themes that thread their way throughout the book. Throughout there is an emphasis on critical and reflective practice.New to this edition are: three entirely new chapters on drama, music and geography; an update of the introduction to account for advances in creativity research, policy and practice; a new final chapter identifying cross-curricular themes; greater attention to international dimensions and examples. In this second edition the authors are drawn from six universities which between them produce some of the best education research internationally, and some of the best teacher education. The authors also come from leading national and international organisations such as the National Gallery in London and the Geographical Association. Creaivity for the Primary Curriculum is a core text for both training and practicing Primary teachers who wish to maintain high standards when approaching their teaching.

‘I recommend this book to anyone wishing to help children learn. In it you will find some lovely ideas for improving the way we encourage, support and praise all young people.'Professor Carol Dweck, author of Mindset, Stanford University, USA‘James has developed a rare skill for blending arresting anecdotes, hard-edged research and practical advice into a truly compelling narrative.'Professor Barry Hymer, author of the Gifted and Talented Pocket Book, Cumbria University, UKOver the last 20 years James Nottingham has studied how children learn. He has taught every age group in both primary and secondary schools, helped deaf teenagers deal with anger and isolation and even done philosophy with three-year-olds. In this inspiring, humorous, and practical book he shows what you can do to help children of all ages develop into confident, thoughtful and independent learners. Based around the acronym ASK, this book explores attitudes, skills and knowledge to learning – what is required and how to develop these skills more effectively. It shows how to encourage independent thinking and a spirit of inquiry in your children.Highlights include: the dangers of calling our children clever, bright and gifted; the best ways to teach wisdom; how to help children excel in exams; why curiosity did not kill the cat. With a foreword written by John Hattie, Encouraging Learning draws on research from some of the most respected experts on thinking and learning to identify the best ways to help children learn more effectively, efficiently and co-operatively.For everyone living or working with children – particularly teachers, parents, carers and youth workers - this book shows you some of the best ways to enhance children's learning, including how to question, praise, and encourage more effectively.

A much-needed and delightful book. It shows how history can be taught with the meaningful experiences of each child at its centre, making connections between the child, the locality and community, the national and global past and concepts of time. Throughout the authors empower teachers to adopt their philosophy, by showing them how to plan, select resources and strategies and reflect on ideas and case studies. Hilary Cooper, Emeritus professor of history and pedagogy, The University of Cumbria, UK. Bringing History Alive through Local People and Places puts the local environment and community at the heart of history, showing how it can be used as the context for successful history teaching across the primary age range. It considers how to develop children's concepts and skills through local history, how to link local, national and global aspects of history, and helps you develop your own historical knowledge, understanding and confidence in teaching the subject. Practical topics explored include: Investigating children's cultural and geographical roots through fieldwork Finding and visiting local museums, archives and heritage sights Choosing and using resources Using significant people, events and buildings to link with national history Environmental education and sustainable development through local history Understanding the links between history and everyday life Planning and assessing history. Based on the latest research and practice in the field, Bringing History Alive through Local People and Places offers an exciting template of creative ideas and activities to show teachers how they can make history relevant to all children.

This book compares primary education in urban and rural China and India. It focuses on how the sociocultural context including educational policy, educators and parents'beliefs, and the conditions under which teaching and learning occur shape classroom pedagogy and determine children's attainment.This in-depth, authentic, comparative analysis of the two largest educational systems in the world is a must-read for scholars interested in the teaching and learning in these two rapidly developing Asian cultures. A common set of questions has been addressed in diverse contexts. The empirical work on which this book is based is most impressive – videotaping of mathematics and language lessons, interviews with parents and educators questionnaires with parents, teachers and children and tests of children's mathematics attainment – and this done in 3 locations in China, 3 in India and 12 schools in total.

Taking a future-oriented approach, this book addresses students’ ways of thinking in STEM-based problem solving. It provides a rich set of chapters that explore how we can advance important thinking skills in STEM education for K-12 students. STEM education is essential to understanding and solving many of the world’s major challenges. However, the kind of interdisciplinary modes of thinking required to tackle such unforeseen problems is lacking in most STEM education delivery. This book examines the various ways of thinking that can be applied to effective STEM-based problem solving across K-12 education. These include design and design-based thinking, systems thinking and modeling, critical thinking, innovative and adaptive thinking, intuition in problem solving, and computational and algorithmic thinking. Across the chapters, the authors’ interdisciplinary perspectives give further depth to understanding how students learn and apply their thinking to solve STEM-based problems. The book also provides guidance on how to assess ways of thinking in STEM education, to ensure educators can recognize students’ progress and development. Bringing together a team of international experts, this book is essential reading for pre-service teachers, teacher educators, and researchers in STEM education.

Taking a future-oriented approach, this book addresses students’ ways of thinking in STEM-based problem solving. It provides a rich set of chapters that explore how we can advance important thinking skills in STEM education for K-12 students. STEM education is essential to understanding and solving many of the world’s major challenges. However, the kind of interdisciplinary modes of thinking required to tackle such unforeseen problems is lacking in most STEM education delivery. This book examines the various ways of thinking that can be applied to effective STEM-based problem solving across K-12 education. These include design and design-based thinking, systems thinking and modeling, critical thinking, innovative and adaptive thinking, intuition in problem solving, and computational and algorithmic thinking. Across the chapters, the authors’ interdisciplinary perspectives give further depth to understanding how students learn and apply their thinking to solve STEM-based problems. The book also provides guidance on how to assess ways of thinking in STEM education, to ensure educators can recognize students’ progress and development. Bringing together a team of international experts, this book is essential reading for pre-service teachers, teacher educators, and researchers in STEM education.