Helps preschool teachers and SLPs implement a language-focused curriculum to enhance language skills in early childhood through lesson plans, activities, and ideas for the classroom. This book contains chapters about the general philosophy of the program, curriculum structure, and language intervention.
"This is a highly useable guide to align inservice training coursework with the new national standards. The latest thinking on high-quality gifted education is invaluable; I can be sure that I am teaching what my teachers need!" -Christine Nobbe, Gifted Education Specialist Rockwood School District, MO "The great leveler for new and veteran teachers of gifted and talented learners begins with an understanding of the foundation for the field and current best practice. This guide helps professional development specialists bring their programs in line with the same national standards that are being used in teacher candidate preparation programs." -Cindy Sheets, Gifted Facilitator Shawnee Mission School District, KS Reshape the professional development of teachers in gifted education! The ten NAGC, CEC, and TAG knowledge and skills standards represent the best research-based practices in gifted education and identify what teachers of the gifted should know and be able to do. To ensure that students with gifts and talents realize their full potential, it is crucial that gifted education teachers receive ongoing professional development that reflects standards-based practices. This unique resource shows PreK-12 education leaders how to plan and implement inservice training programs or realign existing programs based on the newly approved gifted education standards. Authored by the organizations that developed the standards, this volume features a wealth of helpful material for developing objectives, activities, and assessments of professional development, including four different observation instruments, a sample needs assessment survey, a sample individual professional development plan, a checklist for meeting the knowledge and skills standards, and a CD-ROM with an annotated bibliography of the research base used to develop the standards. Staff developers will be able to: Determine professional development objectives based on standards Understand and assess teacher needs Design and evaluate the effectiveness of activities and onsite programs Implement standards for addressing diversity Using the National Gifted Education Standards for PreK-12 Professional Development is an essential companion for staff developers and administrators faced with the challenge of giving classroom teachers the necessary training to provide exceptional instruction.
Approaches to Language and Literacy in the Early Years
What are the ways in which young children learn to communicate? Collating their extensive experience of language and literacy in the early years, the contributors explore key aspects of this topic, linking practical ideas for early years settings and classrooms to relevant theory and research. This second edition is updated to take into account important developments in research, policy and practice, and now covers the 0-8 age range. It also addresses developments in new media and the impact this has upon literacy in young children, and offers chapters on new areas which have emerged in recent years, such as multimodality, media literacy, creative arts and literacy. Explored in the book are: - the relationship between play and literacy; - the role environmental print has in early literacy development; - the language and literacy development of young bilinguals; - ideas, suggestions and justifications for the use of poetry; - a two-year research project, funded by Creative Partnerships; and - key issues relating to family literacy.
"Ehly's book is vital for any novice early childhood teacher. Her straightforward writing style helps teachers understand developmentally appropriate practices, and the book gives concrete examples on how to implement them in today's accountability-driven educational climate." -Melissa Dubick, ESL Prekindergarten Teacher Austin Independent School District, TX Promote learning every day by aligning your practice with standards-based expectations! Today's kindergarten teachers are expected to provide learning experiences that support the development of the whole child and also be accountable for guiding their students toward mastery of the academic skills and content included in state standards. This valuable new resource shows preservice, novice, and experienced kindergarten teachers how to improve their practices to meet the new expectations and prepare children for success beyond kindergarten. This practical guide brings together the established knowledge base on child development, the current research on standards-based best practices in elementary school settings, and the newest findings on learning. Offering 10 keys to success, such as developing behavioral expectations and establishing partnerships with students and families, this classroom-friendly reference guide includes: Practical tips for implementing the 10 key strategies Lesson plans, templates, forms, glossaries, and other helpful resources Real-world classroom vignettes of master teachers in action Checklists at the end of each chapter The Learning-Centered Kindergarten helps all early childhood educators enhance their classroom practice and foster students' future success.
Taking action for racial equality in the early years - understanding the past, thinking about the present, planning for the future
Jane Lane is an advocate worker for racial equality in the early years. She was formerly the policy director for Early Years Equality (EYE) and an education officer at the Commission for Racial Equality and was largely responsible for writing their publication From Cradle to School: A practical guide to racial equality in early childhood education ......
"Ehly's book is vital for any novice early childhood teacher. Her straightforward writing style helps teachers understand developmentally appropriate practices, and the book gives concrete examples on how to implement them in today's accountability-driven educational climate." -Melissa Dubick, ESL Prekindergarten Teacher Austin Independent School District, TX Promote learning every day by aligning your practice with standards-based expectations! Today's kindergarten teachers are expected to provide learning experiences that support the development of the whole child and also be accountable for guiding their students toward mastery of the academic skills and content included in state standards. This valuable new resource shows preservice, novice, and experienced kindergarten teachers how to improve their practices to meet the new expectations and prepare children for success beyond kindergarten. This practical guide brings together the established knowledge base on child development, the current research on standards-based best practices in elementary school settings, and the newest findings on learning. Offering 10 keys to success, such as developing behavioral expectations and establishing partnerships with students and families, this classroom-friendly reference guide includes: Practical tips for implementing the 10 key strategies Lesson plans, templates, forms, glossaries, and other helpful resources Real-world classroom vignettes of master teachers in action Checklists at the end of each chapter The Learning-Centered Kindergarten helps all early childhood educators enhance their classroom practice and foster students' future success.
"Invites teachers to apply appropriate strategies in classroom environments for young children with special needs, setting the stage for future school success!" -Toby Karten, Author, Inclusion Strategies That Work! "This book helps teachers better understand specific disabilities and intentional support mechanisms that encourage ALL children to learn and grow. It is a resource that I will use for years to come!" -Kim Hughes, Therapeutic Preschool Teacher Project Enlightenment, Wake County Public Schools, NC Research-based techniques to help all children thrive in early childhood settings! More and more frequently, early childhood educators teach children with special needs, yet few have the necessary background knowledge and experiences to meet the challenge of teaching in an inclusive classroom. Creating Inclusive Learning Environments for Young Children gives teachers targeted information, strategies, and activities to address the learning needs of all children, including those at risk. The author provides in-depth information on a variety of disabilities, including autism, vision and hearing loss, communication delays, and sensory integration disorders. Each chapter offers a glossary of terms, a list of suggested resources, and a brief summary of relevant research. Aligned with NAEYC and DEC standards, this engaging and comprehensive resource helps readers: Create appropriate inclusive environments and establish daily schedules Build relationships among peers with and without disabilities Work productively with families, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals Understand Individualized Education Programs and Response to Intervention This handbook gives preschool and kindergarten teachers the tools to support all young learners by building relationships and providing positive classroom experiences.
Helps literacy coaches navigate the choices they face as they develop and fine-tune a coaching program that offers the best fit for a particular school. This book provides guidance on coaching models and how to choose among them; the role of reading assessment in coaching; and, balancing classroom-level, grade-level, and whole-school tasks.
Integrating Vocabulary, Children's Literature, and Think-Alouds to Enhance Literacy
"Israel offers an organized resource for teaching vocabulary and provides word lists, literature connections and extensions, journal prompts, and additional resources for teachers. The book's organization allows a teacher to pick and choose where to start and what to include." -Anita Barnes, Literacy and Math Specialist Second Street School, Frankfort, KY "A valuable resource for teachers who want to increase their students' vocabulary." -Gustava Cooper-Baker, Principal Sanford B. Ladd Elementary School, Kansas City, MO Engage young children with this creative and strategic approach for building early literacy skills! Helping PreK and primary-grade educators improve young students' oral language and build strong reading and writing skills, this practical resource is the ideal tool for planning literacy instruction based on the National Reading Panel's recommendations for vocabulary development. Unique in its thematic approach to developing students' vocabulary, this book provides word lists, literature selections, and teaching strategies for building young learners' vocabulary and comprehension skills. Based on original research conducted by Susan E. Israel and Edward B. Fry, the lists are comprised of words used frequently by children in their writing, as well as additional words to enhance learning. Each thematic chapter offers: Literacy integrations for reading and writing in the classroom Writing prompts to integrate with journal activities Read-aloud suggestions from children's literature Think-alouds to enhance vocabulary Vocabulary Lists and Activities for the PreK-2 Classroom not only fills a gap in the field of reading and writing instruction but also provides a wealth of activities and vocabulary words organized around topics appropriate for primary students.
