Creating Environments for Learning: Birth to Age Eight » (New Edition)

Julie Bullard is a professor and director of the Early Childhood Education program at the University of Montana-Western.  During her thirty years in the early childhood field she has been a preschool and elementary teacher, child care director, Head Start administrator, and a teacher of adults receiving CDA’s, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees in early childhood.  Julie has had a passion for the importance of the early learning environment since completing coursework in architecture over thirty years ago.  She also has a special interest in curricular standards and is involved on several state and national committees to develop and implement high standards using play-based curriculum.  She is active on the National Association for Young Children (NAEYC) professional development panel and is a national reviewer of early childhood higher education programs.  She also serves on an oversight committee for NAEYC/NCATE accreditation.  Julie was recently appointed to serve on an NAEYC committee to revise the national early childhood higher education standards.  She serves on the National Association for Early Childhood Teacher Education (NAECTE) national board and is also on the NCATE  Board of Examiners.  She has been involved in the development of the Montana early childhood knowledge base, infant-toddler guidelines, preschool guidelines, kindergarten standards, and early childhood and elementary higher education standards.   Julie received her doctorate from Montana State University.  

This is a must-have book for any college course or program that wants its teachers to know how to intentionally set up engaging and appropriately challenging early childhood learning environments and to understand the evidence and reasons for why they’re doing it.  Covering each age group in early childhood—and enhanced by colorful, unique photos and the online MyEducationLab with videos, accompanying questions, and exercises to deepen understanding–- this text is a powerful resource for today’s early childhood professionals.  

            Organized by chapters on centers, this text helps pre-service and practicing teachers learn to create, maintain, and enrich indoor and outdoor learning environments to support children’s development from birth to age 8.  A key part of each chapter is the teacher’s role in scaffolding learning in the center.  The book covers foundational information to keep in mind in classroom practice—developmental and learning theories, current research, curriculum standards and outcomes, children’s interests and their motivation to play, children’s diversity, assessment of learning, and evaluation of the environment.  It also contains a wealth of practical ideas and tips, lists of materials, and engaging vignettes and examples from the author’s vast classroom experience.

 

 

 

 

<>CHAPTER 1:  UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ENVIRONMENT                                                                                      

Why is the environment important for children’s learning?                                                                                                      

The environment and developmentally appropriate practice                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Reducing behavioral issues through environmental design                                                                 

Theorists and approaches supporting the importance of the environment                                                                           

Guidelines for creating effective learning environments: Role of the teacher

Sample Application Activities                                                                                                              

 

CHAPTER 2:  ESTABLISHING AN EMOTIONALLY SUPPORTIVE AND EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENT                                            

Circle of Courage: Defining an emotional supportive, equitable environment

Circle of Courage Foundations

The teacher's role in supporting the circle of courage

Sample Application Activities                                                                                                                                                                                                               

CHAPTER 3:  ESTABLISHING A CONTEXT FOR LEARNING: DESIGNING SCHEDULES, TRANSITIONS, GROUPINGS, AND ASSESSMENTS          

Schedules: Structuring Time                                                                                                                                                        

Designing Effective Transitions                                                                                                                      

Planning Successful Groups                                                                                                                      

Assessing and Documenting Children's Learning

Sample Application Activities   

 

CHAPTER 4:  CREATING A HEALTHY, SAFE ENVIRONMENT                                                                                                                

Preventing illness in early childhood settings                                                                                                                          

Safety in early childhood environments                                                                                                       

Designing healthy, aesthetic bathrooms, diaper changing stations, and sleeping areas

Sample Application Activities

 

CHAPTER 5:  ARRANGING AN EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENT                                                                                                                    

 

Guidelines for Creating a Room with Learning Centers                                                                                                           

Guidelines for Developing Effective Room Arrangements and Floor Plans                                                                        
Sample room arrangements

Furniture and Dividers

Storage                                                                                                                                                                                         

Sample Application Activities                                                                                                                                                    

 

CHAPTER 6:  DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS                                                                                                                                                      

Desired design outcomes                                                                                                                                                

Design elements                                                                                                                                                                   

Design palettes                                                                                                                                                               

Special design considerations                                                                                                                                

Sample application activities                                                                                                                                                   

 

CHAPTER 7:  DEVELOPING LITERACY CENTERS                                                                                                                                        

Stages of literacy development                                                                                                                            

How the literacy center enhances children's development                                                            

Designing an effective literacy center                                                                                                              

Special considerations for infants and toddlers                                                                                                                       

Teachers' facilitation of learning in the literacy center                                                  

Literacy in the outdoors                                                                                                                                             

Sample application activities                                                                                                                                    

 

CHAPTER 8: DEVELOPING MANIPULATIVE AND SENSORY CENTERS 

                                                                                             

The manipulative center                                                                                                                                     

Stages of fine motor development                                                                                                                                          

How the manipulative center enhances children’s development                                                                                         

Designing an effective manipulative center

Appropriate materials for the manipulative area

Special considerations for infants and toddlers

Special considerations for older children

Teachers' facilitation of learning in the manipulative center

The sensory center

Designing an effective sensory center

Appropriate materials for the sensory center

Teachers' facilitation of learning in the sensory center

Special challenges in the manipulative and sensory center                                                                                                                                        

Outdoor manipulative and sensory play                                                                                                                                                  

Sample Application Activities                                                                                                                                                    

 

CHAPTER 9: DEVELOPING SCIENCE CENTERS                                                                                                                                            

History of science education                                                                                                                                

Children's development of scientific concepts                                                                                         

How the science center enhances children's development                                                                    

Designing an effective science center                                                                                                             

Science center environments that support children's learning

Special considerations for infants and toddlers                                                                                                                      

Teachers' facilitation of learning in the science center                                                                       

Outdoor science centers
Sample application activities

 

CHAPTER 10: DEVELOPING MATH CENTERS   

                                                                                                                                             

How children learn math                                                                                                                              

How the math center enhances children's development

Designing an effective math center                                                                                                               

Appropriate materials for the math center                                                                                              

Center materials relating to the math standards                                                                                 

Special considerations and materials for infants and toddlers                                                                                               

Teachers' facilitation of learning in the math center                                                  

Outdoor math centers                                                                                                                                              

Sample application activities                                                                                                                         

 

CHAPTER 11:  DEVELOPING BLOCK AND BUILDING CENTERS                                                                                                               

History of Blocks                                                                                                                                                                           

Stages of Block Building                                                                                                                                                             

How the block center enhances children's development                                                                      

Designing an effective block center                                                                                                          

Appropriate materials for the block center

Special considerations for infants and young toddlers

Teachers' facilitation of learning in the block center

Special challenges in the block area                                                                       

Outdoor block and building centers                                                                                                                                        

Sample application activities                                                                                                                                                     

 

CHAPTER 12: DEVELOPING DRAMATIC PLAY CENTERS                                                                                                                         

Development of dramatic play                                                                                                                           

How the dramatic play center enhances children's development

Designing an effective dramatic play center

Special considerations for infants and toddlers                                                                                                                      

Special considerations for school age (K-3) children                                                                                                 

Changes to the dramatic play center                                                                                                               

Prop boxes                                                                                                                                                                                

Teachers' facilitation of learning in the dramatic play center

Special challenges in the dramatic play center

Outdoor dramatic play centers                                                                                                                          

Sample application activities                                                                                                                                  

 

CHAPTER 13:  DEVELOPING ART CENTERS                                                                                                                                                    

Approaches to art

Stages of art in the early childhood years                                                                                             

How the art center enhances children's development

Designing an effective art center

Art goals: Creating and appreciating art

Appropriate activities and materials for creating art                                                                                                                          

Special considerations and materials for infants and toddlers                                                

Appropriate materials and activities for appreciating art

Teachers' facilitation of learning in the art center

Special challenges in the art area                                                                                                                       

Outdoor art centers                                                                                                                                                        

Sample application activities                                                                                                                                     

 

CHAPTER 14:  DEVELOPING MUSIC CENTERS 

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Development of music skills                                                                                                                                

How the music center enhances children's development                                                              

Designing the music center                                                                                                                                         

Music standards                                              &