Play, Projects, and Preschool Standards: Nurturing Children's Sense of Wonder and Joy in Learning » (1st Edition)

Kathy Crowley is a kindergarten teacher and has taught preschool, kindergarten, and the elementary grades for many years.  She provided childcare in her home while her children were young and was director of an after-school program. She is a member of several professional organizations and has presented at numerous state and regional conferences. Kathy served as Vice-President of the South Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children, co-chaired the state conference, and received the SDAEYC state service award in 2006. She was a member of the South Dakota Early Learning Guidelines Panel and is serving on the state committee to establish public preschool.

Teachers today are often challenged by and concerned about the expectations in states' early learning standards. They have questions about their appropriateness, implementation, and tendency to overlook the needs of the growing number of children who are second language learners or who have disabilities and developmental delays. In Play, Projects, and Preschool Standards, authors Gera Jacobs and Kathy Crowley tackle these questions (and more!) head-on, providing teachers with plenty of lively, creative ideas to develop children's genuine curiosity while building the skills they'll need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

Foreword   Marilou Hyson     ix
Preface     xi
Acknowledgments     xiii
About the Authors     xv
Addressing Preschool Standards in Developmentally Appropriate Ways     1
Defining the Standards     1
Meeting the Needs of All Children     3
Addressing Standards Through Engaging Experiences and Activities     3
Assessing Progress Toward Meeting the Standards     9
Summary     10
Designing the Environment With the Child in Mind     13
Creating a Welcoming Environment     13
Building Relationships     13
The Power of Choice     16
Arranging the Room for Exploration and Learning     18
Materials for Creating Engaging Interest Areas     18
Scheduling the Day for Play and Learning     21
Summary     22
Developing Positive Approaches to Learning and Social-Emotional Development     25
Developing Curiosity and Eagerness
Initiative and Persistence
Problem Solving and Reflection
Invention and Imagination
Self-Concept and Self-Confidence
Regulating Emotions
Respect and Appreciation of Similarities and Differences
Pro-Social Behaviors and Cooperation
Sample Early Learning Guidelines for Approaches to Learning     26
Sample Early Learning Guidelines for Social-Emotional Development     27
Developing Positive Approaches to Learning and Social-Emotional Development Through Projects     27
Designing the Environment     28
Addressing Standards Through Engaging Experiences and Activities     29
Supporting Children Who Are Bilingual Learners     37
Working With Children's Individual Needs     38
Summary     39
Exploring the World Through Science     41
Science as Inquiry
Physical Science
Life Science
Earth and Space Science
Science and Technology
Science, Environment, and Society
Sample Early Learning Guidelines for Science     42
Exploring the World and Science Through Projects     43
Designing the Environment     43
Addressing Standards Through Engaging Experiences and Activities     44
Supporting Children Who Are Bilingual Learners     54
Working With Children's Individual Needs     55
Summary     55
Learning About Our Community Through Social Studies     57
Families/Cultures
Community/Civics
History/Time
Geography/Places, People, and Environments
Economics
Sample Early Learning Guidelines for Social Studies     58
Learning About Our Community and Social Studies Through Projects      58
Designing the Environment     59
Addressing Standards Through Engaging Experiences and Activities     60
Supporting Children Who Are Bilingual Learners     66
Working With Children's Individual Needs     66
Summary     67
Engaging Children in Meaningful Literacy     69
Reading
Writing
Listening and Phonological Awareness
Speaking/Communicating and Oral Language Development
Learning New Languages
Sample Early Learning Guidelines for Language and Literacy     70
Engaging Children in Meaningful Literacy Through Projects     70
Designing the Environment     71
Addressing Standards Through Engaging Experiences and Activities     73
Supporting Children Who Are Bilingual Learners     85
Working With Children's Individual Needs     86
Summary     87
Making Mathematics Inviting     89
Number Sense and Operations
Shapes/Geometry
Measurement
Data Analysis and Probability
Patterns/Algebra
Sample Early Learning Guidelines for Mathematics     90
Making Mathematics Meaningful Through Projects     91
Designing the Environment     92
Addressing Standards Through Engaging Experiences and Activities     92
Supporting Children Who Are Bilingual Learners      98
Working With Children's Individual Needs     99
Summary     99
Fostering Creativity Through the Arts     101
Visual Arts
Music
Creative Movement
Dramatic Play
Sample Early Learning Guidelines for Creative Arts     102
Fostering Creativity in the Arts Through Projects     103
Designing the Environment     104
Addressing Standards Through Engaging Experiences and Activities     105
Supporting Children Who Are Bilingual Learners     113
Working With Children's Individual Needs     113
Summary     114
Promoting Physical Development and Healthy Lifestyles     117
Gross Motor
Fine Motor
Health and Safety
Sample Early Learning Guidelines for Physical Development and Health     118
Promoting Physical Development and Healthy Lifestyles Through Projects     119
Designing the Environment     119
Addressing Standards Through Engaging Experiences and Activities     122
Supporting Children Who Are Bilingual Learners     127
Working With Children's Individual Needs     128
Summary     129
Putting It All Together     131
Addressing Standards in Developmentally Appropriate Ways     131
Addressing Standards and Benchmarks Through Projects, Studies, and Themes     132
Supporting the Transition to Kindergarten     136
Final Thoughts     137
Resources     139
Signs for Interest Areas     139
Assessing Children's Progress Toward Standards     144
Sample Group Ohservation Tool for Language and Literacy     145
Sample Individual Child Observation Tool for Language and Literacy     147
Children's Books and Music     148
Resources for Teaching Bilingual Learners     150
Assessment Materials     151
Helpful Web Sites     151
References     153
For Further Reading     155
Index     157