In this era of rigorous standards, testing, and overcrowded curricula, many teachers are left wondering how they’re ever going to cover the material. Less Is More in Elementary School offers realistic solutions by providing ways teachers can streamline their curriculum, get the most out of assessment, communicate with families, and engage students in their own learning. This much-needed book will help you meet the demands of the Common Core more efficiently and effectively.

Learn how to engage the diverse families of English learners (ELs) and immigrants with the effective, practical approaches in this book. This must-have resource for teachers and school leaders is packed with fresh ideas geared toward building a partnership between school communities and ELs and immigrant families at school and at home. The book includes information and activities to:Assess current practicesInvestigate family perceptions and expec...

This volume of "Advances in Early Education and Day Care" examines early education from perspectives around the globe. The eight chapters come from a variety of locations including China, Israel, Sweden, Italy, Greece, Zambia, The United States and Canada. These chapters discuss professional development in several contexts, children's understandings and programs for children. This volume should give the reader an idea of the range of work that is being done around the globe. The unique fea...

Play & Culture Studies is a bi-annual, peer-reviewed series published by the Association for the Study of Play. For forty years The Association for the Anthropological Study of Play (TAASP), now The Association for the Study of Play (TASP) has served as the premier professional organization in academia dedicated to interdisciplinary research and theory construction concerning play. During that time TASP has promoted the study of play, forged alliances with various organizations advancing t...

The importance of play for healthy development is undeniable. Aspects of play have been linked to the development of social skills, health and fitness, motivation, curiosity, innovation, imagination, and problem solving. Both theory and research suggest that play of various types is critical for healthy development and that playfulness is an important quality across the life span. However, opportunities to play and quality of play facilities in schools, after-school programs, childcare cen...

It is important that early educators view sensitive topics not as problems, but as subjects that are part of our global society. Early educators need to engage children in conversations in which to consider and share diverse perspectives. Early educators also should examine their own experiences when addressing these serious issues. This volume contains chapters that invite conversations about sensitive issues to help educators, children and families use real-life experiences to construct ...

Some chapters focus on interventions for the child, and others on training for the parents and professionals. The combination of current information and evidence contained in these chapters includes an emphasis on the importance of supporting families with different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and indicates how team support (including families as part of the team) is crucial for these children. Parents of children with special needs may have their own challenges and this may creat...

This being the 20th volume in the series of Advances in Early Education in Day Care, it encourages reflection on previous volumes. Family involvement has been an issue in early education going back to Pestalozzi almost two centuries ago. Although the issue has been discussed in many different ways since then, there are still areas where we have much to learn. This series approached this topic in 1998 with the publication of volume 9 edited by Stuart Reifel, Carl Dunst and Mark Wolery. What...