It all adds up: Learning early math through play and games: EBSCOhost

It all adds up: Learning early math through play and games: EBSCOhost

The Best Kindergarten You've Ever Seen!

PLAY!
I have never seen anything like this playground / kindergarten classroom.  What a great place for children to grow and learn mentally and physically.  The  architect Takaharu Tezuka, suggested that although the nose level is high, children in this center show great concentration.  Every child seemed to be engaged and happy.

How will these kindergartner's learning be affected by not having walls (boundaries), desk and chairs, or traditional playground equipment?  

Listen:  NPR News Educational Topics 

I love listening to NPR News on my ride to and from work.  NPR as several interesting topics for educators to listen to.  

Every Kid Needs a Champion

This TEDTalk video is a great one to watch during pre-planning.  Prepare to get even more excited and energetic about the new school year!  "Must view!"

Who was the champion in your life?

Positive School Culture 

Although we are studying early childhood in 8851 and most likely working with children in K-5, this video was helpful to me with tips, suggestions, and ideas that I needed for the adolescences, teens, and young adults in my family and neighborhood.  (Fast forward as needed).

How could early childhood educators promote a positive school culture?
What will you do differently after viewing this video?  

Alphabet Knowledge and the Importance of Literacy

I have been challenged by McLachlan & Arrow (2014) after reading their article on Promoting alphabet knowledge and phonological awareness in low socioeconomic child care settings: A quasi experimental study in five New Zealand centers.  The authors raised my level of thinking about my own personal development needs in teaching reading.  McLachlan & Arrow (2014) reiterated what Nuttall (2005) shared as important things for teachers to consider:  “Three main things shape curriculum decision making: teachers’ initial training; their awareness of different curricula and theories; and their conception of their own role” (p. 820). 

As you read through this article, you will be reminded of a few Early Childhood Courses that exclusively taught on the importance of literacy.  Yet, as this article points out, many certified preschool teachers are not properly skilled in the alphabet principle in literacy acquisition, phoneme and phonemic awareness, (McLachlan & Arrow, 2014 p. 821).  This article suggests more time is needed for professional development in order for teachers to teach reading properly.  Are you confident in your ability to teach reading considering its importance in cognitive child development?  List curriculum and personal development training that has helped you to become confident in teaching literacy in primary grades.

McLachlan, C., & Arrow, A. (2014). Promoting alphabet knowledge and phonological awareness in low socioeconomic child care settings: A quasi experimental study in five New Zealand centers. Reading And Writing: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 27(5), 819-839.

Early Childhood Education In 13 Steps

This article touches on the key benefits of Early Childhood Education. If we instill these lessons into children when they're young, children will reap the educational and social rewards as they get older. What do you think about the 13 "benefits" listed in this article?