Teaching and Learning in the Early Years

This best-selling text book provides a broad-ranging and up-to-date review of thinking and best practice within nursery and infant education. Written around the basic truth that an effective early years curriculum must start with the children, their needs and their potential, the contributors to this classic text acknowledge that learning must have a strong element of fun, wonder and excitement. Fully revised and updated in light of recent changes to the Early Years curriculum, with brand new chapters on assessment, communication, writing, creativity and diversity, the contributors address a range of fundamental issues and principles, including: an analysis of research into how children learn; discussions of issues such as classroom organisation, curriculum management, and assessment; a detailed section on play and language; chapters covering individual curriculum areas, including new chapters on music and PSHE. Each chapter combines a review of important principles with practical and inspiring classroom examples throughout. It is essential reading for all Foundations Stage and KS1 trainee teachers, their tutors and mentors, and serving teachers working in the 3-7 age range who wish to reflect upon and develop their practice.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Introduction: Young Children Learning and Early Years Teaching David Whitebread PART A: Basic Principles and Approaches Chapter 2: ‘Our classroom is like a little cosy house!’: Organising the early years classroom to encourage self-regulated learning David Whitebread with Rebecca Dawkins, Sue Bingham, Harriet Rhodes & Kate Hemming Chapter 3: 'My mum would pay anything for chocolate cake!' Organising the Whole Curriculum: Enterprise Projects in the Early Years Penny Coltman, David Whitebread & Jayne Greenwood Chapter 4: 'When the chicks hatch a man will come and bring them yolk to eat’: Assessment in the early years Amy Arnold Chapter 5: "This is the best day of my life! And I’m not leaving here until it’s time to go home!": The Outdoor Learning Environment Christine Parker PART B: Play & Language Chapter 6: ‘Listen to my idea!’ Communication and Language in the Early Years Nancy Stewart Chapter 7: 'It is only a story, isn't it?' Interactive Story-making in the Early Years Classroom Lesley Hendy Chapter 8: "I can write… on my own!" Writing in the Early Years Helen Bradford Chapter 9: 'What's that dog thinking, Mrs. Bromley?' Picture Books and Learning to Read Helen Bromley PART C: The Wider Curriculum Chapter 10: 'We are passing the smile around' Personal, Social, Health and Emotional Education in the Early Years Sue Bingham Chapter 11: 'How do I do this better?' From Movement Development into Physical Literacy Trish Maude Chapter 12: "I’ve got a song to sing": Creating a Musical Environment for Children in their Early Years Linda Bance Chapter 13: ‘Once there was someone who walked on the sky.’ Creativity in the Early Years Kate Cowan & Miles Berry Chapter 14: 'How many toes has a newt?' Science in the Early Years Penny Coltman Chapter 15: ‘How many shapey ones have you got?’ : Number and Shape in the Early Years Sue Gifford & Penny Coltman Chapter 16: 'But what does it do?' Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the Early Years: An Emergent Approach John Siraj-Blatchford Chapter 17: So what is long ago and where is far away.....? A sense of time and place Jayne Greenwood & Holly Linklater Chapter 18: "Why is she all yellowy Miss?" "Why have you got two mums" "You can’t use the pink - you’re a boy!" : Embracing diversity & difference in the Early Years Natalie Heath PART D: The Way Forward Chapter 19: Whatever Next? Future Trends in Early Years Education Mary Jane Drummond Index