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ASCD EXPRESS PUBLICATIONS
features
How Preschool Helps Kids Grow
A generation ago, formal early childhood education basically meant kindergarten- and not every child necessarily enrolled. More recently, there have been calls for making prekindergaarten universal in U.S. public schools, as it is in many Euopean nations. What are the benefits of formalized early childhood schooling?
In the modern context of two parents working or single parenthood and especially for poor children in urban areas, how does preschool provide significant advantages that can set up a child for successful adulthood? In the debate over playtime versus school time, what should developmentally appropriate early childhood learning look like, and does the reality of current preschools match that vision?
This issue of ASCD Express, available through this link, looks at the preK policy debate as well as best practices in early childhood teaching and learning that emphasize the social, physical, intellectual, creative, and emotional aspects of the child. This issue features:
The Case for Preschool
Making High-Quality Early Education a Priority
Early Childhood Education Programs: Play
Resources for Early Childhood Learning
The Science of Early Childhood Development and much more.....
Additional Resources:
Hubbard's Cupboard- ideas for preschool and kindergarten that include family involvement, literacy, math, Christian resources, social studies, and other resources.
Starfall- Enrichment for beginning reading for preschool through the Art Gallery, Magic, Music, Poetry, Tongue Twisters etc.
The Perpetual Preschool- Over 12,000 free ideas for parents and educators of young children.
Teach Preschool- Promoting Excellence in Early Children Education. This month (December) it is featuring "Candy Cane Sensory Tubes", with the five senses of Christmas. This site contains a wealth of information, themes, units, and different project ideas - all great for early childhood students.
Here is a link to a blog with amazing sensory table ideas for each month of the year. Just type sensory tubs in the search box at http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com. It will take you to many wonderful of ideas.
More Sensory Ideas:
- Allow the children to tear apart rolls of toilet paper and make snow. When all torn apart, add water and the children can "clump" the "snow" together and make snowballs.
- Put straws and scissors in the sensory table. The kids like the "snap" sound made when cutting the scissors. They also "pop" when cut and kind of fly a bit. When the straws are all cut apart, I save them for use in collages and other art experiences.
- Use Easter grass and plastic eggs - take them apart so the kids have to hunt through the grass to find the matching parts.
- Feathers and warm fuzzies (pom poms) for them to pick up with clothes pins and sort into different containers.
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