Fostering independence in toddler play

http://www.janetlansbury.com/2013/05/stop-entertaining-your-toddler-in-3-steps-2/

Reading in the Brain's Golden years

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4393962?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

What do we mean by readiness?

Success by Six is a nationally recognized organization working to make sure that all six year olds are successful in kindergarten. I find teachers and families have lots of anxiety or fear around the idea of readiness. I found this actual readiness chart immensely reassuring!

Kindergarten Readiness Checklist

NAEYC and Play!

I stumbled upon this page on the NAEYC website with ALL the research on play!

"The single most important activity..."

"The single most important activity for building knowledge for their eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children."

Parents' Guide to Reading and Writing (K-3rd)

Helpful Parents' Guide to Reading and Writing (K-3rd)

The Case for Play in Kindergarten

My mentor was recently at a professional development day at the 92nd St. Y in New York. One of the messages that she shared was the acknowledgement by some leaders in early childhood that we made a mistake when we "allowed" kindergarden to become more like first grade. This report makes a strong case for bringing play back into kindergarten, and we as early childhood professionals should do everything in our power to make that happen!

Crisis in the Kindergarten: Why Children Need to Play in School

Paper by the Alliance for Childhood

Reading by 5. Why?

We are constantly bombarded by messages about readiness and the "pushing down" of curriculum. This article asks "Why?"

Play, Readiness and Getting Into College

We know play is important for brain development. And brain development is important for learning. And that clearly leads to getting into college. So this CNN opinion piece underlines the importance of play for readiness. 

Respect for the Child

I have long loved Magda Gerber's wisdom, and treasure opportunities to reconnect with the essence:

http://amararama.wordpress.com/2013/10/31/a-simple-question-no-answer-found/

In which we discuss behavior management

I recently came across two brilliant blog posts on behavior management.

 One was on why systems based on extrinsic motivation undermine the dignity of all involved: http://missnightmutters.com/2012/08/too-high-a-price.html

The other was on how relationships are the basis of a functional classroom: http://missnightmutters.com/2012/09/behaviour-management-not-systems-but-relationships.html

Talking about Privilege

This article helps me to think about how to talk about privilege with people who are new to the concept. http://everydayfeminism.com/2012/12/how-to-talk-to-someone-about-privilege/

Fact Sheets on EC Health topics

I found these Fact Sheets on EC Health Topics, and thought that it could be useful for family communication.

Why Play is How We Learn

In this blog, I write about play and young children in my classroom.

Using Language to Raise Healthy Whole People

As educators, we teach far more with what we say and do than what we sing at Morning Meeting. http://www.rolereboot.org/life/details/2013-06-when-your-mother-says-shes-fat

"Pink is for Girls, Blue is for Boys"

"When did girls start wearing pink?" 

Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children

I'm currently reading the first edition of the book,

The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children 

by Gloria Ladson-Billings

Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
From Booklist

Although statistics paint a harsh picture of the education of African American children, Ladson-Billings (curriculum and instruction, Univ. of Wisconsin) integrates scholarly research with stories of eight successful teachers in a predominantly African American school district to illustrate that the "dream" of all teachers and parents-academic success for all children-is alive and can be emulated. The presentation of examples from "intellectually rigorous and challenging classrooms" emphasizes the cultural and social aspects of the issues in education as a whole. The author's own experiences as a student and teacher of teachers support the need to make the problems of African American children a central issue in any debate on the American educational system. The in-depth bibliographical notes and the excellent appendixes discussing the methodology and the context of the study should be useful for education students and the libraries serving them.
A.R. Huggins, Memphis State Univ. Libs.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Ladson-Billings writes with three voices: as an African American scholar, a teacher, and a parent and community activist. Among the issues the author addresses in a readable blend of storytelling and scholarship are separatist education and culturally relevant teaching in content, presentation, and presenter. Current successes and future prospects for improving the school experiences of African American students are also addressed. Here is a book filled with pride and questions that should stimulate anyone interested in improving education. Denise Perry Donavin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Learning Stories

Learning Stories are one way of documenting children's learning. They are more personal, and are written from the teacher to the child.
Tom Drummond is one great resource, as are the authors Margaret Carr and Wendy Lee who literally wrote the book on Learning Stories.
This is a handout that I received at a workshop a few years ago:

Why I Love Anti-Bias Education

A while ago I wrote a blog post on anti-bias education and the messages around race that young children receive.
Diversity Everyday: Joy and Learning

The Raising of America: Early Childhood and the Future of Our Nation

As early childhood educators, we know the importance of brain development in the earliest years. This project looks at early childhood in America, and the work we need to do as a nation to invest in our future.
The Raising of America: Early Childhood and the Future of Our Nation

Parent-Infant Resource Guide

Comprehensive listing of resources available to families in Montgomery County:
Parent Infant Resource Guide

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Organizing Principles

On this blog, we will collect resources organized under the topic:
Reggio Emilia
Documentation
Environments
Child Development
Quaker Education
Challenging Behaviors
Diversity
Emergent Curriculum
Teacher Reflections
Assessment
Families