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Bestseller!

The Developing Brain

Birth to Age Eight

By: Marilee B. Sprenger

Finally, a book for early childhood educators that combines child development and brain research!

Synthesizing information from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and child development, the author offers brain-compatible teaching practices that are linked to NAEYC principles for working with young children. Abundant illustrations and descriptions help explain the basics of brain structure, vocabulary, and research from an early childhood educator's perspective. This reader-friendly guide includes:

Background information on brain development from birth through age two
Scenarios and snapshots of each year from age three through eight
Reproducible developmental checklists
Over 100 brain-based activities for use in classroom or child care settings

Full description

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Product Details

Grade Level: PreK-12
ISBN: 9781412955355
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2008
Page Count: 144
Publication date: August 10, 2013

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Review Copies

Review copies may be requested by individuals planning to purchase 10 or more copies for a team or considering a book for adoption in a higher ed course. To request a review copy, contact sales@corwin.com.

Description

"This tool shows how classrooms can differentiate instruction, spend time on what really matters, and make sure that all children are making progress. I love the practical applications for each age level and what teachers can do to support optimal learning in their classrooms. Fantastic!"
—Stephanie Malin, Elementary Instructional Coach
Beaverton School District, OR

"The author has managed to untangle a very complex topic and make it applicable to everyday learning and teaching. The continuous application of research to learning is a strength of the book. A true gift to a broad band of educators."
—Laura Linde, Literacy Coach
Hoover Elementary School, North Mankato, MN

Finally, a book for early childhood educators that combines child development and brain research!

How can early childhood teachers, administrators, and parents translate discoveries on early brain development into strategies that nurture cognitive growth? Synthesizing information from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and child development, The Developing Brain offers brain-compatible teaching practices that are linked to NAEYC principles for working with young children.

Best-selling author Marilee Sprenger covers the basic structure, vocabulary, and current research on the brain from an early childhood educator's point of view and provides an abundance of illustrations and descriptions. This user-friendly guide includes:

Background information on brain development from birth through age two
Scenarios and snapshots of each year from age three through eight
Reproducible developmental checklists
Over 100 brain-based activities for classroom or child care settings

Through an understanding of the phases of language, motor, and social development at each age level, educators can create enriching educational experiences that enhance children's growth and foster an enduring love of learning.

Key features

By best-selling author, educator, and former pre-school teacher Marilee Sprenger
Covers the basics of brain structures, vocabulary, and research from the early childhood educator's point of view, with lots of illustrations and teacher-friendly descriptions
Focuses on year-by-year changes in the child's language/reading development, physical/motor development, and social/emotional development.
Each chapter features a collection of developmentally appropriate activities ready for use in classroom or child care settings
Each chapter features a yearly child development checklist as well as a list of possible concerns for the teacher to be aware of at each stage of child development.

Author(s)

Marilee B. Sprenger

Marilee Sprenger is an adjunct professor at Aurora University, where she teaches graduate courses on brain-based teaching, learning and memory, and differentiation. A creative and compassionate educator, she began her career teaching prekindergarten and kindergarten. She has also taught at the elementary, middle, and high school level. As an independent consultant, her passion is brain-based teaching and best practices using brain research and differentiation. She also consults in the areas of learning styles, using music in the classroom, teaming, multiple intelligences, emotional intelligence, and memory. As an educational consultant with Two Rivers Professional Development Center, she worked for the Illinois Regional Offices of Education in the area of staff development associated with learning standards and testing. She speaks internationally, and her interactive and engaging style allows participants to make connections with their classrooms and their students. She is affiliated with the American Academy of Neurology and is constantly updated on current research. Sprenger is the author of several books, including Memory 101 for Educators and Becoming a Wiz at Brain-Based Teaching, Second Edition, published by Corwin Press. She has contributed to textbooks, and her articles have appeared in publications such as Educational Leadership and the ASCD Brain-based Education/Learning Styles Networker. Her dedication to education has won her many awards, but she cherishes most the wonderful students and teachers whose lives have touched hers.

Table of Contents

Preface: You Don't Know Jack!

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Introduction

What Is Best Practice?

Brain-Compatible Teaching Principles

Early Childhood Practices

An Ounce of Prevention

About This Book

1. The Basic Biology of Brain Development

Brain Chemicals

Electroencephalograms

Windows of Opportunity

Experience Dependent and Experience Expectant

First Language

Second Language Learning

Motor Development

Memory Development

Music

Math

Emotion

Thinking About Brain Growth

2. Building the Brain Through Age Two

Brain Development

Language and Reading Development

Physical and Motor Development

Gross Motor Skills

Fine Motor Skills

Social and Emotional Development

Cognitive Development

Developmentally Appropriate Activities From Birth to Age Two

Reading and Language Development

Physical and Motor Development

Cognitive Development

3. The Three-Year-Old Brain

Brain Development

Language and Reading Development

Physical and Motor Development

Social and Emotional Development

Cognitive Development

Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Three-Year-Old Brains

For Language and Reading Development

For Physical and Motor Development

For Social and Emotional Development

For Cognitive Development

Child Development Checklist: Three-Year-Olds

4. The Four-Year-Old Brain

Brain Development

Language and Reading Development

Physical and Motor Development

Social and Emotional Development

Cognitive Development

Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Four-Year-Old Brains

For Language and Reading Development

For Physical and Motor Development

For Social and Emotional Development

For Cognitive Development

Child Development Checklist: Four-Year-Olds

5. The Five-Year-Old Brain

Scenario

Brain Development

Language and Reading Development

Physical and Motor Development

Social and Emotional Development

Cognitive Development

Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Five-Year-Old Brains

For Language and Reading Development

For Physical and Motor Development

For Social and Emotional Development

For Cognitive Development

Child Development Checklist: Five-Year-Olds

6. The Six-Year-Old Brain

Scenario

Brain Development

Language and Reading Development

Physical and Motor Development

Social and Emotional Development

Cognitive Development

Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Six-Year-Old Brains

For Language and Reading Development

For Physical and Motor Development

For Social and Emotional Development

For Cognitive Development

Child Development Checklist: Six-Year-Olds

7. The Seven-Year-Old Brain

Scenario

Brain Development

Language and Reading Development

Physical and Motor Development

Social and Emotional Development

Cognitive Development

Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Seven-Year-Old Brains

For Language and Reading Development

For Physical and Motor Development

For Social and Emotional Development

For Cognitive Development

Child Development Checklist: Seven-Year-Olds

8. The Eight-Year-Old Brain

Brain Development

Language and Reading Development

Physical and Motor Development

Social and Emotional Development

Cognitive Development

Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Eight-Year-Old Brains

For Language and Reading Development

For Physical and Motor Development

For Social and Emotional Development

For Cognitive Development

Child Development Checklist: Eight-Years-Old

Bibliography

Index

Reviews

"I truly enjoyed the book and had trouble putting it down. The developmental checklists at the end of each chapter are awesome! I have pored over them and learned so much about my children, niece, and neighbors. Thanks for providing such a neat way to communicate expectations and guidelines."

Stacey B. Ferguson, Teacher
North Bay Elementary School, Bay St. Louis, MS

"The author has managed to untangle a very complex topic and make it applicable to everyday learning and teaching. The continuous application of research to learning is a strength of the book. A true gift to a broad band of educators."

Laura Linde, Literacy Coach
Hoover Elementary School, North Mankato, MN

"This tool shows how classrooms can differentiate instruction, spend time on what really matters, and make sure that all children are making progress. I love the practical applications for each age level and what teachers can do to support optimal learning in their classrooms. Fantastic!"

Stephanie Malin, Elementary Instructional Coach
Beaverton School District, OR

"The author took difficult information on the brain and synthesized it so that it is reader-friendly and easy to understand. She provided ideas that could easily be implemented in a classroom or at home and identified the curriculum areas for growth."

Gail Underwood, Math Coach
Columbia Public Schools, MO

"Chapters cover the basic research on the brain as it relates to educators and child development issues, pairing this survey with development checklists and over 100 brain-based activities for classroom or child care environments."

California Bookwatch, June 2008
Midwest Book Review

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