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Reaching Standards and Beyond in Kindergarten - Book Cover

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Bestseller!

Reaching Standards and Beyond in Kindergarten

Nurturing Children's Sense of Wonder and Joy in Learning

By: Gera Jacobs, Kathy Crowley

Focusing on research-based, developmentally appropriate practices, this book shows teachers how to help young children reach standards through creative play activities that ignite their enthusiasm to learn.

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Product Details

Grade Level: K-1
ISBN: 9781412957250
Published By: Corwin
Year: 2009
Page Count: 168
Publication date: November 14, 2012

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Description

"This book clearly outlines how teachers can make standards the foundation of their practice without leaving behind what the best teachers know about creating challenging and ordered environments that respect the learning needs of young children. Through clear examples and informative vignettes, including how to meet the needs of children with special needs and those learning English, this books helps teachers find the resources to return joyful learning to this critical year of schooling."
—Harriet A. Egertson, Educational Consultant

"A great overview of a developmentally appropriate kindergarten classroom. This book gives me the support I need to know that I am teaching my students through practices based on research."
—Darcy Sammelson, Kindergarten Teacher
Austin School, Vermilion, SD

Help kindergarten students meet national standards in developmentally appropriate ways!

Standards provide an important benchmark for student learning, but meeting them doesn't mean you have to take away fun and creativity. Reaching Standards and Beyond in Kindergarten offers research-based strategies and ideas for addressing content standards in ways that nurture children's natural love of learning.

The authors show how creative play activities can help children reach standards in literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts. They also offer suggestions for promoting healthy physical and social-emotional development. Covering the transition to kindergarten as well as the transition to first grade, this book:

Presents authentic assessments for measuring student progress toward meeting standards
Offers strategies and tips for working with English language learners and children with special needs
Discusses how to develop relationships with caregivers and strengthen the critical home-school connection
Includes sample templates, calendars, book lists, and more

This resource provides novice teachers with field-tested strategies and gives veteran teachers fresh ideas to add to their existing instructional repertoire.

Key features

Draws connections between developmentally appropriate practices and kindergarten content standards
Offers strategies and tips for working with English language learners and children with individual needs
Explains ways to design learning environments that meet the needs of all children in inclusive kindergarten classrooms
Includes authentic assessments for measuring student progress toward meeting standards
Includes a CD with sample templates, calendars, book lists, etc.

Author(s)

Gera Jacobs

Gera Jacobs is a professor of early childhood education and taught kindergarten, preschool, and the elementary grades for many years. She has published articles in a number of national and regional journals and produced a CD-ROM on inclusion for young children with special needs. She has presented at numerous state, regional, and national conferences, and has conducted many inservice presentations for teachers. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Governing Board and served on the NAEYC Affiliate Council. The Carnegie Corporation named her the South Dakota Professor of the Year in 2002. She was chairperson of the South Dakota Early Learning Guidelines Panel, responsible for writing the preschool standards for South Dakota.

Jacobs and her coauthor Kathy Crowley have helped to organize an annual statewide kindergarten academy for many years in South Dakota and have presented at kindergarten institutes in other states. They are the coauthors of Play, Projects, and Preschool Standards: Nurturing Children’s Sense of Wonder and Joy in Learning, published by Corwin Press and winner of a 2008 Teachers’ Choice Award, sponsored by Learning Magazine, and a 2007 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers. Their collaboration began many years ago as team-teachers in a kindergarten classroom.

Kathy Crowley

Kathy Crowley is a kindergarten teacher and has taught kindergarten, preschool, and the elementary grades for many years. She was director of an afterschool program and a member of the South Dakota Early Learning Guidelines Panel. Serving as a teacher leader for a statewide mathematics initiative, she provides training to other teachers on innovative math strategies. An active member of several professional organizations, she has presented at numerous state, regional, and national conferences. Crowley served as vice president of the South Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children and received the SDAEYC state service award in 2006. Her community named her the Teacher of the Year in 2007.

Crowley and her coauthor Gera Jacobs have helped to organize an annual statewide kindergarten academy for many years in South Dakota and have presented at kindergarten institutes in other states. They are the coauthors of Play, Projects, and Preschool Standards: Nurturing Children’s Sense of Wonder and Joy in Learning, published by Corwin Press and winner of a 2008 Teachers’ Choice Award, sponsored by Learning Magazine and a 2007 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers. Their collaboration began many years ago as team-teachers in a kindergarten classroom.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

1. The Importance of the Kindergarten Year: Getting Off to a Good Start

Reaching Standards in Kindergarten and the Power of Play

Ready for the Children

Transition to Kindergarten and Forming Partnerships With Families

Strengthening Relationships

Meeting the Needs of All Children

Supporting Children Learning English as a New Language

Working With Children's Individual Needs

2. Designing the Kindergarten Environment

Creating a Welcoming Environment

Kindergarten Room Design

Designing Interest Areas That Invite Learning

Managing Interest Areas

The Social Environment

Scheduling to Make the Most of Our Time Together

Supporting Children Learning English as a New Language

Working With Children's Individual Needs

3. Addressing Standards Through Engaging Studies and Authentic Assessment

Engaging Studies and Projects

Assessing Children's Progress Toward Reaching Standards

Supporting Children Learning English as a New Language

Working With Children's Individual Needs

4. Nurturing Children's Sense of Wonder Through Science

Designing the Environment to Promote Science Inquiry

Addressing Standards and Developing Science Concepts Through Engaging Studies and Experiences

Supporting Children Learning English as a New Language

Working With Children's Individual Needs

5. Fostering Involved Citizens Through Social Studies

Designing the Environment for Our Future World Citizens

Addressing Standards and Developing Social Studies Concepts Through Engaging Studies and Experiences

Supporting Children Learning English as a New Language

Working With Children's Individual Needs

6. Engaging Young Readers and Writers in the Literacy-Rich Kindergarten

Designing a Nurturing Environment for Young Readers and Writers

Addressing Language and Literacy Standards and Goals Through Engaging Studies and Experiences

Discovering More About Learning New Languages

Supporting Children Learning English as a New Language

Working With Children's Individual Needs

7. Motivating Mathematics

Designing the Environment to Promote Mathematical Thinking

Addressing Standards and Developing Mathematical Concepts Through Engaging Studies and Experiences

Supporting Children Learning English as a New Language

Working With Children's Individual Needs

8. Celebrating Creativity Through the Arts

Designing the Environment to Promote Creativity Through the Arts

Addressing Standards in the Arts Through Engaging Studies and Experiences

Supporting Children Learning English as a New Language

Working With Children's Individual Needs

9. Promoting Healthy Physical and Social-Emotional Development

Designing the Environment to Promote Healthy Physical Development

Addressing Standards and Fostering Physical Development Through Engaging Studies and Experiences

Designing the Environment to Promote Positive Approaches to Learning and Social-Emotional Development

Nurturing Positive Approaches to Learning and Social-Emotional Development Through Engaging Studies and Experiences

Supporting Children Learning English as a New Language

Working With Children's Individual Needs

10. Connecting the Dots: Reaching Standards and Beyond

Kindergarten for All Children

The Length of the Kindergarten Day

Supporting the Transition to First Grade

Reaching Beyond the Standards

Resources

Children's Books

Children's Music

Calendar Letter for Families

Calendar Pages for Families

Label Lemur Name Badge

References

Suggested Readings

Index

Reviews

“This book clearly outlines how teachers can make standards the foundation of their practice without leaving behind what the best teachers know about how to create challenging and ordered environments that respect the learning needs of young children. Through clear examples and informative vignettes, including how to meet the needs of children with special needs and those learning English, this books helps teachers find the resources to return joyful learning to this critical year of schooling.”

Harriet A. Egertson, Educational Consultant

“Jacobs and Crowley have developed a valuable resource for kindergarten teachers. Solidly based on developmentally appropriate practices, this volume also ensures that essential curricular standards are met or surpassed. Both novice and veteran educators will enhance their repertoires with unique ideas and approaches shared by these experts.”

Faith Tieszen, Kindergarten Teacher
Austin Elementary School, Vermillion, SD

“This book is full of rich ideas, activities, research-based practices, and strategies to support kindergarten-aged children. Both veteran and new teachers will appreciate and welcome the suggestions offered. You can feel the enthusiasm the authors have for providing young children with high-quality, developmentally appropriate activities. This book is a must-have for every library: new and veteran teachers, school administrators, and those committed to working with young children in a way that supports their ideal development!”

Sue Parrott, Early Childhood Special Education Administrator
Sioux Falls School District, SD

"A great overview of a developmentally appropriate kindergarten classroom. This book gives me the support I need to know that I am teaching my students through practices based on research."

Darcy Sammelson, Kindergarten Teacher
Austin School, Vermilion, SD

“This is a great book for new and experienced early childhood teachers. I’ve found lots of great activities and ideas. This book was created by teachers, with creative ideas used by teachers—it is a real treasure!”

Jacqueline L. Jerke, First-Grade Teacher
Stewart Elementary School, Yankton, SD

“This book contains great, easy-to-do, and easily incorporated ideas for topics that give children real-life experiences, along with ways to include children who have special needs.”

Lucy Vandersnick, Special Education Teacher
Northwest Educational Services Cooperative

“This is a wonderful, well-balanced book with great ideas to implement in a kindergarten classroom. I love the ‘try this’ ideas. The authors make great connections with kindergarten standards and hands-on learning.”

Lacee Mills, Kindergarten Teacher
Liberty Elementary School, Harrisburg, SD

Other Titles in: Teaching Methods & Learning Styles | Learning Styles | Elementary Teaching Methods

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