Top play experts discuss topics such as how play reflects and promotes development, how adults can support make-believe and block play, and cultural dimensions of play, and much more. Also includes activities to do with children and personal anecdotes that will help caregivers better understand and support children’s play. From Child Care Exchange.

Bestseller! As educators, we must act with knowledge and purpose to make sure young children acquire the skills and understanding they need to succeed. Planful, intentional teachers keep in mind the key goals for children's learning and development in all domains by creating supportive environments, planning curriculum, and selecting from a variety of teaching strategies those that best promote each child's thinking and skills. The Intentional Teacher considers how and when each type of learning (child-guided, adult-guided, or a combination) is most effective, and what teachers can do to support them. "This is one of the best early childhood books that I have ever read," says Sue Bredekamp, "and I have read a lot of them."

Guiding Children's Behavior is a comprehensive guide to classroom management, emphasizing observation as the best way to determine developmentally appropriate interventions. By following a process for observing children, educators will learn how to see beyond children’s manifest behavior to focus on their motivations, needs, and interests.

Featuring a series of chapters organized by age, from birth through elementary school, this book helps teachers to individualize discipline practices; offers supportive vignettes and a menu of developmentally appropriate strategies that teachers can choose from; includes a training module to help teachers, administrators, and parents work together to create more consistency between home and school; and provides useful forms. From Teachers College Press. 

The kindergarten year is quite unlike preschool and not like first grade, either. What should teaching practice look like for this critical year? K Today offers a vivid picture of kindergarten children, perceptive discussion of the current kindergarten context and policy issues, and clear guidelines for teaching and assessing kindergartners.

Also, for six curriculum domains—language and literacy, math, science, the creative arts, social studies, and physical education—leading experts outline what children should know and be able to do and how effective teachers ensure that learning. For both current and future practitioners, this fresh, engaging resource gets readers thinking and promotes well-informed, thoughtful teaching and leadership at the kindergarten level.