Twelve best practices for early childhood education : integrating Reggio and other inspired approaches / Ann Lewin-Benham ; foreword by Howard Gardner.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lewin-Benham, Ann.

Contributor:

James Hosmer Penniman Book Fund.

Series:

Early childhood education series (Teachers College Press)

Early childhood education series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Early childhood education.

Inclusive education.

Educational tests and measurements.

Physical Description:

xiv, 210 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : Teachers College Press, [2011]

Summary:

In her new book, popular author Ann Lewin-Benham draws on her intimate knowledge and experience with the Reggio Approach to present 12 "best practices" inspired not only by Reggio, but also by play-based and Montessori approaches to early child-hood education. These practices are demonstrated, one per chapter, with scenarios from classrooms, dialogues of children and teachers, and work samples showing the outcome of using each practice. Used together, the 12 best practices offer a new framework for early education. Written in the accessible style that her readers appreciate, this book expands on Lewin-Benham's earlier works by showing the foundations for teachers to practice the Reggio Approach in their own settings. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 When Belief Drives Practice 7

Cultural Context of Reggio Emilia 8

Reggio's Unique Beliefs and Features 9

Correlations: Best Practices and the Reggio Approach 12

The Structure Supporting Reggio Practices 16

Conclusion: Using Reggio and Other Best Practices 17

2 Developing Self-Regulation 19

Becoming Self-Regulated 19

The Reggio Approach 21

Montessori's "Normalizing" Method 28

A Scripted Kindergarten 31

Scheduled Early Education 32

The Model Early Learning Center's Techniques 34

Conclusion: Self-Regulation-The Basis for Learning 35

3 Using Documentation to Gain Parents' Trust 36

What Is Documentation? 36

Documentation as a Magnet for Parents 39

A Project Emerges 41

Robust Parent Involvement 47

Panels as Planning for Curriculum 49

Conclusion: Documentation-A System for Listening 51

4 An Open Flow Day 52

Essential Features of an Open Flow Day 52

How Open Flow Looks 60

Moving Toward Open Flow 62

Conclusion: Differently Organized Days 65

5 The Environment Is the Curriculum 66

When Design Fails to Support Children 67

Exemplary Features of Reggio Classrooms 70

Thinking About Design 71

Developing an 'esthetic Sense 74

Designing or Redesigning a Classroom 76

Conclusion: A New Take on Environment 79

6 The Art of Meaning-Full Conversation 80

Defining Conversation 80

Holding Focused Conversations 82

Conversation Punctuates a Project 86

Techniques in the Conversation Tool Kit 90

The Impact of Focused Conversation 94

Conclusion: Conversing Toward Literacy 96

7 Intentional Teaching 97

What Is Intention? 97

Intention in Reggio Teachers 99

Conclusion: The Teacher's Roles in Action 109

8 Materials and Human Development 111

The "Languages" of Materials 111

Materials and Brain Development 116

"Framing" and the Brain's Attention Systems 118

Triggering Visualization and Imagination 120

Conclusion: The Romance of Materials 124

9 Materials and Relationships 125

Why Materials Matter 125

Finding Good Materials 127

Asking Families to Help 134

Materials and Cognition 137

Conclusion: Finding Relationships 140

10 Documentation 141

Walls as Curriculum 142

Documentation of an Experience 144

Walls That Encourage Mindful Activity 146

Documentation at Work 149

Using Documentation Reflectively 152

Conclusion: Walls That Intrigue Parents 153

11 Assessing Children's Progress 154

Evaluation 155

Assessment 157

Authentic Assessment 157

Roadblocks to Authentic Assessment 163

Reconciling Authentic Assessment and Standardized Testing 164

Effectiveness of Authentic Assessment 165

Conclusion: "Proof" Is Not Attainable 167

12 Significant Project Work 169

An MELC Story 169

A Reggio Story 173

The Contrast 179

Conclusion: Bucking Cultural Imperatives 181

13 EXCEL 183

Understanding the Acronym EXCEL 183

Putting EXCEL to Work 187

Using EXCEL to Rate Yourself 195

Conclusion: Best Practices and Significant Work 196.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the James Hosmer Penniman Book Fund.

ISBN:

0807752320

9780807752326

9780807752333

0807752339

OCLC:

702647594

Publisher Number:

99944002633