Practical solutions to practically every problem : the survival guide for early childhood professionals / Steffen Saifer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Saifer, Steffen, 1951- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Education, Preschool--United States--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Education, Preschool.

Preschool teaching--United States--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Preschool teaching.

Preschool teachers--United States--Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Preschool teachers.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xviii, 310 pages)

Edition:

Third edition.

Place of Publication:

St. Paul, MN : Redleaf Press, [2017]

Summary:

Save time and energy with over 800 solutions to 200 common problems faced by early childhood teachers.

Contents:

Intro

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

How to Be the "Pro" in Problem-Solver

Choose the Problems You Like to Solve

Have an Effective Approach to Solving Problems in General

Take Time If You Can

All You Can Do Is Good Enough . . . If You Have the Tools

How Is Criticism Like a Mosquito Bite?

There May Be a Good Reason for Being Unreasonable

Rules Rule

Is There a Solution to Every Problem?

What's New to This Edition?

New Knowledge

Essential Life Skills

Higher-Order Thinking Skills

Brain Development

Praise Effort, Not Ability

Consequences Are Not Effective

The Value of Social Imaginary Play

Cultural Responsiveness

Intentional Teaching

Globalization: New (and Continuing) Inspirations from Europe and Oceania

New Issues, Trends, and Challenges

Preschool Expulsions and Suspensions

Sustainability and Environmental Issues

Technology Everywhere!

The Quantification of Early Childhood Programs

Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS)

The Score: Superficial Skills = 1

Exploration, Understanding, Play = 0

Terminology

New Terms

Clarification of Terms

Part 1: Daily Dilemmas

1. Right from the Start

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Starting the Day

Solving Problems Related to Starting the Day

Children who have a hard time separating from their parents

Children who are fussy at the start of the day

Chaos: Too much going on at once

2. Circle Time and Group Time: All for One and One for All

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Circle and Group Times

Solving Problems Related to Circle and Group Times

Hitting, arguing, or talking with others

Can't sit still

Interruptions directed to the teacher.

When "show-and-tell" does not go well

3. Work-Play Time: Meaningful Play, Playful Work

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Work-Play Time

Solving Problems Related to Work-Play Time

The child who spends most of his time in one area

The child who spends very little time in any one area

Too loud, too boisterous

Too messy

Unimaginative imaginary play

War, gun, superhero, and violent play

4. Small-Group Time: Small Is Beautiful (and Productive)

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Small-Group Time

Solving Problems Related to Small-Group Time

Not enough staff

Bored or resistant children

5. Mellow Mealtimes: The Cure for Whole-Class Heartburn

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Mealtimes

Solving Problems Related to Mealtimes

The overzealous eater

The messy eater

The picky eater

Unappealing food

Wasted food

Too much noise

Losing silverware in the trash

6. Creative Art: Mess without Stress

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Art Activities

Solving Problems Related to Art Activities

Drippy paint

Paint spills and waste

Gluing

7. Moving Muscles: Safe Fun Outside or in the Gym

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Outside or Gym Play

Solving Problems Related to Outside or Gym Play

Limited or unsafe play equipment

Play areas with hard surfaces

No indoor gym space for when the weather is bad

8. No More Gnarly Naptimes

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Naptimes

Solving Problems Related to Naptimes

Squirmers

Non-nappers

Noisemakers

Socializers

No rewards necessary

9. Technology Center: Keeping the Connection to Creative Play

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Using Technology

Solving Problems Related to Using Technology.

Children who do not use the computer correctly or carefully

Too many users

Children who do not want to use the computer

Pressure to eliminate computers, to have more computers, or to use age-inappropriate software

10. Trouble-Free Transitions: Getting from Here to There without Getting Lost

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Transitions

Solving Problems Related to Transitions

Transition from eating

Transition to outdoor time

Transition from outdoors or from work-play

Clean-up

Transition from nap

Transition to going home

11. Successful Scheduling: A Day in the Life

Half-Day Toddler Program (2.5 to 3.5 years)

Full-Day Toddler Program (2.5 to 3.5 years)

Half-Day Preschool (3.5 to 5.5 years)

Full-Day Preschool (3.5 to 5.5 years)

Half-Day Kindergarten (5.5 to 6.5 years)

Full-Day Kindergarten (5.5 to 6.5 years)

School-Day Kindergarten (5.5 to 6.5 years)

Part 2: Classroom Concerns: In Control but Not Controlling

1. The Environment: Efficient, Effective, and Aesthetic

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to the Physical Environment

Solving Problems Related to the Physical Environment

Small spaces

Not enough storage space

High ceilings and large open spaces

Little money for supplies or equipment

Sharing your classroom, sharing control

2. Curriculum Conundrums

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Curriculum

Solving Problems Related to Curriculum

The curriculum is changing

A prescription for programmed, predetermined curricula

Thinking up thoughtful themes

3. "Of Course I Teach Children to Read": Pressure to Teach Reading and to Teach It Inappropriately

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to the Pressure to Teach Reading Inappropriately

Solving Problems Related to the Pressure to Teach Reading Inappropriately.

4. Testing without Tears . . . Except for the Teacher's

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Testing

Solving Problems Related to Testing

It's not the right test or it's not a good test

The child is not responding to the questions or is becoming stressed or discouraged

The child misinterprets questions or the directions

Sharing test results with parents and others-the good news and the not-such-good news

Pressure to teach to the test

5. Individualizing: Differentiated Instruction Goes to Preschool

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Individualizing

Solving Problems Related to Individualizing

Is it really possible to plan for the whole group, subgroups, and every individual child too?

In spite of careful planning, the activity still does not meet the needs of some children

If children are "out of sorts" much of the day, it may be the schedule

6. Multiage Groups: Multiple Benefits, Many Challenges, Much Satisfaction

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Multiage Groups

Solving Problems Related to Multiage Groups

Issues with the older children

Issues with the younger children

Meeting needs and individualizing across the wide age/developmental range

7. Are We Having Fun Yet?: Facilitating Fiasco-free Field Trips

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Field Trips

Solving Problems Related to Field Trips

The group is overly excited, not following rules, or not listening to directions

No transportation or funds for field trips

8. Toys from Home: Confiscate, Tolerate, or Regulate?

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Toys from Home

Solving Problems Related to Toys from Home

9. Disappearing Dinosaurs, Lost Lego Blocks, Missing Mittens, and Other Mysteries

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Missing Items.

Missing clothes

Missing toys or toy parts

Solving Problems Related to Missing Items

When clothing is missing

When a toy or toy part is missing

10. Accidents and Injuries: Reduce Risks and Offer First-Aid Fast

Anticipating and Preventing Accidents and Injuries

Solving Problems Related to Accidents and Injuries

When a child wants to do or does something dangerous or risky

If a child is injured

If a child eats or drinks something poisonous

11. Emergency and Disaster Preparedness: Prepare for What You Can't Prevent

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Emergencies and Disasters

Solving Problems Related to Emergencies and Disasters

Noisy, disorganized, or slow evacuation drills

12. Children Who Are Ill and Other Health Concerns: Stifle the Sneeze, Cover the Cough, Snuff the Sniffle

Anticipating and Preventing Illnesses

Solving Problems Related to Illnesses

Children who come to school sick or become sick during the day

Children who are extremely allergic

Head lice: A "lousy" problem, but not a health threat

Children with asthma

Children who need to take medication during school hours

Children who are excessively dirty

Children who are overweight or obese

13. Babies, Breasts, Bottoms, and Boundaries: Talking with Children about Bodies, Relationships, and Personal Safety

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Talking about Bodies, Relationships, and Personal Safety

Solving Problems Related to Talking about Bodies, Relationships, and Personal Safety

Inappropriate words

Questions about sex

Mutual exploration

Part 3: Children with Challenges: Abilities, Disabilities, and Vulnerabilities

1. Is the Child Just Immature or Is There Really Something Wrong?

Anticipating and Preventing Problems Related to Identifying Children with Special Needs.

Solving Problems Related to Identifying Children with Special Needs.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on print version record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-60554-513-9

OCLC:

966036912