Betty Bardige

Children at the Center provides a closely observed account of a decade-long effort to reshape the scope, direction, and quality of the Boston Public Schools' early childhood programs. Drawing on multiple perspectives and voices from the field, the authors highlight the reflective, collaborative, inquiry-driven approach undertaken by the program and share lessons learned. Boston Public Schools are recognized for embedding high-quality, public preK programs in their system and achieving exceptional results. In this book, the authors outline the core principles that underlie the district's early childhood programs and explore the role of curriculum, professional development, coaching, and data use in supporting these new initiatives. They show how the Boston Public Schools Department of Early Childhood was able to work with and against the constraints of the current accountability system to create a holistic, child-centered, play-based program that has had a significant impact in narrowing income-based learning gaps. Written in collaboration with the Department of Early Childhood Education, this account of creating successful preK programs in a diverse urban district will provide a valuable resource for practitioners engaged in similar work across the country.

Children at the Center provides a closely observed account of a decade-long effort to reshape the scope, direction, and quality of the Boston Public Schools' early childhood programs. Drawing on multiple perspectives and voices from the field, the authors highlight the reflective, collaborative, inquiry-driven approach undertaken by the program and share lessons learned. Boston Public Schools are recognized for embedding high-quality, public preK programs in their system and achieving exceptional results. In this book, the authors outline the core principles that underlie the district's early childhood programs and explore the role of curriculum, professional development, coaching, and data use in supporting these new initiatives. They show how the Boston Public Schools Department of Early Childhood was able to work with and against the constraints of the current accountability system to create a holistic, child-centered, play-based program that has had a significant impact in narrowing income-based learning gaps. Written in collaboration with the Department of Early Childhood Education, this account of creating successful preK programs in a diverse urban district will provide a valuable resource for practitioners engaged in similar work across the country.

This newly revised edition covers the basics of early education and care: providing safe, healthy, and appropriately stimulating learning environments; child development and developmentally appropriate practices and curricula in all domains (physical, cognitive, language, social-emotional, and creativity), positive guidance strategies, partnering with families, child assessment and program management, and professionalism. Filled with a plethora of practical suggestions for setting up classrooms, developing curricula for infants, toddlers and preschoolers; meeting children’s social-emotional needs, and working effectively with parents and staff for the Child Development Associate degree, this book will prepare students for diverse roles as educators of children ages 0-5.

Drawing on the latest research about toddlers and preschoolers, At a Loss for Words lays out the importance of getting parents, policy makers, and child care providers to recognize the role of early literacy skills in reducing the achievement gap that begins before three years of age. Readers are guided through home and classroom settings that promote language, contrasting them with the "merely mediocre" settings in which more and more young children spend increasing amounts of time. Language skills are the key to school and life success, and acquiring them requires a level of input and practice that too many of our young children are not getting. Drawing upon an extensive body of research, the book demonstrates how we can build the community supports and public systems that our children need so that toddlers learn the power of language and how parents and teachers can support it.

Drawing on the latest research about toddlers and preschoolers, At a Loss for Words lays out the importance of getting parents, policy makers, and child care providers to recognize the role of early literacy skills in reducing the achievement gap that begins before three years of age. Readers are guided through home and classroom settings that promote language, contrasting them with the "merely mediocre" settings in which more and more young children spend increasing amounts of time. Language skills are the key to school and life success, and acquiring them requires a level of input and practice that too many of our young children are not getting. Drawing upon an extensive body of research, the book demonstrates how we can build the community supports and public systems that our children need so that toddlers learn the power of language and how parents and teachers can support it.