Play, Projects, and Preschool Standards : Nurturing Children's Sense of Wonder and Joy in Learning

"The ideas in this book will seem familiar and nonthreatening—yes, teachers can indeed use what they already know and what their children love, but they can also enhance and expand favorite activities, enriching the educational benefits of everyday experiences."
—From the Foreword by Marilou Hyson

Stimulate children′s love of learning while meeting standards and benchmarks!

Teachers today are often challenged by and concerned about the expectations in states′ early learning standards. They have questions about their appropriateness, implementation, and tendency to overlook the needs of the growing number of children who are second language learners or who have disabilities and developmental delays. In Play, Projects, and Preschool Standards, authors Gera Jacobs and Kathy Crowley tackle these questions (and more!) head-on, providing teachers with plenty of lively, creative ideas to develop children′s genuine curiosity while building the skills they′ll need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

In inviting, informal language, the authors walk readers through the creation of well-planned projects and activities that both capture children′s interest and enhance social and pre-academic development. Each chapter offers:

• "What Research and the Experts Say" snapshots, and applications of the research in practice
• "Try This" activity ideas that engage children and meet standards
• Suggestions for tailoring activities to meet the needs of bilingual children and children with special needs

This timely book is sure to give teachers the confidence and competence they need to connect the experiences that make preschool so enjoyable with the skill development that makes preschool so necessary.