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Constructivism across the Curriculum in Early Childhood Classrooms: Big Ideas as Inspiration

ISBN-10: 0205348548
ISBN-13: 9780205348541

Publisher: Merrill
Copyright: 2008
Format: Paper; 208 pp
Published: 06/13/2007

Suggested retail price: $34.99
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Former President of NAECTE and co-author of “The Young Child As Scientist,” Christine Chaille brings a Reggio Emilia inspired, fresh, friendly and innovative introduction to constructivist curriculum for educators in preschool to primary classrooms.

 

Designed to be a readable and user-friendly source for teachers who are looking for guidance and inspiration when incorporating constructivism and Reggio Emilia ideas into their classroom, the chapters in this book are organized into two categories: Introductory chapters and “Big Idea” chapters.  Introductory chapters provide the broad, theoretical framework and an overview of constructivist practice and Reggio Emilia ideas.  The Big Idea chapters present one of the seven “Big ideas” (light, balance, cause and effect, transformation, sound, zooming in and out, and upside down) as springboards to help teachers build an interdisciplinary, child-centered curriculum. Big Idea chapters also bring theory into practice by incorporating scenarios of real teachers implementing the projects discussed in their classrooms.  By balancing theory and the realities of the classroom, this book helps teachers challenge themselves and their students with strategies for infusing new curriculum approaches in their classrooms without sacrificing what they need to accomplish in the process. 

  • Each chapter concludes with concrete ideas and resources for teachers in the form of a listing of Resources Referred to in This Chapter including “Teacher Resources,” “Websites” and “Children’s Literature.”
  • Dispersed throughout the chapters are vignettes, questions and tips that engage and connect the reader to the material.
  • Self-contained chapters can be read in the sequence that best suits the teacher’s immediate needs.

<>Prologue                                    

 

Chapter 1 Big Ideas:  A Framework for Constructivist Curriculum

 

Chapter 2 Light as an Introduction to Big Ideas             

 

Chapter 3 The Constructivist Teacher: Issues in Implementation

 

Chapter 4 Balancing Acts

 

Chapter 5 Zooming In and Out

 

Chapter 6 Playing with Sound                                              

 

Chapter 7 Upside Down and Inside Out:  The Wacky Curriculum           

 

Chapter 8 Chain Reactions:  One Thing Leads to Another

 

Chapter 9 Transformation

 

Chapter 10 Epilogue

Explore how “big ideas” form the centerpiece for early childhood curriculum approaches that are responsive to and respectful of children’s natural curiosity!

 

To help you engage in constructivist practices with your preschool and primary grade students, Constructivism across the Curriculum in Early Childhood Classrooms bridges the gap between theory and practice by carefully outlining seven Big Ideas–light, balance, zooming in and out, sound, upside down and inside out, cause and effect, and transformation–that provide a springboard to developing an effective interdisciplinary, child-centered curriculum. Filled with a goldmine of activities to spark student learning, children’s literature references that extend student engagement, and classroom scenarios that demonstrate how real teachers have put constructivist theory into practice, Christine Chaille’s book is the perfect professional development resource for early childhood teachers.

 

Meet classroom goals and implement a fresh curriculum:

  • Learn the foundational theory and practice of constructivism and early childhood approaches inspired by Reggio Emilia.
  • Implement ideas and strategies applicable to your class’s immediate needs.
  • Meet the realities of the classroom with practical resources and concrete examples depicting how to foster learning in young children.

 

The big ideas teachers can’t stop talking about!

“[Christine] uses many examples of excellent activities and goes into great detailed explanation about how [the activities] are beneficial for students’ learning and why. Her explanations are a wonderful way of getting down to the brass tacks for new teachers…It is refreshing to see such honesty and step-by-step instructions that new teachers need.”

--Nancy B. Stewart, Early Childhood Specialist, Norfolk Public Schools, VA

 

“The author’s writing style is extremely engaging and effective…and I loved the idea of utilizing a curricular starting point, and demonstrating how the teacher branches off from that point. Having this personal example of a teacher’s journey engages the reader, and facilitates connections to [our] own work.”

--Johnna Darragh, Heartland Community College, IL

 

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