Resource Books

You may know classroom environments are a complex interaction of physical elements, including sensory components, design and organization, aesthetics, nurturing attributes, and pedagogical resources. Did you know these elements are proven to work together to improve early learning, self-efficacy and higher order thinking skills, and ultimately to achieve better child outcomes? "Room to Learn" presents the Assessing the Pillars of the Physical Environment for Academic Learning (APPEAL)… More »

Provides real-world answers for directors who work in the field of early childhood education. Addresses key issues such as training staff, handling discipline, dealing with parents, and creating partnerships in the community. For anyone who is a director or wishes to someday become a director, this book is the ultimate "can't-do-without-it" survival kit.

PreK & up. Self-directed, open-ended activities incorporating daily events and ordinary materials help children easily learn science and math. 246 pages.

Over 450 rhymes, songs, stories, and fingerplays with Spanish and English on each page to help build vocabulary and language skills. Organized by theme. 384 pages.

Learning environments are an important topic as more and more teachers try to make their classrooms into places that support and inspire learning. This book shows early childhood teachers step-by-step how small changes can transform their classrooms into wondrous environments for children to learn and grow by using "before" and "after" pictures. Written in simple, down-to-earth language, this book introduces and describes the philosophy behind creative learning environments based… More »

In a complex and changing landscape of scare funding, high turnover rates, and differing view about priorities, the early childhood profession needs an anchor. The Whole Leadership Framework, developed by the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, helps early childhood professionals inspire their staffs' collaboration, creativity, and ethical commitment. Learn how to: develop foundational leadership attributes and competencies, use both day-to-day management and long-range leadership skills,… More »

Sure, you know that children learn best through hands-on explorations. How does that work in a real classroom? With jam-packed days and mounting expectations, you're pressed for time and pushed to follow standards-based curricula. It's no wonder you struggle to incorporate STEAM activites each day. Provoking Curiosity brings new and easy-to-execute STEAM learning experiences that encourage children to think, explore, and wonder. Each exploration builds on core ideas in the STEAM disciplines, develops… More »

Each chapter describes an issue that infants face every day, making this a perfect resource for all infant providers. There are scenarios that illustrate the challenges and suggest solutions to meet baby's needs while learning about the developmental stages. This hands-on resource is for infants 6 weeks to 18 months old and for your resource library.

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This user-friendly, strategy-packed book speaks to the realities, challenges, and needs of daily life with rambunctious, enthusiastic, unpredictable toddlers in group settings. The design and format of this book highlights informative and real-life examples, with immediate take-away action steps that detail solutions and resources for practice. This book includes: real-life vignettes that show best practices in action, teacher tips, the child's point of view, action skills for success, fast facts,… More »

Materials, ideas, how-to tips, and what to do to make learning challenging and fun for the very young. Paperback. 192 pages.

Describes practical ways to adjust centers and classroom routines for children with special needs. Suggestions enable all children to learn by keeping them involved in developmentally appropriate routines and center based activities. Each chapter focuses on either a learning center, such as art or science, or a time of the day, such as snack time or dismissal, with particular attention to the needs of children who are developmentally delayed, orthopedically impaired, have autism/Pervasive Development… More »

The Power of Presence: A Guide to Mindfulness Practices in Early Childhood offers insight and information to help you transform your teaching by learning how to pause, notice your surroundings, and simply be. Learn ways to spark joy, elevate well-being, and promote a deeper sense of inquiry, both personally and with others-young and old. Learn ways to consciously plant seeds of mindfulness at home, in the classroom, and around the world. Paperback. 112 pages.

Provides insight on identifying and responding to problems, working with parents, and seeking help with issues such as death, sexual abuse, divorce, natural disasters, and more. 382 pages.

Wake up your classroom with these unique learning centers and new ideas for energizing traditional learning centers. Completely revised, each learning center now includes assessment tools and updated literacy components. In addition, you will find 9 completely new learning centers. Complete with learning objectives, a detailed illustration of the learning center, center activities, literacy connections, a web of integrated learning, list of props, vocabulary words, assessment tools, a letter to… More »

Young children with special needs often face physical, emotional, or social barriers to deep engagement with the natural world. These challenges need not prevent them from enjoying the many benefits nature has to offer. Nature is a necessity. Research tells us that we are happier, healthier, more socially engaged, and more creative when it is part of our daily lives. These benefits apply to people of all ages and abilities. In this inspiring book, Dr. Ruth Wilson explores the great potential of… More »

A fun, accessible approach to the maker movement! With 25 classroom-ready engineering design challenges inspired by children's favorite books, educators can seamlessly integrate making and tinkering and STEM concepts (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in preschool through third grade classrooms. Paperback. 144 pages.

In this resource book teachers will be able to evaluate bias within the classroom, learn how to have navigate different conversations with children and their families, and learn how to implement new policies to create a fair and equal environment. This book will help teachers, new and experienced, commit to making their classroom a more inclusive place for all children. Teachers will also be able to strengthen their teaching strategies, expand their curriculum and evaluate their classroom environment… More »

Research shows that children do not outgrow challenging behavior, making early intervention essential. But what can early childhood educators do to reduce challenging behaviors when nothing seems to work? From aromatherapy to affirmations,'When Nothing Else Works' is filled with creative strategies and techniques to address and adjust problematic behavior in the classroom while also promoting resilience and active engagement in learning. Written from the perspective of an experienced school development… More »

This resource book offers you the benefits of the most current research on child development, featuring helpful tips and techniques to foster your child's growth.

Innately curious, infants and toddlers love to explore, investigate, and discover--making the earliest years a perfect time to begin teaching the foundations of STEM. This book explores what science, technology, engineering, and math education looks like for this age group, and why it is so vital for all children to develop STEM knowledge. Age focus: 0 -3. Paperback. 224 pages.

This best selling book comes with 2 CD's featuring 50 songs. Children will build a strong foundation in skills such as listening, imagination, coordination, and spatial and body awareness. Accompanying songs are sure to get children up and moving! 500 pages.

Understanding infant and toddler behavior can be a challenge. But this Innovations book provides teacher with a more thorough understanding of the knowledge base that informs early childhood practice. Focusing on the development of children from birth to age three, Innovations gives you an in-depth guide to the early childhood field which begins to address these challenging behaviors in developmentally appropriate ways. Paperback. 372 pages.

You may have noticed out-of-school-time care is burgeoning. As more families have two working parents, states and school districts are swooping in to provide supervision of children before and after school, during school breaks, and during the summer. And, as these programs grow, they continue to adapt to new approaches of out-of-school learning. Gone are the days of board games and swing sets! "School's Out: Challenges and Solutions for School-Age Programs" will cover all bases of creating… More »