Resource Books

Engage children with meaningful constructive play! This book provides educators of young children with guidance in how to create early childhood environments that support children's natural need to play. It includes strategies for creating and scaffolding the block play experience, recommends children's books that support the learning, and outlines ways to match behaviors, content, and concepts to learning standards. Lesson plans include: Thanksgiving -- sharing and giving; our families and ourselves;… More »

This resource book is packed with opportunities to build confidence and to enhance language, coordination, social interactions, and problem-solving skills. A must-have for anyone caring for a child between the ages of two and three. Turn ordinary, everyday routines into fun learning experiences! 256 pages.

"L is for Lion" helps children learn letters easily and entertains them with the fun activities in this book. Each letter of the alphabet has two full pages of activities and ideas, including: foods to enjoy that begin with the letter, games or activities that reinforce the shape or sound of the letter, a song, poem, or tongue twister featuring the letter, and suggestions of books to read. Paperback. 80 pages.

Create readers while creating art! Contains activities that reinforce letter recognition and pre-reading skills. 160 pages.

With 52 weeks of fantastic art projects using easy-to-find, everyday materials, this resource provides a year of creativity, imagination, and fun for children ages 4-10! Organized alphabetically by material, each week features one everyday material and provides five days of unique activities, increasing in complexity with each day. Paperback.

Featuring 100 well-loved children's books, Starting with Stories has more than 1500 activities to actively engage every learning style. First, choose one of the 100 popular children's books to read together. Then enhance the experience with ideas for learning centers, activities, and literacy experiences. Connect with children's eight multiple intelligences through creative and engaging math, art, dramatic play, fine motor, writing, blocks, science, and discovery activities. It's all here--everything… More »

Use the games in 30 Fun Ways to Learn About Writing to make early writing in the classroom exciting and fun! Whether labeling objects, making lists, or writing notes, children will be engaged and active with these creative activities that stimulate curiosity and imagination. 80 pages. Paperback.

This book supports young children's natural curiosity and encourages them to explore what happens around them. Hands-on investigations help children learn the skills, concepts, and standards of mathematics, science, language, and literacy -- all at the same time --using some of their favorite books. Themes include: Exploring Spaces (and Places!); What Comes Next?; Out and About; and Growing and Changing. 224 pages. Paperback.

In this controversial look at privileged families, Madeline Levine offers thoughtful, practical advice as she explodes one child-rearing myth after another. With empathy and candor, she identifies parenting practices that are toxic to healthy self-development and that have contributed to epidemic levels of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse in the most unlikely place -- the affluent family. Paperback. 256 pages.

With quick and simple ideas, "101 Easy, Wacky, Crazy Activities" is guaranteed to enliven any day. Encourage children to think creatively, problem solve, and have fun while learning. Written by two experienced teachers, this collection of open-ended ideas is a book teachers and parents will want to keep handy. Paperback. 144 pages.

Author, Rebecca Green, takes readers on an inspiring journey using beautiful color photos that she took of her children doing activities she describes in the book. This book takes a lighthearted approach to the serious business of parenting, and helps parents find activities that they enjoy, while their children learn and have fun. Green suggests ways for parents to maintain their own identities and pursue their own interests while raising children who are creative, confident, and independent thinkers.… More »

by Sharon MacDonald. Over 200 easy-to-plan learning center activities for language and literacy, science, manipulatives, art and more. 272 pages.

Start children on a path toward a lifetime of reading with more than 200 activities, games, and songs that introduce them to the alphabet. It all begins with 26 letters. The wiggles and squiggles that turn into words, stories, poems, and great literature are the tools for future readers. Children will love learning their letters as they play the Name Game, sew their own letters, create Puzzle Pairs, and more! Jean Feldman and Holly Karapetkova apply their signature creative style to teach literacy… More »

Book by Jean Feldman. Over 400 ideas to make those 'between times' teachable moments and smooth transitions with simple and fun activities. 288 pages.

Combine children's active games with over 100 literacy activities. They will engage the whole child in moving, playing and developing literacy skills needed for reading and writing. Each activity has objectives, material list, instructions, and extension ideas. Paperback. 136 pages.

If the timing is right, the learning that occurs in the first five years can be a gold mine, promoting valuable cognitive and physical development that lasts a lifetime. Boosting Brain Power provides 52 strategies - one for every week of the year - to help teachers stimulate healthy brain growth in young children. In addition to well-researched strategies, each snippet of information offers teachers evidence-based instructions for how to bring the concepts to life in the classroom. In this book,… More »

Music does more than teach children to sing or play an instrument. The music and movement activities in 30 Fun Ways to Learn About Music build children's development in other areas, like literacy, math, physical fitness, and coordination. These activities also help children develop concentration, build confidence, and help children's creative and social development. 80 pages. Paperback.

When a story comes to the end -- it does not have to be the end of the story. Instead, teachers can continue the learning with activities and experiences to promote conversation about that story. Story Play encourages even the most inexperienced teacher, librarian, child care professional, or family member to become a storyteller with ideas for expanding stories into meaningful learning experiences. With stories, poems, songs, chants, and fingerplays, as well as ideas for working with puppets and… More »

A unique teaching resource perfect for large groups of children. Playful learning approach and unique educational content teaches children key literacy skills. The 100 plans follow a literacy scope and sequence so teachers can help children develop and practice the literacy skills they need to be successful readers. Each chapter focuses on a familiar early childhood topic, such as friends, feelings, colors, and houses and homes. Paperback. 224 pages.

Preschoolers tend to be social beings. Whether they are playing with dolls side by side, building block castles together, or rolling down hills with friends, most young children enjoy the company of others. Playing together comes naturally, but you can help them negotiate turn taking, learning how to mend hurt feelings, and practice communicating positively while they play. This book highlights the milestones children tend to reach during the preschool years as they develop socially. As a guide… More »

With the 100 activities included in this resource, teachers can easily incorporate learning about animals into any curriculum. Each activity features learning objectives, vocabulary, related children's books, materials, preparation (if necessary), directions, and an assessment component.

Whether you see a preschooler laughing or crying, hugging or tugging on a playmate, taking risks or seeking comfort from an adult, you know that they are developing their emotional skills and growing up in so many ways every day. And they need your help! This book shares common milestones and typical scenarios to help you recognize various ways that preschoolers express their feelings and interact with others. As you support preschoolers struggling to handle emotional challenges that occur during… More »

The children in today's early childhood classroom are more culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse than ever. As a teacher, your challenge is to partner with each family through recognizing their individual strengths, concerns, priorities, and resources. Dr. Johnna Darragh Ernst offers practical ideas for creating a welcoming atmosphere for families that will encourage them to participate in their children's learning community. From improving children's school readiness to encouraging positive… More »

8 - 36 months. Children are able to communicate by signing before they develop the skills necessary for speech. By teaching sign language to children from as young as seven months we can help them to convey their emotions and their needs. This first signing guide for hearing and deaf children contains over forty key signs. Designed for parents and carers to share with babies, with it's simple and clear instructions and endearing illustrations, this book is an ideal introduction to signing. A helpful… More »