SHELL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES 56 Gain a solid introduction to teaching young children! · Provides a concise overview of everything you need to know to get started with your preschool/preK classroom. · Includes best practices for planning, setting up the classroom, curriculum and assessment, family engagement, as well as an overview of child development Sparking Learning in Young Children Classroom Best Practices Grades Pre·K–K Pub Date: July 2024 Paperback 168 pages Trim Size: 8.5 in. x 11 in. 9798765971956 by Chris Amirault A clear and actionable guide to making sense of and implementing the Science of Reading · Presents and explains important research related to literacy learning · Builds classroom teachers' awareness of best practices and the reasons behind them · Answers common questions about teaching literacy, such as how many letters to teach per week and the benefits of teaching handwriting in a digital world. · Uses an engaging question and answer format that supports quick reference · Maintains compatibility with various literacy curriculums and reading programs 4 There’s research for ThaT Scientific experiments are designed to tell researchers whether one thing (a certain type of instruction) causes another thing (learning). Duke and Martin describe experiments in the following way: Researchers typically identify a focus, such as the use of a particular instructional approach, and measure its outcomes. Researchers attempt to eliminate alternative explanations for outcomes by creating groups of participants who differ in only one way—for example, in receiving or not receiving a particular instructional approach. (2011, 15) One of the key features of experimental studies is that students are randomly assigned to the different approaches being tested (see figure 0.1). When you randomly assign students, it rules out any bias that would influence the results. For example, if researchers wanted to prove that learning two or more comprehension strategies at a time was best, they might assign the most skillful teachers to that technique or place the best readers in that group. This biased assignment of students to instructional approaches would mean that the results could be due to something other than the use of comprehension strategies—student or teacher skills. Figure 0.1 EXPERIMENT EXAMPLE STUDY QUESTION: Do students comprehend better when taught one comprehension strategy at a time or when taught two or more? Pretest Behavior of interest, that which you expect to change: Comprehension Random assignment 1. Two or more strategies 2. Control (one strategy) Treatment instruction Specific instruction Occurs for a specific time period Posttest Same as pretest Statistical analysis Answer to question: Are posttest results at a level of difference that is greater than chance? Treatment: Participants get two or more strategies. Better comprehension? Using two or more strategies was superior. Same comprehension? Using two or more strategies has no advantage. Worse comprehension? Instruction was damaging. Pretest Comprehension Posttest Comprehension Control: Participants get one strategy. 3 Introduction The Ten Key Principles for Preschool Classroom Design As an early childhood school director for the last two decades, I’ve learned that there is one thing that all strong educators share: they create classrooms and schools driven by clearly stated, deeply held principles that they return to over and over in every aspect of their work . These principles aren’t window dressing . Rather, they are living, breathing mindsets that are important when establishing relationships, norms, and communities . And they are especially critical in challenging times, providing guidance when the path forward is less than clear . So, here in Sparking Learning in Young Children, we’ll do just that, using the following ten principles . (Feel free to edit these or to add your own!) 1 Remember: Education Is Care, and Care Is Education Our field has debated its name for decades, but one thing current research tells us over and over is that terrific early childhood education is grounded in an ethic of care. Outstanding care for children is the only way to provide them with the education that they deserve. The two go hand in hand! 2 Make Every Interaction Matter (Because Every Interaction Matters) Early childhood education is based on strong, consistent, nurturing relationships. These relationships are between children and teachers, between teachers and families, and between children themselves. Relationships are built one interaction at a time, so we strive to make every interaction matter. And when something goes awry, we reflect on that interaction to rebuild the relationship. Infant mental health professionals call this “the cycle of rupture and repair.” There's Research for That Your K-5 Literacy Instruction Questions Answered Grades K–5 Pub Date: February 2025 Paperback 208 pages Trim Size: 7.25 in. x 9.25 in. 9798765971734 by Heidi Anne Mesmer and Katie Hilden-Clouse
