This innovative book helps kindergarten teachers align learning-centered practices with state standards and offers classroom vignettes, practical strategies, lesson plans, and other essential resources.

Todays kindergarten teachers face enormous challenges to reach district-mandated academic standards. This book presents a model for 21st-century kindergartens that is rooted in child-centered learning and also shaped by the needs and goals of the present day. Classroom teachers working with diverse populations of students and focusing on issues of social justice provide vivid descriptions of classroom life across urban and rural communities. Teacher reflections and commentary from the editors link teacher decisions to principles of good practice. Teaching Kindergarten illustrates how a progressive, learning-centered approach can not only meet the equity and accountability goals of the Common Core State Standards but go well beyond that to educate the whole child.

"Ehly′s book is vital for any novice early childhood teacher. Her straightforward writing style helps teachers understand developmentally appropriate practices, and the book gives concrete examples on how to implement them in today′s accountability-driven educational climate." —Melissa Dubick, ESL Prekindergarten Teacher Austin Independent School District, TX Promote learning every day by aligning your practice with standards-based expectations! Today′s kindergarten teachers are expected to provide learning experiences that support the development of the whole child and also be accountable for guiding their students toward mastery of the academic skills and content included in state standards. This valuable new resource shows preservice, novice, and experienced kindergarten teachers how to improve their practices to meet the new expectations and prepare children for success beyond kindergarten. This practical guide brings together the established knowledge base on child development, the current research on standards-based best practices in elementary school settings, and the newest findings on learning. Offering 10 keys to success, such as developing behavioral expectations and establishing partnerships with students and families, this classroom-friendly reference guide includes: Practical tips for implementing the 10 key strategies Lesson plans, templates, forms, glossaries, and other helpful resources Real-world classroom vignettes of master teachers in action Checklists at the end of each chapter The Learning-Centered Kindergarten helps all early childhood educators enhance their classroom practice and foster students′ future success.

An illustrated guide for 32 different Early Childhood Learning Centers.

Keep students engaged with Learning Centers in Kindergarten. This 176-page book includes suggestions for how to set up learning centers, arrange the room with appropriate furniture, determine the number of students at each center, move in and between centers, develop activities, and find materials. It supports the Four-Blocks(R) Literacy Model and includes ideas for center time and month-by-month activities for eight centers.

One of the nation's leading writers for and about children explains everything you need to know for an outstanding kindergarten.