Judy Harris Helm

Young Investigators has been expanded to guide today's teachers through the process of conducting meaningful investigations with young children. This fourth edition of the bestseller begins with a new chapter, "How Children Really Learn," which summarizes insights from mind-brain education research, showing how experiences firmly rooted in children's curiosity and interest build intellectual capacity. The book then introduces the Project Approach with step-by-step guidance for incorporating child initiation and direction into curriculum while simultaneously addressing content standards. A new focus on critical Teacher Decision Points uses fresh-from-the-classroom examples to show how teachers think through project work. The emphasis on STEM experiences has been expanded to include STEAM through a new chapter, "The Role of Project Work in the Arts." This book makes project-based learning possible with the youngest children (toddlers through 2nd grade) who are not yet proficient in reading and writing, but capable of deep, focused thinking. Throughout, readers empathize with teachers' concerns, witness how they find solutions to challenges, and feel the excitement of children during project work. Young Investigators is appropriate for teachers new to using the Project Approach, as well as for those who already have experience.Book Features:Examples of projects from child care centers and preschool, K–2, and special education classrooms.Instructions for incorporating standards and STEAM skills into project work.A variety of experiences to help children connect to the natural world. Toddler projects that reflect knowledge from recent mind-brain research.Tools for integrating required curriculum goals and for assessing achievement.A Teacher Project Planning Journal that leads teachers through the major decision points of project work.Full-color photographs of children engaged with projects. A study guide for pre- and inservice teachers (available at www.tcpress.com).

Young Investigators has been expanded to guide today’s teachers through the process of conducting meaningful investigations with young children. This fourth edition of the bestseller begins with a new chapter, “How Children Really Learn,” which summarizes insights from mind-brain education research, showing how experiences firmly rooted in children’s curiosity and interest build intellectual capacity. The book then introduces the Project Approach with step-by-step guidance for incorporating child initiation and direction into curriculum while simultaneously addressing content standards. A new focus on critical Teacher Decision Points uses fresh-from-the-classroom examples to show how teachers think through project work. The emphasis on STEM experiences has been expanded to include STEAM through a new chapter, “The Role of Project Work in the Arts” This book makes project-based learning possible with the youngest children (toddlers through 2nd grade) who are not yet proficient in reading and writing, but capable of deep, focused thinking. Throughout, readers empathize with teachers’ concerns, witness how they find solutions to challenges, and feel the excitement of children during project work. Young Investigators is appropriate for teachers new to using the Project Approach, as well as for those who already have experience. Book Features: • Examples of projects from child care centers and preschool, K–2, and special education classrooms. • Instructions for incorporating standards and STEAM skills into project work. • A variety of experiences to help children connect to the natural world. • Toddler projects that reflect knowledge from recent mind-brain research. • Tools for integrating required curriculum goals and for assessing achievement. • A Teacher Project Planning Journal that leads teachers through the major decision points of project work. • Full-color photographs of children engaged with projects. • A study guide for pre- and inservice teachers (available at www.tcpress.com).

Continuing the exploration of project work in the author’s bestselling book, Young Investigators, Second Edition, this book is designed for preschool through primary grade teachers who know how to do project work but are ready to move to the next level. Focusing on how children become young thinkers, the book begins with mind, brain, and education science and instructional guidelines for all learning experiences, and then connects these to the rich foundation of the project approach. Helm provides specific strategies for deepening project work, including how to select meaningful topics, plan for projects, integrate standards (including the Common Core), support children's questioning, create provocations to promote engagement, and help children represent their ideas. This practical resource will extend practitioners’ knowledge about project-based learning so they can move beyond the basics to create project work that is more engaging, meaningful, and productive.

Completely updated, this popular guide provides teachers with a proven method for documenting (collecting, analyzing, and displaying) young children's work at school. Written by teachers for teachers, this classic resource also shows principals, curriculum coordinators, and directors of Head Start and other early intervention programs how to develop children's portfolios to share with parents or to use for assessment and other accountability purposes.Applicable to many different curriculum models, the updated Second Edition: combines two books in one by integrating the teacher forms, materials, and planning sheets from the Teacher Materials companion resource into this single volume; features a larger size to accommodate more examples and photographs of children's and teachers' work; includes more information on incorporating standards in documentation; discusses how to analyze and talk about documentation in professional learning communities; provides additional information on preparing teacher portfolios; and, documents the Movie Theater Project, a literacy-rich project from an inner-city pre-kindergarten classroom.

Do you want to raise children who love to learn? Maybe you are simply looking for a way to unplug your child from the TV or video games? Just by reading this book, you will be taking a proactive step in providing your child with meaningful experiences that will result in growth and plenty of family fun! The “project approach” has long been a tremendous tool for educators working with young children. In this book, three experienced teachers show parents, grandparents, and other caregivers how to do meaningful and exciting projects in their home and community. Featuring many photos of children doing project work, this volume: Thoroughly explains the benefits to both you and your child of doing projects together. Helps you transform your home into a place to learn, including guidance for collecting and storing materials, making time for projects, and documenting your child’s work. Presents the stories of seven projects that were done by children with the support of a parent or grandparent: Maude the Dog Project, Slime Project, Caterpillar Project, Race Car Project, Mexican Bakery Project, Horse Project, and Bus Project. Shows appropriate expectations and how to coach and build your child’s skills in reading and writing, mathematical development, scientific thinking, and more. Provides ideas for adapting the project approach for use in family daycare centers, home schooling, and gifted education.