Poppy Gibson

Early Years Essentials offers a wealth of evidence-based strategies and ideas to enhance the learning and development of young children. Linked to the EYFS framework and drawing on a wide range of case studies from across the sector, it shows what excellent provision looks like in practice alongside summaries of key research. Each chapter includes a ‘pondering question’ which offers the reader the opportunity to reflect on their own knowledge, as well as providing a framework to consider how to enhance their own teaching skills. Covering all aspects of early years practice, the chapters include: The indoor and outdoor learning environment Observation, planning, and assessment Working with parents and carers The prime and specific areas of learning Adult-child interactions The characteristics of effective learning Inclusion and diversity Child and practitioner wellbeing Including reflective questions and key takeaways in every chapter, this essential text will support student and practitioner knowledge and understanding of how the EYFS principles can be effectively embedded into best practice.

Early Years Essentials offers a wealth of evidence-based strategies and ideas to enhance the learning and development of young children. Linked to the EYFS framework and drawing on a wide range of case studies from across the sector, it shows what excellent provision looks like in practice alongside summaries of key research. Each chapter includes a ‘pondering question’ which offers the reader the opportunity to reflect on their own knowledge, as well as providing a framework to consider how to enhance their own teaching skills. Covering all aspects of early years practice, the chapters include: The indoor and outdoor learning environment Observation, planning, and assessment Working with parents and carers The prime and specific areas of learning Adult-child interactions The characteristics of effective learning Inclusion and diversity Child and practitioner wellbeing Including reflective questions and key takeaways in every chapter, this essential text will support student and practitioner knowledge and understanding of how the EYFS principles can be effectively embedded into best practice.

Children experience a range of emotions during their time in primary school, however bereavement is both unique and challenging. This book seeks to enable adults working with children to be prepared for this part of life’s journey and ready to support the child affected by the death of their loved one.This accessible book explores topics that may have not been fully explored during teacher training: including defining loss, grief and bereavement, looking at different models of grief, identifying how grief affects children and investigating how the differing needs of minority groups can be met. Focused on delivering practical and hands-on guidance, readers are presented with expert advice and case studies from the classroom to understand how to create an effective childhood bereavement policy. Whilst supporting a bereaved child is crucial, the emotional toll on the adult should not be underestimated and this book offers applied self-care strategies tailored for educators. A resource bank with contact details for specialist childhood bereavement organisations is also included for quick reference in a crisis. The authors also make suggestions for play based activities and guided tasks using high quality texts for school adults to use in small groups or with the whole class. This is a much-needed resource for every classroom to best support young people experiencing anxiety, depression, and mental health issues after facing a death. This book gives primary teachers, school leaders and staff the confidence to build learning environments that nurture and support students through this difficult time.

Children experience a range of emotions during their time in primary school, however bereavement is both unique and challenging. This book seeks to enable adults working with children to be prepared for this part of life’s journey and ready to support the child affected by the death of their loved one.This accessible book explores topics that may have not been fully explored during teacher training: including defining loss, grief and bereavement, looking at different models of grief, identifying how grief affects children and investigating how the differing needs of minority groups can be met. Focused on delivering practical and hands-on guidance, readers are presented with expert advice and case studies from the classroom to understand how to create an effective childhood bereavement policy. Whilst supporting a bereaved child is crucial, the emotional toll on the adult should not be underestimated and this book offers applied self-care strategies tailored for educators. A resource bank with contact details for specialist childhood bereavement organisations is also included for quick reference in a crisis. The authors also make suggestions for play based activities and guided tasks using high quality texts for school adults to use in small groups or with the whole class. This is a much-needed resource for every classroom to best support young people experiencing anxiety, depression, and mental health issues after facing a death. This book gives primary teachers, school leaders and staff the confidence to build learning environments that nurture and support students through this difficult time.

Who are the children you are teaching? It is easy amidst the termly chaos to lose sight of the importance of every single daily interaction that takes place between you as a primary school teacher, and the learners in your class. In this book, educator Dr Poppy Gibson offers a ‘deep dive’ into some of the complexities children may bring to your classroom. Understanding the diverse nature of our primary school children and their experiences is essential if we are to fully engage and support them as learners. This book brings essential professional learning to teachers. It explores children’s development, mental health, wellbeing, community, identity, trauma, communication challenges and more. It offers practical advice for classroom teaching to ensure and enhance Quality First Teaching.

Who are the children you are teaching? It is easy amidst the termly chaos to lose sight of the importance of every single daily interaction that takes place between you as a primary school teacher, and the learners in your class. In this book, educator Dr Poppy Gibson offers a ‘deep dive’ into some of the complexities children may bring to your classroom. Understanding the diverse nature of our primary school children and their experiences is essential if we are to fully engage and support them as learners. This book brings essential professional learning to teachers. It explores children’s development, mental health, wellbeing, community, identity, trauma, communication challenges and more. It offers practical advice for classroom teaching to ensure and enhance Quality First Teaching.

Many teachers do not feel confident in their role, particularly as they are increasingly expected to address topics with their pupils that they feel ill-equipped to deal with. Co-authored by two highly experienced educators, All The Things They Never Told You About Teaching is an essential guide, supporting teachers in navigating those tricky, taboo subjects that sit outside of the national curriculum and may not have been fully explored during their teacher training.Each chapter unpacks and addresses a range of ‘myths’ and ‘truths’ behind these subjects in an accessible manner, helping teachers to develop their understanding and facilitate compassionate conversations about these topics. This includes, but is not limited to:Mental healthBullyingNeurodiversityGender diversitySex and relationshipsClimate crisisA must read for anyone working in education, this book guides educators through sensitively addressing difficult topics within the classroom, creating a more compassionate and supportive learning environment for all.

Many teachers do not feel confident in their role, particularly as they are increasingly expected to address topics with their pupils that they feel ill-equipped to deal with. Co-authored by two highly experienced educators, All The Things They Never Told You About Teaching is an essential guide, supporting teachers in navigating those tricky, taboo subjects that sit outside of the national curriculum and may not have been fully explored during their teacher training.Each chapter unpacks and addresses a range of ‘myths’ and ‘truths’ behind these subjects in an accessible manner, helping teachers to develop their understanding and facilitate compassionate conversations about these topics. This includes, but is not limited to:Mental healthBullyingNeurodiversityGender diversitySex and relationshipsClimate crisisA must read for anyone working in education, this book guides educators through sensitively addressing difficult topics within the classroom, creating a more compassionate and supportive learning environment for all.

To thrive in academia, wellbeing must be understood and nurtured. Recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic has left the landscape of higher education altered and uncertain, resulting in a range of important considerations which can jeopardise wellbeing and positive mental health of those working within the academic community. Written with a core understanding of wellbeing and the different challenges and stresses on our mental health, this easily digestible and accessible text encourages those in academia to reflect upon how they are functioning, both in and out of the classroom, offering a range of suggestions for smarter ways of working. A deeper discussion threads through on the balance between job satisfaction and life satisfaction, and calls educators and academics to remember why they entered academia in the first place and how to maintain these values in a way that continues to inspire and drive us. Containing ‘critical questions’, Nurturing Wellbeing in Academia provides useful, practical ideas to help maintain or to recapture a feeling of wellbeing. Topics discussed include applying for promotions, research grants, mentoring, using social media and publishing pressures. This is an ideal resource for those who may be considering transitioning into higher education, helping to prepare them for the challenges and cognitive load that academia can bring.

This timely book offers a raw critique of the current educational issues and debates, alongside ‘teacher hacks’ to provide teachers, trainee teachers and educators with a plethora of stimulating material to ignite curiosity, maintain passion and culture creativity in the classroom. Made in partnership with academics and primary school teachers working on the frontline from around the globe, this book is threaded with honest practitioner voices as the big educational issues are boiled down and explored. Chapters cover day-to-day organisation such as planning, subject knowledge, setting homework and behaviour management strategies, right through to considering how we can best support children’s mental health and staff well-being. As well as including critical questions to encourage reflection throughout, the book offers insights into meaningful experiences such as:Teaching overseasTaking on responsibility roles in schoolsConsidering how teachers can become educational researchers for transformative changeEngaging with parents and carersDeploying teaching assistantsWhether trainee teachers, early career teachers or established practitioners, this book provides insight into trialled tips and techniques for shaping pedagogy in the classroom. A modern, well-resourced guide as we emerge from the global COVID-19 pandemic.

This timely book offers a raw critique of the current educational issues and debates, alongside ‘teacher hacks’ to provide teachers, trainee teachers and educators with a plethora of stimulating material to ignite curiosity, maintain passion and culture creativity in the classroom. Made in partnership with academics and primary school teachers working on the frontline from around the globe, this book is threaded with honest practitioner voices as the big educational issues are boiled down and explored. Chapters cover day-to-day organisation such as planning, subject knowledge, setting homework and behaviour management strategies, right through to considering how we can best support children’s mental health and staff well-being. As well as including critical questions to encourage reflection throughout, the book offers insights into meaningful experiences such as:Teaching overseasTaking on responsibility roles in schoolsConsidering how teachers can become educational researchers for transformative changeEngaging with parents and carersDeploying teaching assistantsWhether trainee teachers, early career teachers or established practitioners, this book provides insight into trialled tips and techniques for shaping pedagogy in the classroom. A modern, well-resourced guide as we emerge from the global COVID-19 pandemic.