The "project approach" has long been a tremendous tool for educators working with young children. This is not an activity book but a book about doing in-depth investigations about topics that interest your child and you. The project approach stimulates your child's curiosity, shows the advantages of learning academic skills such as reading, writing and math and helps you build a strong relationship with your child as you share the adventure of learning together. In this book, we have adapted the approach to show parents, grandparents and other caregivers how to do meaningful and exciting projects at home. Featuring many photos of children doing project work this book thoroughly explains the benefits to both you and your child of doing projects together. Ideas are given for transforming your home into a place to learn including guidance for collecting and storing materials, making time for projects, and documenting your child's work. Seven complete examples of at-home projects are shared. Chapters also show you how to coach your child to build skills for reading and writing, mathematical development, scientific thinking, and more. Direction is also provided for adapting the project approach for use in family child care centers, home schooling, and gifted education.
About the Author
Judy Harris Helm, Ed.D. assists schools and early childhood programs in integrating research and new methods through her consulting and training company, Best Practices, Inc. She began her career teaching first grade then taught, directed, and designed early childhood and primary programs as well as trained teachers at the community college, undergraduate, and graduate level. She is past state President of the Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children. She co-authored a number of books on the project approach, documentation and assessment including Windows on Learning: Documenting Children's Work, Young Investigators: The Project Approach in the Early Years, and the Power of Projects. She is the mother of two grown daughters who thrived on project work. Stacy Berg is an early childhood educator and the director of Northminster Learning Center in Peoria, IL. In her current position she develops faith-based, developmentally appropriate programming for toddlers, preschoolers, and grade school children. Professionally, she enjoys consulting with teachers and programs, and presenting to groups and at conferences. Stacy is the mother of three children under the age of five and does projects in her home. She presents at conferences on supporting project work and faith-based education. Pam Scranton, B.S. a classroom teacher in Discovery Preschool, is in her eighteenth year as an early childhood educator. She is currently completing a Master's program in Curriculum and Instruction. She is a frequent presenter in school districts on topics such as engaging children in project work, authentic assessment, and developmentally appropriate practice. She is a contributing author of The Power of Projects. Pam is also featured in the video "A Children's Journey: The Fire truck Project".