Forlagets beskrivelse: This book explores the frequently observed schemas of young children-patterns of behaviour from which understanding and growth is derived-and draws out the nature of this learning.

Shortlisted for the 2013 Nursery World Awards! ′This exciting book will greatly enhance understanding of learning throughout the early years, and reinforces the importance of responsive professionals who understand children′s schemas. Atherton and Nutbrown have brought together socio-cultural and cognitive learning theories with ease, and their metaphors are brilliantly evocative′ -Dr Anne Meade, Consultant ′This book is drawn from a study carried out with rigour and contains several gems, such as the ′bike and slide exploration′; the idea of adults engaging in ′a dialogue of conceptual correspondence′ with children; and tables outlining ′what the children might have been thinking′. A great read!′ -Dr Cath Arnold, Pen Green Early Years Centre ′This is an exciting and illuminating account of babies and toddlers, following their schema fascinations with determination and competence, as they continually explore and experiment and come to know their world. This book captivated me. It should be in every early childhood education setting′ -Pam Cubey This is the first book to focus specifically on Schemas and children under three. The authors trace the development of schemas from motor level through to symbolic representation, and show how to use schema theory to understand young children′s learning and behaviour. This accessible and student-friendly book includes: -activities and discussion points -links to policy and practice -descriptive observational material -a look at the ethics of this kind of research -numerous photographs and illustrations -suggestions for follow-up reading The book is aimed at early childhood professionals and practitioners in ECEC settings, as well as those on initial training courses, teacher education, Early Years courses, and higher degrees.

This creative and highly engaging text describes how young children learn through exploring repeated patterns in their actions, known as 'schemas', and how they can help inform planning for children's learning.

Written by a leading author, this popular book explains schemas - a key early childhood concept - in an accessible manner, making it perfect for any early childhood course.

Providing a deeper understanding of how two-year-old children learn, Understanding Schematic Learning at Two highlights how a schematic pedagogy can be used to recognise and support two-year-old children's thinking and understanding of the world around them. Over a 16-week period four children's individual experiences and stories are constructed, providing detailed written and photographic evidence of the unfolding schematic learning journeys of each. Following the children from nursery setting to their home environments, readers gain a greater understanding of how, even at such a young age, children are intrinsically motivated to select resources from the environment to support their schematic pursuits. The book focuses on the importance of an appropriate environment and informed pedagogy to support two-year-old children's schematic explorations and the significant role adults play in developing these. Beginning by highlighting the important links between learning opportunities, environment and the role of the adults, Brierley and Nutbrown briefly trace the origins of schema and provide an overview of some definitions and characteristics of schemas. This leads to an exploration of how the early years landscape has been influenced through a research, practice and government policy initiatives, concluding that future focus must foreground how children learn. Understanding Schematic Learning at Two highlights how recognising and valuing young children's schemas can provide their supportive adults with the opportunity and ability to acknowledge two-year-old children's capability to actively construct and develop an understanding of the world they live in.

What are schemas and why do they matter? Again! Again! provides an introduction to understanding and supporting schemas and schema play in young children. Practitioners will find an overview of schemas with guidance on where they fit within the EYFS. There are examples of schemas, with illustrations and descriptions of common behaviour patterns, and these are set within the general context of child development. The intention is to help early years practitioners identify schemas and to understand both how important they are and the vital role they play in the growing child's learning. The aim is to help the reader understand how they can develop, plan and resource activities which support children's learning through experiment and play.

′This text will be an invaluable addition to the reading of students and tutors alike. It has been written thoughtfully for students embarking on university courses that study aspects of early childhood education. The introductory chapters give the reader a sense of the thinking and reflection that is helpful for them at the beginning of their studies and a clear focus on the rights of our youngest children roots the text in a sound pedagogical frame. The later chapters broaden the argument and feel very relevant to the current context in their explorations of the policy and practice of EYFS. I would strongly recommend this text.′ -Jo Albin-Clark, Senior Lecturer in Early Years Education, Edge Hill University This book introduces all the most important aspects of early years care and education, and will help you develop the key skills needed to study at degree level. Each chapter introduces major concepts and theories which allow you to explore the foundations of key early childhood issues and apply them in practice. Topics include: Children’s rights The Early Years curriculum How children learn and develop Health and well-being As well as looking at important aspects of study such as: How to search primary sources, such as policy documents and journals How to use your personal experience in studying How to develop critical reading and writing skills With specific learning features designed for different levels of study, this book will be invaluable to students studying at levels 4 and 5 of early childhood degrees and foundation degrees, with features designed to support students as they make the transition to honours level study. Digital resources for extra support! Check out the companion website for additional material including: interactive glossary flashcards journal tasks web links to more handy online resources

Think it — Map it! Is the most relevant, practical and helpful book yet written on mapping techniques in the classroom. By showing you what pupils' thinking looks like, this book gives you the necessary insights to integrate literacy, thinking skills and accelerated learning in your classrooms. Organized into three sections, it explains: • WHY model mapping is so effective • WHEN model mapping can be effectively applied • HOW to effectively learn and teach model mapping. Think it — Map it! Is packed with case studies and maps from schools that have taken the principles and promises of the authors' MapWise training course and their best-selling book by the same name and turned them into winning classroom strategies. The examples clearly show how primary, comprehensive, grammar, nursery and special school teachers have turned theory into practice — often with amazing results. In this book you will discover how these schools have applied mapping to: • literacy • thinking skills • subject explanation • revision • collaborative learning • extending the gifted and talented • including pupils with special needs • formative assessment • displays • teacher planning • staff meetings • development planning... ... and very much more. What 'MapWise' schools have realized is that whenever thinking is involved, then model mapping is an appropriate and effective tool to use. This book moves schools on from the restricting way in which model mapping is often perceived and gives a clear overview of the reasons why this visual tool works so effectively for all types of learner — and teachers too. Written in a clear and lively style, Think it — Map it! is sure to become the classic text on mapping in schools. With bite-size chapters and with a vast array of wonderful maps produced by children, this book will excite and educate all staff currently working in schools. '... we cannot navigate physically or intellectually without a map... So the learner needs a map that will always let him or her find their way to what they already know and enables them to navigate from there to their desired destination. This book is fundamentally about how learning works and how teaching can be transformed when it grasps and respects some cardinal principles — about facts and knowledge, about memory and retrieval, about language and thinking, about individual and social learning. This book sheds new light on some deep truths about peer learning, about talking your way to meaning, about learning as liberation from a ruthlessly lockstep progression through the curriculum. It is a salutary reminder in an age of attainments targets, SATS, key stages and value added that learning is what schools are for and it is what makes teachers want to teach. This book is a real treasure trove of good ideas and sound pedagogic principles.' Professor John MacBeath, Chair of Educational Leadership, University of Cambridge

An unrivalled introduction to the pioneers of educational theory that you won't be able to get through your studies without. This must-have book includes profiles on Vygotsky, Steiner, Montessori and Froebel, as well as 24 other theorists.