This timely collection provides an accessible discussion and analysis of some of the most urgent policy issues facing early childhood care and education in the United States: fragmented policy systems; broad disregard for early years professionals exemplified by low pay; standards that fail to increase equity; and overlooking the role community contexts plays in producing or ameliorating social inequalities among children. Contributors draw upon their deep personal experiences with these issues as educators, scholars, and advocates to advance practice-based recommendations for how the nation’s inequitable systems can be transformed. Their call to collective action is supported by an accessible and powerful advocacy toolkit that will grow with readers over time and with practice. The text centers the perspectives of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, with a clear focus on the effects of systemic racism, ageism, sexism, classism, and associated oppressions on early years policies and programs in the U.S. Book Features: Concise essays that acknowledge the demands on contemporary readers’ time.Authors that represent a cross section of educators, advocates, researchers, and leaders who are in dialogue with each other. Personal stories that illustrate how policies and systems affect people, making an urgent case for transforming early care and education policies.A call for action that includes tools for linking personal reflection to collective action. Contributors include Lea Austin, Stephanie Curenton, Kerry Ann Escayg, Lucinda Heimer, Iheoma Iruka, Jacqueline Jones, Anna Lees, and Chrishana Lloyd.

"This accessible collection examines some of the most urgent policy issues facing early childhood care and education in the United States. Centering the perspectives of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color, chapters advance practice-based recommendations for how the nation's inequitable systems can be transformed"--

Early childhood professionals can use this one-of-a-kind work to better serve Korean American children in the United States. Four transnational mother-educators share the lived experiences of Korean American children and their families through candid and vivid narratives that counter stereotypical and prejudicial beliefs about Asian American communities. Topics include parenting beliefs and practices, naming practices, portrayals in children’s picturebooks, translingual home practices, and responses to microaggressions. The text raises awareness about various dynamics within the Korean American community for a more nuanced discourse. The authors bring a wealth of hybrid positioning and experiences as former early childhood educators, first-generation Korean American immigrants, current teacher educators working with pre- and inservice teachers, and researchers in different states, as well as mothers of second-generation Korean American children. Book Features: Shares original stories and experiences of Korean American children and families to dismantle prevalent narrow narratives.Offers practical implications and considerations for classroom teachers regarding family engagement, critical literacy, translanguaging, and social–emotional learning. Includes user-friendly features such as discussion questions, lesson ideas, and a list of appropriate picturebooks.

Designed to spark an interchange of ideas, this book presents early childhood education as a nuanced, shifting, and complex field. Readers will bear witness to several decades of the lived experiences of influential leaders engaged in conversation about seven major topics: systems of early care and education, diversity and children’s rights, developmentally appropriate practice, perspectives on play, curriculum and pedagogy, the care of infants and toddlers, and families and family engagement. Each chapter is accompanied by a “Reflections on the Dialogue” essay from one of the volume editors who include important source material and theoretical and research perspectives. Readers are invited to reflect thoughtfully on each topic to construct their own understanding of where the field has been and why it matters. Contributors reveal how they have been shaped by societal values and events, as well as how they have helped to shape the field as we know it. These reflective dialogues help readers develop greater understanding of the past and its influence on the present, while preparing readers to make decisions throughout their careers about what matters and why it is important to young children and their families. Contributors: W. Steven Barnett, Gloria Swindler Boutte, Sue Bredekamp, Dina C. Castro, Katherine K. Delaney, J. Amos Hatch, Marilou Hyson, Jacqueline Jones, Marjorie Kostelnik, Mary Benson McMullen, Douglas R. Powell, Susan L. Recchia, Mari Riojas-Cortez, Jaipaul L. Roopnarine, Jeffrey Trawick-Smith

"This book provides evidence-based curriculum examples, pedagogies, and resources; demonstrates how teachers can achieve Pro-Black teaching while also addressing curricular standards; and explains the benefit of Pro-Black teaching for all children"--

"This comprehensive, user-friendly book provides a rationale and guidance for integrating teacher well-being content into both preservice and inservice professional learning environments. It explores the connections between teacher well-being, equity, and social justice, and shares examples of well-being programs that have been implemented throughout the United States"--

This popular book focuses on the leader’s role in initiating and sustaining anti-bias education in programs for young children and their families. This second edition emphasizes how the journey requires thoughtful, strategic, long-term planning that addresses all components of an early childhood care and education program. The authors, who are recognized leaders and experts on anti-bias education with extensive experience as early childhood directors, use a powerful combination of frameworks and practical tools to explain the structural and individual changes that leaders must foster. This updated edition features anti-bias leaders from diverse settings who share their insights and strategies for working with teachers and families. Book Features: The principles and guidelines for program-wide transformation.Professional development activities for teachers at all levels of experience.Approaches for engaging with families around social justice values.Strategies for strengthening the leader’s ability to initiate and sustain anti-bias change.Tools for documenting a program’s progress in anti-bias education. New for the Second Edition: Voices of additional leaders from the field, highlighting BIPOC center directors from diverse settings. Updated research, references, and terminology.Strategies and activities for teacher professional development and family engagement based on 7 years of using the first edition.Expanded section on responding to opposition to anti-bias education, addressing the current political environment. Praise for the First Edition! “This book is a tool box for building early childhood programs that foster sentiments of justice and fairness in leaders, teachers, and young children.” —Herbert Kohl, educator and bestselling author “A concise and powerful message for anti-bias leaders in early childhood education everywhere. A truly inspired gift of lessons from the movement, for the movement.” —Carol Brunson Day, board president, NAEYC (2014–2016) “For those who are seeking to make a real difference and impact on the world we live in, this book lays a road map and foundation for the work ahead.” —Luis A. Hernandez, early childhood education specialist “Recognizes the essential role early childhood administrators play in initiating and sustaining culturally relevant care and education. This book provides the tools program leaders need.” —Paula Jorde Bloom, founder, McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership “If you are an educator wanting to see more equity and inclusiveness in the world, you’ll find reassurance, resources, and strategic thinking to engage with in this anti-bias work.” —Margie Carter, author and international early childhood consultant

Learn how to navigate the challenging terrain of connecting with a child who is deeply afraid, angry, and/or sad. Framing this work as emotionally responsive teaching (ERT), this book expands current conceptualizations of trauma-informed practice to encompass more broadly the relational demands of supporting young children with challenging life circumstances. The author accomplishes this by (1) arguing that predominant discussions of trauma fail to consider the ways that traumatic responses may facilitate both risk and resilience in children’s lives, (2) describing the impact of traumatic experiences and exposure to chronic stress on children’s development, (3) articulating a framework for ERT, and (4) providing readers with applied strategies for practicing ERT in their classrooms. Throughout, readers are encouraged to transform the systems of oppression that are being manifested through children’s struggles in the classroom. Book Features: Provides models that guide teachers through the nuanced and sometimes overwhelming interactions they may have with children experiencing trauma.Shares the author’s own challenges and triumphs through case studies of pre-K–3rd grade classrooms to illustrate the process of emotionally responsive teaching.Builds on research from the fields of education, psychology, and counseling.Integrates current work on trauma-informed practice with the paradigm of culturally responsive pedagogy by framing trauma as often rooted in systems of inequity and oppression.

Now in a second edition, this popular resource shows teachers and childcare providers how to work with young children based on current neuroscience research. Revised and expanded, it contains a wealth of practical and specific activities and materials to use with infants and toddlers to enhance growth and development. For each activity presented, the text examines its relation to the rapid brain growth that characterizes the 0 to 3 years, including major developments in sensory reception, movement, language, cognition, memory, vision, and motivation. Featured materials, with guidance for their use and where to find them, include paint, mark-makers, man-made found objects, natural objects, clay, paper, and light and shadow. This edition features many full color images and two new chapters on using electronic technology with infants and toddlers written by outstanding early educators. This is an essential guide for trainers and professionals who work with very young children, as well as parents and other caregivers. Book Features: The interpretation of current neuroscience as a supplement to the wisdom of excellent early childhood educators. Numerous vignettes of teachers at work with young children inspired by the experiences of lifelong early educator Ann Lewin-Benham. New ideas regarding the responsible introduction of electronic technology to young children. Original color photos of children learning with traditional materials such as paint, clay, and fabric, as well as with electronic devices such as cameras and computers. Insights and practices of renowned cognitive psychologists, including Stanislas Dehaene. “In this well-researched and aptly illustrated book, master educator Ann Lewin-Benham surveys authorities (like Piaget), exemplary programs (like Reggio Emilia), materials (like paper and clay), as well as current research on the brain and on technology—and skillfully integrates them.” —Howard Gardner, Hobbs Research Professor of Cognition and Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education “A wealth of information and specific suggestions for creating learning environments that capitalize on current knowledge make this an invaluable guide for practitioners and teacher educators.” —Young Children “Ann Lewin-Benham’s book represents an extraordinarily comprehensive yet usable guide to the neuroscientific state-of-the-art in infant and toddler cognitive development. Full of practical recommendations for engaging young children’s brains with the physical world around them, this volume will connect strongly with educators and caregivers alike.” —Mariale Hardiman, interim dean, School of Education, Johns Hopkins University “As we learn more and more from neuroscience about the development of the infant brain, two things have become clear: how competent babies are, and how much they depend on relationships to frame their early development. In her new book Ann Lewin-Benham helps us to understand how to respectfully relate to the developing brain.” —J. Ronald Lally, co-director, Center for Child & Family Studies, WestEd

Early childhood education and care has been a political priority in England since 1997, when government finally turned its attention to this long-neglected area. Public funding has increased, policy initiatives have proliferated and at each general election political parties aim to outbid each other in their offer to families. Transforming Early Childhood in England: Towards a Democratic Education argues that, despite this attention, the system of early childhood services remains flawed and dysfunctional. National discourse is dominated by the cost and availability of childcare at the expense of holistic education, while a hotchpotch of fragmented provision staffed by a devalued workforce struggles with a culture of targets and measurement. With such deep-rooted problems, early childhood education and care in England is beyond minor improvements. In the context of austerity measures affecting many young families, transformative change is urgent.