Teaching Early Years Curriculum, pedagogy and assessment

'This new early childhood text provides a comprehensive overview of early childhood education in Australia for children from birth to eight years. It reports on a wide variety of significant early childhood topics and is written in a style directed towards early childhood professionals.' - Kim Walters, President, Early Childhood Teachers Association

The early years of care and learning are recognised as crucial for ongoing educational success and future participation in society. Early childhood professionals need specialist preparation to understand and effectively support early years learners.

Teaching Early Years offers a systematic, research-based introduction to educating children from birth to eight years. Leading educators identify the key priorities in early years education and cover developmental issues, curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. Each chapter concludes with questions that guide reflection of the concepts developed in the chapter.

Written for early childhood education students, childcare workers and education leaders, Teaching Early Years is an essential resource for anyone involved in caring for and educating early years learners.

List of tables and figures

Contributors

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgements

PART I: THE CONTEXT OF EARLY YEARS LEARNING

1 Early years in Australia

2 The importance of early years education

3 The nature of the early years learner

4 The nurture of the early years learner

PART II: CURRICULUM PRACTICES FOR THE EARLY YEARS

5 Literacy

6 Numeracy

7 Science

8 The arts

9 Digital technology

10 Health and physical education

PART III: PEDAGOGICAL PRACTICES FOR THE EARLY YEARS

11 Play-based learning

12 Transitions

13 Partnerships

14 Social and emotional well-being

15 Diversity and differentiation

16 Gifted and talented children

PART IV: ASSESSMENT PRACTICES FOR THE EARLY YEARS

17 Assessment and culture

18 Assessment

PART V: IMPERATIVES FOR THE EARLY YEARS

19 Professionalism and leadership

20 Evidence-based practice

21 Gender

22 Communities of practice

Index