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Written for early years practitioners who wish to support and develop children's thinking, Threads of Thinking, Third Edition, presents evidence of continuity and progression in young children's patterns of thinking and learning (schemas), and with detailed observations shows that they are able and active learners.

The author reviews children's patterns of learning and thinking and demonstrates clearly how children learn in an active, dynamic and creative way, using examples of young children 'in action', illustrating their learning in areas of literacy, mathematics and science. This new edition presents observations of babies and toddlers, discusses how their early schematic development can be supported, and includes examples of children learning through creative experiences in the arts. Focusing attention on children's own learning agendas, this resource thoroughly reviews implications for curriculum, assessment and working with parents.

This fully revised third edition includes abundant, detailed descriptions of children learning and discusses those observations in the light of our understanding about how children learn and how that influences early childhood teaching strategies.  .
Price: $28.68 [Notify me when price goes down.]

This book is an essential companion for all who work with children under 3 years old. It makes current research accessible and provides practical support material for curriculum, learning, teaching, planning, and assessment. The authors focus on work in settings of all kinds to promote best practice and offer a high quality experience for the age range.

Key Features

• Offers a theoretical foundation relevant to different social contexts
• Presents an accessible summary of research into learning and development
• Provides a review of current policies on provision Discusses international approaches to support learning and development
• Includes case studies and practice-based examples of approaches to developing effective and appropriate provision in group settings and home care

This book is for undergraduate and graduate courses in early childhood education..
Price: $23.00 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Praise for the First Edition:

"This is a thoughtful, well-crafted, easily accessible book. . . . I believe this book would work well for a variety of methodology courses, and I would direct students and colleagues to use it."
-Norman K. Denzin, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

"The greatest strength of this volume is the clarity of the frameworks that guide students through the complexities of methodology. . . . If more educational researchers understood some of the basic principles outlined in A Student’s Guide to Methodology, the debate about what constitutes rigorous, usable research would be more intelligent and ultimately lead to more profound changes in the relationship between research and educational practice."
-HARVARD EDUCATIONAL REVIEW (Spring 2004).

Essential for anyone undertaking a dissertation or theses, this book presents clear and straightforward information and advice on the process and functions of methodology. Although methodology is normally reported within a single methodology chapter, the authors show how every element of the account-from the framing of Research Questions to the drawing of Conclusions-is a function of methodology. They also clearly differentiate methodology and methods, and explain how their relationship is articulated in practice.

This Second Edition includes a range of new examples as well as updated readings and suggestions on using the internet as a research tool and resource. There is also further guidance on ethical issues-a key concern for all engaged in research with human participants in the light of new regulations-and additional sections on how to improve academic writing.

The text is supported by a series of activities, which will contribute directly to the writing of students' own methodology chapters..
Price: $35.80 [Notify me when price goes down.]

`This is a thoughtful, well-crafted, easily accessible book. It will be a treat to teach from, as it creates a series of exercises that reflexively build on one another, as the student moves from assignment to assignment, chapter to chapter, a solid body of knowledge and a nuanced set of interpretive tools are developed. I believe this book would work well for a variety of methodology courses, and I would direct students and colleagues to use it' - Norman K Denzin, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

`A text which students setting out on a masters or doctoral research journey will find invaluable' - Professor Peter Gilroy, Institute of Education, Manchester Metropolitan University

As a comprehensive and practical guide for students, this book presents clear and straightforward information and advice. The authors present a perspective on methodology as a process, which begins from the moment that curiosity about a topic is aroused. Although in dissertations and theses methodology is normally reported within a single methodology chapter, the authors show how every element of the account - from the framing of Research Questions to the drawing of Conclusions - is a function of methodology. Methodology describes what lies behind every single decision made in the creation of a research study.

Methodology is about justifying the decisions researchers make in selecting and using their methods. The successful dissertation persuades the reader that what the researcher chose to do was not only appropriate but also necessary.

The authors distinguish clearly between methods and methodology, and describe in detail how their relationship is articulated in practice. Methodology is not just a chapter, but a process, which begins from day one of research design.

The text is supported by a series of activities, which will contribute directly to the writing of students' own methodology chapters. The authors refer to a wide range of other contemporary research guides, and include useful suggested Further Reading in specific areas.

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Price: $4.04 [Notify me when price goes down.]

`The 'Raising Early Achievement in Literacy' or REAL project was the result of a collaboration between the University of Sheffield, Sheffield LEA and schools and centres across the city of Sheffield, starting in 1995. For those interested in developing their own projects in this field it will provide essential information. It contains many examples of work carried out this in this project.

Many examples are given that could prompt practitioners to identify ways in which they too could focus their own input with children or help their parent group to interact with their children's developing literacy' - Early Years Update

`A "must read" for practitioners, policy makers and researchers interested in the detail and the theory underpinning this important family literacy initiative' - Neil McClelland OBE, Director, National Literacy Trust

`The REAL Project is one of the best conceptualized, most intensively documented and successful British family literacy initiatives and the book provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of this powerful project. It is essential reading for anyone working alongside families to promote children's early development' - Professor Nigel Hall, Institute of Education, Manchester Metropolitan University

'The project described in detail in this book is arguably the most important and well-researched UK initiative for developing early literacy work with parents of young children.

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Readers will find inspirational case studies ... There are illuminating insights into children's perspectives on family literacy, including good news about fathers and boys.

...

Don't miss it!' - Marian Whitehead, Nursery World

Anyone involved in the field of early-childhood literacy should be familiar with the work of the REAL (Raising Early Achievement in Literacy) Project. Here, leading members of the project team Cathy Nutbrown, Peter Hannon and Anne Morgan, discuss the research. An essential guide to the subject, this book will be of great practical use to all in the field of early childhood literacy: students, practitioners and course leaders on literacy and early childhood courses.

The authors discuss the policy contexts of early-childhood and literacy today and use their experience of the REAL project to discuss and illustrate practical research and evaluation strategies for family literacy workers. They examine the issues from all perspectives: teachers, parents and young children. The book concludes with examples of how the theoretical framework of the REAL Project (ORIM) has been used by other practitioners and an examination of the implications of such work for the future of early-childhood and literacy policy development.

The book also includes:

- An informative update on research in the field

- A description of the family literacy programme

- Useful activities for family literacy work

- Guidelines for interviewing parents and children

- Suggestions for how to evaluate family literacy work

- Ideas for practical sessions for professional development for family literacy workers

- A Guide to further reading

This is an important book and should be read by anyone wishing to keep pace with the field of family literacy in early childhood education..
Price: $110.34 [Notify me when price goes down.]