A Vygotskian Analysis of Children's Play Behaviours


Book Description

This book brings a refreshing Vygotskian perspective to the importance of children’s play, and the role it has in the physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of young children. The authors use a praxeological approach and participatory, ethical research to provide a comprehensive yet accessible addition to the crucial and expanding field of Early Years play. Including illustrative vignettes and case studies, and covering a range of contexts, theories and approaches, the experienced authors explore a variety of topics, including: Role-play and Early Years practice Incorporating technology into practice Scenario and role development Play in the home as well as the classroom Endorsed by EECERA, A Vygotskian Analysis of Children's Play Behaviours is an ideal choice for Early Years practitioners, researchers, policy makers, and academics researching or lecturing in early childhood education.




Tools of the Mind


Book Description

Now in its third edition, this classic text remains the seminal resource for in-depth information about major concepts and principles of the cultural-historical theory developed by Lev Vygotsky, his students, and colleagues, as well as three generations of neo-Vygotskian scholars in Russia and the West. Featuring two new chapters on brain development and scaffolding in the zone of proximal development, as well as additional content on technology, dual language learners, and students with disabilities, this new edition provides the latest research evidence supporting the basics of the cultural-historical approach alongside Vygotskian-based practical implications. With concrete explanations and strategies on how to scaffold young children’s learning and development, this book is essential reading for students of early childhood theory and development.







Piaget and Vygotsky in XXI century


Book Description

The book provides a comprehensive analyses of Vygotsky’s and Piaget’s theories implementation in modern preschool education. It analyzes the problem of the relationship between the natural and the cultural in the context of Vygotsky and Jean Piaget theories. Their discourses complemented each other: whereas Vygotsky developed his theory in the direction from society (culture) to the individual child, Piaget’s movement was the opposite: from individual child to society. These two approaches confront modern world with the need to analyze the problem of childhood: is childhood a period of cultural exploration or is it a special form of relationship in which both the egocentrism and consciousness of the child, and the egocentrism and consciousness of culture are represented? Readers will gain insight into the methodology that makes possible to unite up-to-date views based on Vygotsky and Piaget theories on child development and education.




Teacher Education and Play Pedagogy


Book Description

Play has always been vital to the field of early childhood education, for teacher educators and early years teachers, as a pedagogy and way of organizing learning. With diverse perspectives from scholars around the world, Teacher Education and Play Pedagogy is a unique text focusing on teacher education for play pedagogy and uniquely blends research and praxis on authentically implementing play practices. This book is divided into two main sections: part 1 unfolds the different ways in which teacher educators have been preparing early years teachers to support children’s play and consider professional preparation for a play pedagogy; part 2 provides information on how teachers take on different roles, act in diverse ways to effectively support children to develop play skills, to learn and develop. With contributions from across the early childhood spectrum, researchers present their empirical work through multiple forms of data with deep reflections and critical stances towards the play pedagogy implementation. Teacher Education and Play Pedagogy is a valuable text for early childhood education undergraduate and graduate courses, for early childhood education researchers, as well as an essential reference for professional development programs and seminars.




The Neo-Vygotskian Approach to Child Development


Book Description

The innovative neo-Vygotskian approach to child development is introduced to English-speaking readers.




Scaffolding Children's Learning


Book Description

Alberta Authorized Resource for kindergarten 1997-2002.




The Integration of Internet of Toys in Early Childhood Education


Book Description

This book offers a fresh look at recent developments in policy, curricula and pedagogical discourse around children’s play with Internet of Toys (IoToys). By expanding the notion of digital and smart play perspectives in early childhood education, the authors critique and develop the broader subject area of IoToys play to better serve its end users. The book brings together research from across three different countries: Australia, Norway and England. It offers tangible examples of how one can use IoToys to build children’s social skills, emotional intelligence, sense of achievement, collaboration and aspects of STEM and design play thinking processes. The learning stories of children’s IoToys play will deliver a comprehensive review of how practitioners and parents can come together to build communities of practice for (re)enhancing children’s learning and growth using evolving technology-based play and engage in paradigmatic debates. Readers as a result will better appreciate the growth in pragmatic applications of technologies together with theoretical perspectives. The book will be a valuable resource for any academic or practitioner just beginning to understand the complexities and success stories of integrating IoToys for children’s playful learning.




Primary Teaching


Book Description

The second edition of this core text from Learning Matters asks: What is teaching? Does curriculum really matter? Does behaviour need ′managing′? What is a learning environment today? Does my classroom reflect the identities of all of my learners? How can I bring the theme of sustainability to my teaching? Discussing these and many more, it covers the contents of professional studies modules and goes beyond to support trainees on placements and in their learning on the course. Five new chapters are added for this edition discussing themes of sustainability, teacher self care, diversity in the curriculum, sex and relationships education and our new understanding of learning environments. Learning features throughout have been designed to help students develop their understanding, broaden their perspectives, think more critically and apply theory to practice. These include: Case Studies to apply learning to real-life school contexts. Key Readings to encourage wider reading, broaden perspectives and offer practical ideas for the classroom. Key Theory features introduce and summarise big ideas, theories and research. Critical Questions direct reflection, help students engage with what their reading and encourage critical responses. Classroom Links highlight good practice, provide practical ideas and show how to implement these in the classroom. Assignment features offer helpful points to consider and practical advice for writing assignments on chapter topics, which act as great starting points.




Children's Play and Development


Book Description

This book provides new theoretical insights to our understanding of play as a cultural activity. All chapters address play and playful activities from a cultural-historical theoretical approach by re-addressing central claims and concepts in the theory and providing new models and understandings of the phenomenon of play within the framework of cultural historical theory. Empirical studies cover a wide range of institutional settings: preschool, school, home, leisure time, and in various social relations (with peers, professionals and parents) in different parts of the world (Europe, Australia, South America and North America). Common to all chapters is a goal of throwing new light on the phenomenon of playing within a theoretical framework of cultural-historical theory. Play as a cultural, collective, social, personal, pedagogical and contextual activity is addressed with reference to central concepts in relation to development and learning. Concepts and phenomena related to ZPD, the imaginary situation, rules, language play, collective imagining, spheres of realities of play, virtual realities, social identity and pedagogical environments are presented and discussed in order to bring the cultural-historical theoretical approach into play with contemporary historical issues. Essential as a must read to any scholar and student engaged with understanding play in relation to human development, cultural historical theory and early childhood education.