Whole-Child Development, Learning, and Thriving


Book Description

We discuss whole-child development, learning, and thriving through a dynamic systems theory lens that focuses on the United States and includes an analysis of historical challenges in the American public education system, including inequitable resources, opportunities, and outcomes. To transform US education systems, developmental and learning scientists, educators, policymakers, parents, and communities must apply the knowledge they have today to 1. challenge the assumptions and goals that drove the design of the current US education system, 2. articulate a revised, comprehensive definition of whole-child development, learning, and thriving that accepts rather than simplifies how human beings develop, 3. create a profound paradigm shift in how the purpose of education is described in the context of social, cultural, and political forces, including the impacts of race, privilege, and bias and 4. describe a new dynamic 'language' for measurement of both the academic competencies and the full set of 21st century skills.




With the Whole Child in Mind


Book Description

Among the many models of school reform that have emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, one has endured for more than 50 years: the School Development Program (SDP). Established in 1968 by renowned child psychiatrist James P. Comer and the Yale Child Study Center, the SDP is grounded in the belief that successful schooling—particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds—must focus on the whole child. With that in mind, the SDP encompasses both academics and social-emotional development, and it is founded on positive and productive relationships among students, teachers, school leaders, and parents. With the Whole Child in Mind describes the SDP's six developmental pathways (cognitive, social, psychological, physical, linguistic, and ethical) and explains how the program's nine key components (in the form of mechanisms, operations, and guiding principles) create a comprehensive approach to educating children for successful outcomes. Firsthand recollections by Comer, school leaders and teachers, and SDP staff members provide an inside look at the challenges and successes that eventually transformed severely underperforming schools into models of excellence. Linda Darling-Hammond, one of the country's foremost experts on K-12 education, and her colleagues argue persuasively for the continuing relevance of the SDP. Far too many schools still operate in a high-pressure environment that emphasizes testing and standardized curricula while ignoring the fundamental importance of personal connections that make a profound difference for students. Fifty years on, the SDP is still just as powerful as ever.




The Whole Child


Book Description

Written in a warm, engaging style, this text embraces the emergent approach to fostering cognitive skills in children from birth through age five. It provides a complete developmental approach to early childhood education, giving teachers the specific skills they need to teach the whole child-emotionally, socially, physically, creatively and cognitively. The author believes that physical and emotional health are fundamental to the well-being of children and provides practical methods and materials that address the entire individual, not just curriculum topics. A strength of the book is while it focuses on the five developmental selves of children, it places them in the context of contemporary family life and the multicultural world of today. - Thoroughly updated with current research and expanded topics - Over 100 new citations and references, updated statistics, and new or expanded topics. education with new discussions on advocacy, child abuse and neglect, outdoor play, multiple intelligences, asthma, and many more - Increased coverage of Diversity - Incorporates content on infant and toddler education and care throughout. - Material on the Reggio Emilia approach - Offered throughout the text wherever its strategies are appropriate and effective - Three types of review questions featured in each chapter - 1) Content - related, 2) Integrative, and 3) Diversity - Annotated updated references at the end of each chapter includes Pick of the Litter features to denote citations that are particularly interesting. - Hundreds of references classified by type in one of the most extensive bibliographies of any text in the field.




Developing the Whole Child


Book Description

The critical importance of the early years is now recognized and it is widely acknowledged that early learning and experience remain crucial to all later development. A limited amount of publications are beginning to address the emotional and social domain. However, there are few if any publications which address the important areas of moral and spiritual growth. This book addresses the emotional, social, moral and spiritual progress of the young child. One of the vital aspects of this book is its proposal to optimize the progress of these areas within the context of the whole child. Its use of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as its structural base to outline the needs of children provides a very useful framework for the reader to fully comprehend just what is involved. Though written by an Irish author the book tackles developmental areas and indeed philosophical questions which are important all over the world. The book shows that at present we are not doing the best for our children and the negative repercussions of this are being felt in homes, schools, communities and in societies worldwide. be provided for children in those vital early years so that children have happy and fulfilling experiences. The book puts the onus on the reader to start making changes immediately. If we ignore this book's contents we do so at our peril. Thus this book makes a very valuable contribution to scholarship and one that can not be ignored.




The Whole Child


Book Description

'The Whole Child' is a practical methods book that explains how to teach young children in ways that foster healthy development. This text pictures the child as being made up of 'selves' - emotional, social, physical, creative, and cognitive - and then examines each of those selves in turn.




Centering Whole-Child Development in Global Education Reform


Book Description

This volume offers critical analysis of national school reform policies intended to align with global agendas to promote educational quality and equity. By uniquely foregrounding the need for education reform to nurture child well-being alongside traditional measures of academic achievement, the book identifies common challenges across the Global North and South and extends insights provided by international student assessment data. Chapters offer a close analysis of reform practices in countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas to consider cultural, social, political, and functional aspects which drive or inhibit the success of reform initiatives. Providing excellent insights into holistic education for children and youth, this book highlights lessons to support global efforts in providing high-quality, equitable education for the whole child. Developing international knowledge and supplementing international data, this volume will be of interest to students, scholars, and researchers with an interest in education policy, as well as comparative and international education.




Challenging the Whole Child


Book Description

Focuses on challenging every student, offering a rigorous curriculum, meeting 21st century learning challenges, using formative assessments, and preparing students for college and the world of work.




The Whole Child


Book Description




Educating the Whole Child


Book Description

While everyone wants students to be healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged, it's tough to work toward that vision when there are so many other priorities and constraints. That's why we've developed this special tool to help you lead and implement a school- or district-wide initiative for the Whole Child. Using the tools and guidelines in this action tool, you can Convince teacher, parent, and other audiences of the rationale for a Whole Child initiative Focus your school and community on developing and maintaining an intellectually engaging and challenging learning environment Focus your school and community on preparing 21st century students Put forward a plan to address students' health and safety issues Guide your school toward a more personalized and supportive learning environment Included is a single use of the Whole Child Assessment Survey to give you baseline data and help you assess your school's current strengths and weaknesses. Downloadable professional learning activities with a Powerpoint presentation make it much easier for you to conduct a professional development focused on educating the Whole Child. Plus, a school improvement planning process gives you steps and strategies for leading a successful Whole Child initiative.




Infancy


Book Description

Lisa M. Oakes, Vanessa Lobue, and Marianella Casasola′s Infancy: The Development of the Whole Child unites historically important and cutting-edge theories and research to illustrate the development of the whole child from birth to age three. Topically organized and written in a conversational tone, the text illustrates the interconnected nature of development through links within its bio-psycho-social coverage. Through its inclusive approach, students see individual similarities and differences in development as a function of factors such as culture, language experience, parenting style, and socioeconomic status. Stories from the authors′ own experiences with infants highlight connections between research and parenting, social policy, and everyday contexts, effectively bringing the topics to life for students. Included with this title: LMS Cartridge: Import this title’s instructor resources into your school’s learning management system (LMS) and save time. Don’t use an LMS? You can still access all of the same online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site. Learn more.