Young Investigators

by Helm, Judy Harris; Katz, Lilian

• ISBN13: 9780807740163
• ISBN10: 0807740160
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-11-01
• Publisher: Teachers College Pr

Summary

This work aims to illustrate how children#x14;even those considered "at-risk"#x14;may benefit from the exploratory and child-initiated nature of project investigations in order to achieve mastery of basic literacy skills. It also presents student-initiated learning as a starting point for dynamic and responsive teaching. The story of how projects emerge, develop, and culminate is told through a combination of teacher interviews and vivid accounts of classroom practice. Building upon inclusionary and child-centred practices, the authors offer a much-needed perspective on the pre-primary years. Key features include: an emphasis on how teachers solve the practical problems of doing projects with young children, including selecting topics, organizing the classroom, setting up field visits, encouraging children to represent what they are learning, and involving parents; chapters written from practice, including some in full colour; examples of children's art and writing; classroom materials; and a step-by-step guide for teachers to use in guiding and documenting projects.

Author Biography

Judy Harris Helm is Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education, National College of Education at National-Louis University, Wheeling Campus.

Table of Contents

Preface	viii
Acknowledgments	ix
Projects and Young Children	1	(11)
The Project Approach	1	(3)
Benefits of Projects in the Early Years	4	(2)
Opportunities and Constraints of the Early Years	6	(2)
Guiding Projects with Young Children	8	(4)
Getting Started	12	(15)
Selecting Project Topics	12	(6)
Anticipatory Teacher Planning	18	(1)
Building Common Experiences	19	(1)
Finding Out What Children Know	20	(3)
Developing Questions for Investigation	23	(1)
Setting Up the Classroom for Investigation	23	(3)
The Next Phase	26	(1)
Developing the Project	27	(8)
Beginning Phase II	27	(2)
Preparing for Investigation	29	(5)
Moving into Investigation	34	(1)
Investigation	35	(16)
Field-site Visits	35	(7)
Debriefing	42	(8)
Moving into Phase III	50	(1)
Concluding the Project	51	(16)
Culminating the Project	51	(4)
The Power of Documentation	55	(1)
Types of Documentation	56	(7)
Using Materials and Equipment for Documentation	63	(1)
Distilling Documentation	64	(1)
Evaluating the Project	65	(2)
Issues in Guiding Projects with Young Children	67	(16)
Curriculum Requirements, Standards, and Projects	67	(7)
Involving Parents	74	(2)
Utilization of Technology	76	(1)
Using the Project Approach with Specific Populations	77	(3)
Administrators' Support of the Project Approach	80	(2)
Learning as a Journey	82	(1)
The Fire Truck Project	83	(16)
The Children's Journey	83	(13)
Closing Thoughts	96	(3)
References	99	(4)
Index	103	(4)
About the Authors	107	(1)
Project Planning Journal