Description
Enhance young children's language skills with this proven play-focused preschool curriculum, drawn from more than 20 years of field testing and outcomes! This highly adaptable, flexible program is a practical and significantly expanded follow-up to the bestselling
Building a Language Focused Curriculum for the Preschool Classroom.
Teachers will get a year's worth of lessons: 40 weeks of curriculum plans, including weekly themes, dramatic play activities, art, suggested story and song selections, and group lesson plans laid out in a week-by-week format. Detailed information on themes, lesson plans, and teaching strategies allow this program to be effectively implemented by educators at any experience level.
With this proven curriculum—selected by ASHA for the Department of Education as a model program for Early Reading First—preschool educators and SLPs will
- implement speech and language intervention in the classroom
- enhance the language skills of all children, including children with language impairments, children from low resource backgrounds, and English language learners
- ensure quality preschool programming with both the Fidelity Checklist, which helps preschools replicate the program accurately, and the Learning Observation Guide for measuring progress
- support cognitive, motor, and social skill development
With these activities, field-tested with more than 500 children in public schools and university training programs, preschool teachers and SLPs will be sure they're providing the best language and literacy programming for all children. And because the activities are fun and engaging, they'll get preschoolers excited about learning and improve children's school readiness.
Reviews
Review: Midwest Book Review, California Bookwatch
"A must for any serious early education collection."
Review by: Doris Penrose, Smooka Bear Childcare Academy, Toledo, Ohio
"A well-rounded program that enhances early learners' abilities in the areas of cognitive, social emotional, fine and large motor skills. A much-needed, fundamental advance."
Review by: Frank J. McKendall, Executive Director, Stone Soup Child Care Programs
"Filled with highly interesting activities for pre-school language and social development. The lesson plan format encourages children to participate."
Review by: Marlene Cousens, Reading Specialist, Education Department, Yakima Valley Community College
"As a reading specialist I have witnessed the ideas and actions promoted in this dynamic book and seen first-hand how motivating the book is. Thank you for continuing the fire to promote literacy in young children."
Review by: Helen Ezell, University of Pittsburgh, co-author, Shared Storybook Reading: Building Young Children's Language and Emergent Literacy Skills
"An indispensable resource for all early childhood professionals . . . precisely what young children need to prepare for the literacy demands ahead."
Review by: Andrea DeBruin-Parecki, Associate Professor, Early Childhood, Old Dominion University
"A nice balance of teacher-led and child-centered activities . . . Implementing these carefully researched materials will positively enhance the literacy instruction and environment of a preschool classroom."
Table of Contents
About the Author
Contributors
Foreword: Mabel L. Rice
Preface
Acknowledgments
I. Foundations of the Language-Focused Curriculum
- General Philosophy of the Language-Focused Curriculum
- Curriculum Structure for Naturalistic Learning
- Language Intervention in the Language-Focused Curriculum
- Research on the Language-Focused Curriculum: Teacher Training and Implementation Fidelity
Laura Justice, Alice K. Wiggins, and Khara L. Pence
- Overview of Speech and Language Outcomes and Progress Monitoring
II. Lesson Plans
FALL SEMESTER
September Monthly Planning Guide
Week 1: Class Favorites
Week 2: Places in the Community
Week 3: Transportation
Week 4: Occupations
Week 5: Food
October Monthly Planning Guide
Week 6: The Five Senses
Week 7: Vacation
Week 8: All About Fall
Week 9: Places in the Community
Week 10: Halloween
November Monthly Planning Guide
Week 11: Things Big Kids Do
Week 12: All About Animals
Week 13: Taking Care of Ourselves and Our World
Week 14: Homes—Thanksgiving Week
Week 15: Adventure
December Monthly Planning Guide
Week 16: Occupations
Week 17: Seasons
Week 18: Hobbies
Week 19: At the Mall
Week 20: The Elements
SPRING SEMESTER
January Monthly Planning Guide
Week 21: Places in the Community
Week 22: Seasons
Week 23: Places Animals Live
Week 24: Homes Across the Ages
February Monthly Planning Guide
Week 25: Occupations
Week 26: Friendship/Valentine's Day
Week 27: Weekend Chores
Week 28: Exploring
March Monthly Planning Guide
Week 29: Family Fun
Week 30: Spring
Week 31: Taking Care of Ourselves
Week 32: Vacations
April Monthly Planning Guide
Week 33: Places Around the World
Week 34: The Elements
Week 35: Hobbies
Week 36: Community Helpers
May Monthly Planning Guide
Week 37: The Five Senses
Week 38: Places People Work
Week 39: Things Big Kids Do
Week 40: All About Food
III. ResourcesAppendix A
Blank Planning Guides and Lesson Plans
Blank Monthly Planning Guide
Blank Weekly Monthly Planning Guide
Blank Daily Planning Guide
Blank Lesson Plans for Dramatic Play, Art, and Group Activities
Appendix B: Learning Observation Guide
Bibliography of Children's Books
References
Index