Books
The Inclusive Learning Center Book
The Inclusive Learning Center Book is designed for teachers and directors who work with all young children, including those with special needs. Offering both traditional and unique centers, the plans for each center include learning objectives, letters to parents, layout, vocabulary, props, activities, and literacy connections. The final section has assessment and evaluation tools. The activities in the 31 learning centers include ways to adapt each center for children with a variety of special needs, such as physical challenges, speech and language problems, developmental and/or cognitive delays, behavioral challenges, visual challenges, and autism spectrum disorder.
The Complete Learning Spaces Book for Infants and Toddlers
Fill your classroom with playful learning spaces specially designed for infants and toddlers using these easy-to-implement ideas. This comprehensive book includes ideas for planning, using, and evaluating age-appropriate learning spaces, such as “I See”, “I Move,” and “I Hear”. Information for each learning space is complete with detailed illustrations of the layout of the space, learning objectives, lists of props, age-appropriate activities, literacy connections, and vocabulary lists. This book is essential for every infant and toddler program.
Sensory Integration: A guide for preschool teachers
Do you have a child in your early childhood classroom who:
- Climbs on top of furniture and jumps off?
- Covers his ears when children are singing?
- Refuses to touch clay, paint, or sand?
- Often falls down and skins his or her knees?
- Refuses to play on outdoor playground equipment?
If so, it is possible this child is having trouble with sensory integration. How can teachers help children with these problems so they can enjoy learning and grow in positive ways? The Sensory Integration Book helps identify children who have difficulties with sensory processing and offers preschool teachers simple, easy-to-use solutions to support the sensory needs of young children in the preschool classroom. Easy-to-implement solutions include adaptations and activities for children with different types of Sensory Processing Disorder. This book has a bonus chapter with instructions on creating low-cost items to help children with sensory issues.
Mighty Fine Motor Fun: Fine Motor Activities for Young Children
Teachers know how important it is to develop children’s fine motor skills as a stepping stone to future learning. Christy Isbell’s new book, Mighty Fine Motor Fun, provides teachers with the tools and information to teach fine motor skills to children ages three to five. Isbell covers a wide range of current research on fine motor development, from developmental differences between boys and girls to guideposts for what is developmentally appropriate for children at each age.
The activities in Mighty Fine Motor Fun are organized by age; they are useful and creative, but most important, they are fun! With few materials needed, teachers will find that the activities are perfect for both large and small groups, and are easy to integrate into any curriculum.
Activities include:
- Moving Bubbles
- Hide-and-Seek Playdough
- Tape It Up!
- Shape Person
- Itsy Bitsy Writing Utensils
- Paper Mobile
In the final chapter of the book, author and occupational therapist Christy Isbell answers real questions from preschool teachers, including “Should preschoolers use ‘fat’ or ‘skinny’ pencils?” “What type of paper is best for cutting?” and “When should a child use an adult-like grasp of the pencil?”
Teachers will appreciate the practical, real-world knowledge Isbell offers, and children will love the playful, absorbing activities!
Everyday Play: Fun Games to Develop the Fine Motor Skills Your Child Needs for School
Organized by age for easy referencing, the dozens of creative activities in Everyday Play are perfect for children aged three to five, and they develop the fine motor skills every child needs for school. More than just an activity book, Everyday Play is full of information for parents, including advice from the author, developmental guideposts, and easy strategies for teaching children important skills.
The activities are inexpensive, requiring few or no materials or props. The language is conversational, so parents at every experience level will feel comfortable and capable. But most of all, teaching the skills in Everyday Play provides parents with an opportunity to have fun with their child while laying the foundation for success in school.
Activities include:
- No-Mess Finger Painting
- Racing Tracks
- Squeezy Water Play
- Graph Paper Art
- Water Droppers
Fine motor skills are a stepping stone for school readiness, and Everyday Play gives parents the tools they need to make developing those skills easy and fun!
