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Early Childhood Education
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Early Childhood Education
Society and Culture

Second Edition


March 2009 | 248 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

This fully revised and up-to-date edition examines sociocultural and historical approaches to current theories of learning in early childhood education. It sets out research-based evidence linking theory and practice in early childhood settings.

Written by leading figures in the field, the book extends a strong and traditional theme—the importance of the child's perspective and respect for each child's individual background.

Within the context of early years settings, the book is structured around four overall themes:

  • The dynamics of learning and teaching
  • The nature of knowledge
  • Assessment
  • Evaluation and quality

This book is essential reading for undergraduate and advanced courses in early childhood studies.


Angela Anning, Joy Cullan and Marilyn Fleer
Research Contexts across Cultures
 
PART ONE: CONCEPTUALIZATIONS OF LEARNING AND PEDAGOGY IN EARLY YEARS SETTINGS
Elizabeth Wood
Developing a Pedagogy of Play
Barbara Jordan
Scaffolding Learning and Co-Constructing Understandings
Glenda MacNaughton
Exploring Critical Constructivist Perspectives on Children's Learning
 
PART TWO: THE NATURE OF KNOWLEDGE IN EARLY YEARS SETTINGS
Angela Anning
The Co-Construction of an Early Childhood Curriculum
Joy Cullen
Adults Co-Constructing Professional Knowledge
Denise Williams-Kennedy
Building Bridges between Literacies
 
PART THREE: ASSESSMENT IN EARLY YEARS SETTINGS
Bronwen Cowie and Margaret Carr
The Consequences of Sociological Assessment
Peter Tymms and Christine Merrell
On-Entry Baseline Assessment across Cultures
Marilyn Fleer and Carmel Richardson
Cultural-Historical Assessment: Mapping the Transformation of Understanding
 
PART FOUR: EVALUATION AND QUALITY IN EARLY YEARS SETTINGS
Iram Siraj-Blatchford
Quality Teaching in the Early Years
Valerie N Podmore
Questioning Evaluation Quality in Early Childhood
Susan Hill and Susan Nichols
Multiple Pathways between Home and School Literacies
 
PART FIVE: CONCLUSION
Marilyn Fleer, Angela Anning and Joy Cullen
A Framework for Conceptualizing Early Childhood Education

'The authors who have contributed to this book bring a wealth of expertise and a wide range of research findings. This gives the reader the opportunity to link theory with practice in a helpful and illuminating way' - Early Years Update


Every chapter will be relevant to students and practitioners working in early years. Found it difficult to put the book down - such an interesting read.

Miss Alyson Lewis
Newport School of Education, University of Wales, Newport
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With contributions from well respected authors, this publication focuses on the sociocultural and historical approaches to theories of learning. Learning and pedagogy, the nature of knowledge, assessment and evaluation and quality in the Early Years are all examined within a balanced format. Discussion points and contextualised examples enhance the overall effect.

Mr John Humphreys, MEd,MA
School of Education, Bangor University
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A wonderful book. This brings together multiple perspectives and provides insightful reading for second year students.

Mrs Abigail Gosling
Education Studies, Bedfordshire University
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This book will be very useful to degree students throughout their studies. It's a book I have dipped in and out of and I am sure students will do the same. Some of the ideas and concepts will challenge students thinking. The critical link between theory and practice and the use of case studies used in some of the chapters will help students engage with the ideas presented to them and widen their perspectives of working with children and families.

Mrs Jackie Braithwaite
East Cheshire Business School, Macclesfield College
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Interesting, a good book to provide further supplementary information.

Mrs Jane Smithson
Education , Bedfordshire University
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This text places early education securely within a socio-cultural framework. Anning, Cullen and Fleer draw on other current research to explore the context of society in early childhood pyschological and sociological development and present a number of current theories for reflection. The case studies provide rich teaching material for discussion and encouraging students to take their understanding further. The course is Childhood and Family Studies and this text will be useful for a number of modules.

Mrs Karen Clarke
School of Education, Wolverhampton University
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this book offers the reader a view of the effects society and culture can have on education

Mrs Kerrie Lee
Centre for Educational Studies, Hull University
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Good to find a book at a graduate level. Each chapter delivers up to date research and thinking and is essential for the student who is broadening their knowledge beyond the scope of their own UK practice

Mrs Margaret Dobbs
Department of Early Years & Childcare, Bridgwater College
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An excellent book. All chapters are relevant and bring together contributions from respected authors in the field. I will use the case studies for evaluation of UK and Global contexts with students across the range of Early years and Childhood courses that I teach on. Challenges sociocultural and historical approaches to theories of learning.

Mrs Sharon Colilles
Carnegie Faculty of Sports & Education, Leeds Metropolitan University
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