Skills for Preschool Teachers

Dr. Janice J. Beaty is not only a writer of many college texts for early childhood educators but is also a traveler. Her books for Pearson include Skills for Preschool Teachers, 10/e, 2017 (also in Chinese), Early Literacy in Preschool & Kindergarten with L.Pratt, 4/e, 2015, Observing Development of the Young Child, 8/e, 2014, Fifty Early Childhood Literacy Strategies, 3/e, 2013 , (both also in Chinese). She is also the author of Preschool Appropriate Practices, 4/e, 2014, (also in Chinese). She has visited early childhood programs in China, Russia, Poland, and Bermuda and throughout Missouri where she has done training of Foster Grandparents who work in Head Start classrooms. She taught for 20 years at Elmira College where she developed a CDA Training of Trainers workshop and presented it in Elmira, NY, Columbia, SC, Atlanta, GA, & Orlando, FL. When she is not writing early childhood texts, you might find her “out west” in one of the national parks featured in her latest children’s books: Jarod and the Mystery of the Joshua Trees, 2015, or Jarod and the Mystery of the Petroglyphs, 2016, Sunstone Press, for middle school readers.

• Brief Table of Contents1 Maintaining a Safe Classroom2 Maintaining a Healthy Classroom3 Establishing a Learning Environment4 Advancing Physical Skills5 Advancing Cognitive Skills6 Advancing Communication Skills7 Advancing Creative Skills8 Building a Positive Self-Concept9 Promoting Social Skills10 Providing Guidance11 Promoting Family Involvement12 Providing Program Management 13 Promoting Professionalism Detailed Table of ContentsIntroduction The In-Service Training Option Skills Based on Child Development Associate Training Textbook Chapters from Functional Areas Competency Standards, Functional Areas, Chapters Teacher Skills Checklist Assessment for In-Service Training Option Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards 1 Maintaining a Safe ClassroomSet Up Safe Classroom Environment Bathroom Stairs/Exits Promote Toy and Materials Safety Within Each Learning Center Art CenterBlock-Building CenterBook CenterComputer CenterCooking CenterDramatic Play CenterGross-Motor CenterManipulative/Math CenterMusic/Listening CenterSand/Water/Sensory TableScience/Discovery CenterWoodworking CenterWriting CenterBattery-Operated Toys and Video Games Safety ChecklistGeneral Room ConditionsVideo 1.1 Fire Safety Keep Outdoor Playground Safe and Secure Video 1.2 Physical Development: Early Childhood Books as Lead-Ins to Playground Safety ActivitiesPlan and Implement Necessary Emergency Procedures Emergency Illnesses or InjuriesPreparing for AccidentsInjury Safety Activities Weather EmergenciesBooks as Lead-Ins to Emergency Weather ActivitiesEmergency ExitingBooks as Lead-Ins to Fire Fighting Activities Emergency Evacuation PlansProvide a Safe Atmosphere Through Teacher Behavior Teacher's BehaviorDissipate FearBook as a Lead-In to Talking About Fear Supervising Classroom AreasAnticipating Unsafe BehaviorRedirecting Unsafe BehaviorModeling Safe BehaviorInvolving Children in Safety RulesCar and School Bus SafetyBooks as Lead-Ins to School Bus Safety ActivitiesField Trip SafetyBook as a Lead-In to Field Trip Manners Promote Personal Safety for Each Child Bullying Books as Lead-Ins to Talking About Bullying Summary Do You Know? Learning Activities 2 Maintaining a Healthy Classroom Set Up a Healthy Classroom Environment Emphasizing Children's Wellness Children's Wellness Encourage Children to Become Physically Fit Through Exercise and Rest Physical Fitness Physical Fitness GuidelinesPhysical Fitness ActivitiesBooks as Lead-Ins to Classroom Physical ActivitiesRestingBooks as Lead-Ins to Resting/NappingPromote Good Nutrition Through Food Choices and Children's Eating NutritionVideo 2.1 Mealtime and Snack Time NutrientsAnalyzing Food ChoicesFood in the ClassroomSnacksCultural Food Books as Lead-Ins to Cultural Food ActivitiesObesityScreen Time Picky EatersBooks as Lead-Ins to Helping Picky EatersUse Materials to Ensure Children's Health Through Personal Hygiene and Cleanliness Keeping the Classroom CleanVideo 2.2 Handwashing Personal Hygiene: Handwashing Washing Dolls and Toys Tooth Brushing Books as Lead-Ins to ToothbrushingSun Protection Recognize Unusual Behavior and Symptoms of Illness and Respond to Them SicknessAllergiesInsect Bites AsthmaChicken PoxBook as Lead-In to Chicken Pox ThemeColds/FluBooks as Lead-Ins to Using TissuesEar InfectionsSpecial Conditions Medical ExamsBooks as Lead-Ins to Doctor and Dentist VisitsSummary Do You Know? Learning Activities 3 Establishing a Learning Environment Set Up Stimulating Learning Centers in Appropriate Spaces Learning Centers as Brain Stimulators Colors as StimulatorsNoise LevelsRoom Arrangement Video 3.1 Room Arrangement: Preschool Room LayoutSeparating Activities Floor PlanningSelf-Regulating MethodsProvide Appropriate Materials for Children's Self-Directed Activities in Indoor Learning Centers Play as LearningExploratory Play Levels Equipping Learning CentersBlock-Building CenterBook CenterDramatic Play CenterManipulative/Math CenterArt CenterGross-Motor CenterMusic CenterScience/Discovery CenterWriting CenterComputer CenterSensory Play CenterWoodworking CenterDevelopmentally Appropriate MaterialsEvaluating Room ArrangementProvide Stimulating Outdoor Learning Activities Outdoor Dramatic Play Books Block Building Art Music Climbing, crawling Fine Motor Science Use Technology Where Developmentally Appropriate Computer (desktop; laptop) Smartphone Touch Tablet Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) Multitouch Table or Smart Table eBook Player Digital Camera Video 3.2 Technology Digital Voice Recorder Digital Music Player/Recorder Summary Do You Know? Learning Activities 4 Advancing Physical Skills Guide Children's Development of Gross-Motor Skills and Provide Appropriate Equipment and Activities WalkingBooks as Lead-Ins to Walking ActivitiesBalancingHopping/Jumping/Leaping Books as Lead-Ins to Jumping Running/Galloping/SkippingBooks as Lead-Ins to Leg and Feet Action ClimbingBooks as Lead-Ins to Climbing ActivitiesCrawling/Creeping/ScootingThrowing/CatchingBooks as Lead-Ins to Playing Basketball/Baseball Riding Wheeled EquipmentBook as a Lead-In to Riding a Trike Making Plans for IndividualsGuide Children's Development of Fine-Motor Skills and Provide Appropriate Materials and Activities Fine-Motor AssessmentSequence of Development Whole Arm Books as Lead-Ins to Hammering Whole HandPincer (Finger 1) Puzzles Cutting with ScissorsBooks as Lead-Ins to Cutting Pincer Coordination (Finger 2) Stringing Beads Books as Lead-Ins to Bead-Stringing Activities Provide Opportunities for Children to Engage in Movement-Based Learning Video 4.1 Movement and Music Books as Lead-Ins to Movement ActivitiesProvide Opportunities for Children to Engage in Creative Dance Movement Props Books as Lead-Ins to Creative Dance Summary Do You Know? Learning Activities 5 Advancing Cognitive Skills Describe How Cognitive Development Takes Place In Preschool Children Pioneers in Children's Cognitive DevelopmentBrain ResearchCognitive Development in PreschoolHelp Children Develop Curiosity About Their World Through Sensory Exploration Sensory ExplorationAssessing Children's CuriositySensory QuestionsReawakening Your Own CuriosityOpen-Ended Sensory Questions Scientific Inquiry: The Guessing-Game Method (High-Level Thinking)Equipment and Materials in the ClassroomOutside Sensory Explorations Books as Lead-Ins to Outside Sensory ExplorationHelp Children Develop Basic Concepts About Their World by Classifying, Comparing, and Counting Objects in It Sorting and Classifying Objects That Are AlikeVideo 5.1 Sorting Shells Comparing Objects by Size, Shape, Color, and NumberBooks as Lead-Ins to Comparing ObjectsEarly Childhood Mathematics Books as Lead-Ins to Number ActivitiesHelp Children Apply Basic Concepts About Their World Through High-Level Thinking and Problem Solving Following a Broad But Simple ConceptProblem Solving, Divergent Thinking, and MetacognitionBooks as Lead-Ins to Thinking ActivitiesProblem Solving with Computer ProgramsSummary Do You Know? Learning Activities 6 Advancing Communication Skills Provide Activities That Promote Children's Speaking and Listening Brain ResearchTalk-Rich Environment Listening with Intent Helping Children Listen with Intent Soundproofing the Room Helping Children Become SpeakersResponsive versus Restrictive Language Books as Lead-Ins to Responsive Language ActivitiesBooks as Lead-Ins to Children Gaining ConfidenceBooks as Lead-Ins to the Need to Communicate The Mix of Children Video 6.1 Encouraging Conversation Books as Lead-Ins to Children's Conversations Help Dual Language Learners to Learn English New Technology Why Use Home Languages Reading Bilingual Books Books as Lead-Ins for Dual Language Activities Provide Materials and Activities to Support Emergent Reading Emergent ReadingBooks to Motivate ListeningWord PlayPredictable Books Reading Books to ChildrenFollow-Up Book Activities Books as Lead-Ins to Story Reenactment Provide Materials and Activities to Support Emergent Writing Writing in Preschool Book as a Lead-In to Writing ToolsWriting Behaviors Taking Dictation Children's Writing Activities Books as Lead-Ins to Writing ActivitiesAlphabet Letters Books as Lead-Ins to Alphabet Activities Computer Alphabet Programs