I'm Not Getting Them Ready for Kindergarten

Breaking Tradition in Early Childhood Education

Kristen RB Peterson, Kristen Day

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2024
• Edition: 0
• eBook ISBN:
  9781040183373
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education General

Teachers don't have to cut out penguin beaks anymore. You can put your weather bear back in the cupboard (or bring it outside) and you can take the behavior chart off the wall. This book is your permission slip to break up with outdated and ineffective practices in your early childhood classroom and replace them with the magic of play-based learning! This helpful guide challenges outdated preschool practices in a kind and compelling way, inviting you to reflect on your own practices and adjust them based on current research and what is truly developmentally appropriate for young children. It provides tools and language to use to show the people outside your classroom (parents, administrators, other teachers down the hall) that play is learning. Each chapter is practical, conscience and meant to be read in the order and at the pace that is best for you and your class. Full of stories from the author's own play journey, I'm Not Getting Them Ready for Kindergarten is key reading for early childhood educators who are ready to step outside the restrictions of an unnecessarily academic system and settle into the magic of play and child-led learning.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title Page
• Series Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Meet the Author
• Introduction
• 1 I’m Not Getting Them Ready for Kindergarten: Developmentally appropriate, play-based environments DO get children ready for Kindergarten!
• 2 That’s Not a Turkey: Child-led learning is a catalyst for wonder and discovery!
• 3 Creativity Vampires: Child-led and play-based learning are the ultimate creativity muses!
• 4 The Hummingbird Teacher: The teacher’s role in a child-led, play-based learning environment.
• 5 Let Them Pick Their Nose: Children learn so much more when adults learn to say “YES!”
• 6 The Great Worm Saving Expedition: Children learn best through real-world adventures.
• 7 Play Detectives: Unveiling the genius in children’s play by observing and documenting.
• 8 Yesteryear and Tomorrowday: Traditional calendar time is like trying to teach a preschooler quantum physics!
• 9 The Pizza Parlor Heist: Ditching rotational centers and diving headfirst into free play!
• 10 The Eagle That Taught Literacy Skills: Letters don’t need a week; they’re more meaningful when we weave them into what excites kids and sparks their curiosity!
• 11 Circle Time Anarchy: Long circle times are inappropriate, counterproductive, and boring.
• 12 Behavior Charts in the Teacher’s Lounge: Punishments and rewards miss the whole point; they are band aids and quick fixes.
• 13 Mermaids in the Woods: Rethinking recess and seeing the great outdoors as an extension of the classroom.
• 14 A Room Full of Junk: Loose parts are teachers themselves!
• 15 Sharing is NOT Caring: Sharing isn’t caring; teaching children to take turns is.
• A Letter to YOU