What If Everybody Understood Child Development?

Straight Talk About Bettering Education and Children′s Lives

Rae Pica

• Publisher: Corwin
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781483381848
• eBook ISBN: 9781506302164
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Early Childhood Education

Understand the connection between how kids grow and how they learn 

Rae Pica knows what she's talking about. With over 35 years in the field of education, she's realized that what's missing from our approach to schooling is an understanding of the connection between how children develop and how they learn. In this collection, Pica keeps children front and center as she provides thought-provoking commentary and actionable insights on topics such as the Common Core, the self-esteem movement, and standardized testing. You'll find

• 29 short essays on topics critical to best practice in child development and education
• Opinions of experts supported by research and anecdotal evidence
• Real-life stories shared by teachers and parents
• References to related articles and interviews with experts 

With its unflinching look at well-meaning initiatives that may be holding students back, this pocket-sized powerhouse of educational philosophy is sure to inspire discussion about our schools. 

"What a pleasure to read common sense wisdom about what young children need!"
Diane Ravitch, Research Professor of Education
New York University

"This amazing book does far more than chase down the myths about how to ensure that children are successful. If offers real, research-backed practical strategies every teacher and parent can use. It belongs on every desk for quick and handy use!"
Eric Jensen, Director
Jensen Learning, Maunaloa, HI

"Rae Pica has a deep understanding of childhood development and she has delved into every facet of it so that educators, parents, and policymakers will come to that understanding, too. This book needs to not just be on everyone's shelves, but open in everyone's hands."
Peter DeWitt, Author/Consultant and Former K-5 Principal

Table of contents

• Cover
• Acknowledgements
• Half Title
• Acknowledgements
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author
• Introduction What If Everybody Understood Child Development?
• Part I Understanding Children
• Chapter 1 All Children Are Not the Same
• Chapter 2 The Earlier the Better?
• Chapter 3 The Power of Joy
• Chapter 4 Bubble Wrapping Not Required
• Chapter 5 When Did a Hug Become a Bad Thing?
• Chapter 6 Teaching Girls They’re More Than a Pretty Face
• Chapter 7 Doing Away With the “Baby Stuff”
• Chapter 8 “But Competition Is Human Nature”
• Chapter 9 Terrorist Tots?
• Part II Understanding the Mind/Body Connection
• Chapter 10 The Myth of the Brain/Body Dichotomy
• Chapter 11 Why Does Sitting Still Equal Learning?
• Chapter 12 In Defense of Active Learning
• Chapter 13 “Play” Is Not a Four-Letter Word
• Chapter 14 The Body Matters, Too
• Chapter 15 Reading, Writing, ‘Rithmetic . . . and Recess
• Chapter 16 Why Kids Need “Gym”
• Part III Understanding Developmentally Appropriate Practice
• Chapter 17 In Defense of Authentic Learning
• Chapter 18 Who Should Lead the Learning?
• Chapter 19 The Trouble With Testing
• Chapter 20 Failure Is an Option
• Chapter 21 Should We Teach Handwriting in the Digital Age?
• Chapter 22 Just Say “No” to Keyboarding in Kindergarten
• Chapter 23 iPads or Play-Doh?
• Chapter 24 The Homework Debate
• Chapter 25 In Defense of the Arts
• Chapter 26 No More “Good Job!”
• Chapter 27 Bribes and Threats Work, But . . .
• Chapter 28 Time to Give Time-Out a Time-Out
• Chapter 29 “You’re Outta Here!”
• Publisher Note