The Complete Learning Center Book/an Illustrated Guide for 32 Different Early Childhood Learning Centers: An Illustrated Guide for 32 Different Early Childhood Learning Centers

Rating:
Summary: Learning through Play
Review: As a licensed group home provider, the learning through play concept was something new to me. I was one who had thought the children HAD to go home with worksheets and step by step crafts to "show" they were learning something. Through my Early Childhood Education Classes I found a new and improved way to "teach"- through play. I had really no idea where to start and so I borrowed books and this book was one I had to have! I am so happy with how they explain everything, including how EDUCATIONAL play is. I was most impressed with the Web of Integrated Learning for each center. These webs are pretty new to me and so far have me wishing I would have known about them earlier. As it states in the book "Play nurtures children's development in all areas: intellectual, social/emotional and physical." If you remember this (PIES as we call it)while looking through this book, you can see just how educational and benefiting learning centers are for our children. No matter the age. I have children from 2 to 8 and they ALL enjoy these learning centers and actually learn from each other through their play.

Rating:
Summary: Good for pre-k but not anything higher
Review: As an elementary teacher, I was looking for some helpful information about implementing learning centers in my classroom. This book provided various themes for complex learning centers, such as "Restaurant Center", "Grocery Store Center", and "Hat Center". Although these ideas were fun, there was little detail about how to make them educational. I believe these learning centers would be good for pre-school or kindergarten, but not anything higher. If you are interested in specific ideas for math activites, or literature-based learning center activities, do not get this book.

Rating:
Summary: Great Ideas
Review: Great Resource book for Early Childhood Professionals. This book has lots of great ideas to use in the classroom and they are cheap and easy to implement. Wonderful for Emergent Curriculum and very Language and Literacy Rich. Highly Recommended!