Practical Solutions to Practically Every Problem
Description
An encyclopedic how-to guide for the universal early childhood program problems.
Practical Solutions to Practically Every Problem attempts to provide solutions to every possible problem faced by early childhood teachers—before teachers encounter them. This classic resource has been updated to focus on current issues faced by educators, including teaching twenty-first century life skills, technology, and cultural responsiveness. This easy-to-use guide gives you quick practical help, now!
Educators will save time and energy with over eight hundred solutions to two hundred problems, including:
- Daily dilemmas and classroom issues
- Partnering with families to raise happy children
- Dealing with problematic behaviors from co-workers
- Learning to take care of yourself to prevent burn-out
Steffen Saifer, EdD, a former early childhood teacher and Head Start director and trainer, is currently an international consultant and writer based in Spain. He has worked on projects for the Open Society Foundation, The World Bank, and UNICEF, in many countries including Bangladesh, Russia, and Zimbabwe. Dr. Saifer works with programs on culturally responsive curriculum development and implementation and with universities to develop graduate programs for ECD teachers, administrators, and leaders. When in the United States, Saifer resides in Portland, Oregon
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Person
Earlier in his career he was an early childhood teacher, program director, college instructor, and education specialist for Head Start programs in four Pacific Northwest states. Steffen’s primary interests and expertise focus on the role of play in development and education, the training of early childhood professionals, and culturally responsive early childhood curriculum.
Content
Foreword
Part I:
Daily Dilemmas
1. Right from the Start
2. Circle Time and Group Time
3. Small Group Time
4. Work-Play Time
5. Mellow Mealtimes
6. Trouble-free Transitions
7. Creative Art
8. Moving Muscles
9. No more Gnarly Naptimes
10. Computer Center
11. Successful Scheduling
Part II
Classroom Concerns
1. The Environment
2. Curriculum Conundrums
3. Testing without Tears
4. Individualizing
5. Multi-age Groups
6. Fiasco-free field trips
7. Toys from Home
8. Disappearing dinosaurs, lost Legos, missing mittens, and other mysteries
9. Accidents and Injuries
10. Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
11. Children who are ill and other health concerns
Part III: Children with Challenges
1. Is he just immature or is something really wrong?
2. Including every child
3. Cultural responsiveness
4. Gifted and talented children
5. Shy and withdrawn children
6. Children with non-traditional families
7. Children who Family Language is Other than English
8. Children with Extreme Fears
9. The Sexually Precocious Child
10. Children wit Extreme Fears
11. Children who are too responsible
Part IV: Children who must cope with major changes
1. New to your class
2. Divorce and remarriage
3. New sibling
4. Hospitalization
5. Death of a loved one
6. Tragedies
7. Moving on to the next class
Part V: Children with Problematic Behaviors
1. Defiant behavior and power struggles
2. Active and distracted
3. Biting
4. Clingy, dependent, and won't participate
5. Cursing, name-calling, and hurtful language
6. Excessive Crying or Whining
7. Hitting and Aggression
8. Lying
9. Masturbation and Self-stimulation
10. Mean and Cruel
11. Roughhousing
12. Running Inside
13. Silliness
14. Spitting
15. Stealing
16. Tattling
17. Temper Tantrums
18. Thumb-sucking
19. Too Loud
Part VI: Working with parents and families
1. Parents and non-traditional relationships
2. Parents with special needs
3. Parents who complain
4. Parents who are in a hurry
5. Parents who linger
6. Telling parents about the problematic behaviors of their children
7. Parents who are late
8. Parents who may be abusive to their children
Part VII: Working with other staff
1. Difficult bosses
2. Problems working with assistants or volunteers
3. Concerns about co-workers
Part VIII: Your Own Needs
1. Not enough time
2. Burned Out/Stressed out
3. Underpaid
4. In over your head
Part IX: Problems with the Profession
1. Promoting and protecting your professional reputation
2. Protecting children and childhood
3. Making tough ethical decisions
4. Be an advocate
Afterword
Resources