Developing Early Literacy Skills Outdoors

Developing Early Literacy Skills Outdoors provides practitioners with practical planning for how to develop and enhance the outdoor area to facilitate literacy learning. The activities throughout the book are low cost and easy to set up, aiming to reassure practitioners and give them confidence to plan more literacy learning experiences outdoors. This is further supported with planning guidance and resource ideas, as well as advice on observation and assessment, including suggestions for how to reduce the paperwork burden and a useful observation template. The book is divided into sections that represent the different aspects of communication, language and literacy and includes: an introduction to each aspect, explaining why it is important and outlining the fundamental skills and concepts that underpin it; ideas for adult-led and adult-initiated activities that aim to develop children's early knowledge, skills and understanding in communication, language and literacy; suggestions for how to enhance continuous outdoor provision so that it promotes communication, language and literacy skills; pointers and tips about teaching mathematics in the early years and includes ideas for how to involve parents and carers.

Developing Early Literacy Skills Outdoors provides practitioners with practical planning for how to develop and enhance the outdoor area to facilitate literacy learning. The activities throughout the book are low cost and easy to set up, aiming to reassure practitioners and give them confidence to plan more literacy learning experiences outdoors. This is further supported with planning guidance and resource ideas, as well as advice on observation and assessment, including suggestions for how to reduce the paperwork burden and a useful observation template. The book is divided into sections that represent the different aspects of communication, language and literacy and includes: an introduction to each aspect, explaining why it is important and outlining the fundamental skills and concepts that underpin it; ideas for adult-led and adult-initiated activities that aim to develop children's early knowledge, skills and understanding in communication, language and literacy; suggestions for how to enhance continuous outdoor provision so that it promotes communication, language and literacy skills; pointers and tips about teaching mathematics in the early years and includes ideas for how to involve parents and carers.

Developing Early Maths Skills Outdoors provides practitioners with practical planning for how to develop and enhance the outdoor area to facilitate mathematical learning. It includes up to 80 activities to embed each learning experience into daily provision, with dedicated plans to develop specific skills and aspects of mathematics. The activities throughout the book are low cost and easy to set up, aiming to reassure practitioners and give them the confidence to plan more mathematical learning experiences outdoors. This is further supported with planning guidance and resource ideas, as well as advice on observation and assessment, including suggestions for how to reduce the paperwork burden and a useful observation template. The book is divided into sections that represent the different aspects of mathematics and includes: An introduction to each aspect, explaining why it is important, and outlining the fundamental skills and concepts that underpin it; ideas for adult-led and adult-initiated activities that aim to develop children's early mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding; suggestions for how to enhance continuous outdoor provision so that it promotes independent investigation, fostering creative and critical thinking; pointers and tips about teaching mathematics in the early years; ideas for how to involve parents and carers and links to all four British early years curriculum frameworks.

Developing Early Science Skills Outdoors provides practitioners with practical planning for how to develop and enhance the outdoor area to facilitate science learning. The activities throughout the book are low cost and easy to set up, aiming to reassure practitioners and give them confidence to plan more scientific learning experiences outdoors. This is further supported with planning guidance and resource ideas, as well as advice on observation and assessment, including suggestions for how to reduce the paperwork burden and a useful observation template. The book includes an introduction to each method, explaining why it is important and outlining the fundamental skills and concepts that underpin it; ideas for adult-led and adult-initiated activities that aim to develop children's early knowledge, skills and understanding; suggestions for how to enhance continuous outdoor provision so that it promotes the use of each method of scientific enquiry; pointers and tips about teaching science in the early years and ideas for how to involve parents and carers.

Fully updated to reflect the current status and understandings regarding outdoor provision within early childhood education frameworks across the UK, this new edition shows early years practitioners how to get the very best from outdoor play and learning for the enjoyment, health and education of young children up to age seven. This invaluable resource gives sound practical guidance for providing: play with water, sand and other natural materials; experiences with plants, growing and living things; movement and physical play; construction, imaginative and creative play; and explorations into the locality and community just beyond your garden. This full-colour third edition has been further developed to act as a comprehensive source book of relevant materials, books and resources supporting the core ingredients of high-quality outdoor provision, while each chapter also includes extensive collections of children’s picture books relating to the themes within each chapter. Playing and Learning Outdoors has become the essential practical guide to excellence in outdoor provision and pedagogy for all early years services. This lively, inspiring and accessible book will help every educator to develop truly successful and satisfying approach to learning through play outdoors for every child.

'Developing Early Literacy presents an interesting range of literacy-related topics which address issues of current importance to early years practice and, in places, question current thinking. There is an excellent balance of theoretical background and case study examples which would make this a relevant and practical text for both students and early years professionals.'- Mary-Louise Maynes, Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, Bishop Grosseteste University Providing clear guidance on how to develop early literacy, this book offers support with the planning and teaching of this vital aspect of the curriculum using innovative and exciting methods. Linking theory with practice, topics covered include: babies and very early communication the importance of role play corners outdoor learning and literacy how rhyme and repetition help to develop literacy teaching literacy to children who have English as an Additional Language (EAL) literacy and diversity using picture books to develop literacy supporting transitions different approaches to the teaching of phonics and early reading. Each chapter has learning objectives, case studies featuring younger and older children from the Birth to 8 age range, a summary and suggested Further Reading. This text is essential reading for those on Early Childhood Studies, Early Years, Primary PGCE and Early Years teacher education courses. Virginia Bower is Senior Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University.