Young Investigators: The Project Approach in the Early Years

Early Childhood Education

by Judy Harris Helm, Lilian Katz

This work aims to illustrate how children - even those considered "at-risk" - may benefit from the exploratory and child-initiated nature of project investigations in order to achieve mastery of basic literacy skills. It also presents student-initiated learning as a starting point for dynamic and responsive teaching. The story of how projects emerge, develop, and culminate is told through a combination of teacher interviews and vivid accounts of classroom practice. Building upon inclusionary and child-centred practices, the authors offer a much-needed perspective on the pre-primary years. Key features include: an emphasis on how teachers solve the practical problems of doing projects with young children, including selecting topics, organizing the classroom, setting up field visits, encouraging children to represent what they are learning, and involving parents; chapters written from practice, including some in full colour; examples of children's art and writing; classroom materials; and a step-by-step guide for teachers to use in guiding and documenting projects.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction, Professional Development, Parenting, Grad School

133 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[sam howie]

A really great book on engaging children in projects that last more than a day or a week, projects that are able to develop substance, while challenging children to keep coming back to the ideas. I feel there is something about the project approach as a teaching strategy that is fundamentally different as a way to looking at ideas, which really allows for children to work for a long time on something, opening up a type of perseverance and a patience. Holding children's attention on something I feel has huge potential learning value and is needed, that is the skills to remain interested and dig deeper. A skill set that children may not usually be exposed to.

[Tien Do Bat]

Amazing knowledge

The book changed my mind set to approach for learning.

This not only enhance knowledge for children naturally & easily but also engage teacher in adventuring new knowledge on different projects. Teachers don’t get bored as normal repetitive tasks.

The teaching methodology is upgrading to a whole new level.

[Jane]

Young Investigators: The Project Approach in the Early Years makes the idea that children learn by doing come alive. It gives teachers guidance on how to involve the children in each phase of a project from planning and executing each step, recording and drawing conclusions. This is a great way to help children develop observation skills and problem solving skills that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

[Amber]

1 copy available

[Kris Patrick]

Not a swift read. Lots of details anticipating every possible "why?" "but..." "how to..." "what next?"

[Kay Kay]

This book was filled with great ideas! This is how kids really learn!