Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide for Change

by Louise Derman-Sparks, Debbie Leekeenan, John Nimmo

With a focus on the leader’s role in initiating and sustaining anti-bias education in programs for young children and their families, this book is both a stand-alone text and a perfect companion for Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves. It emphasizes that this work is not only about changing curriculum, but requires thoughtful, strategic, long-term planning that addresses all components of an early childhood program. With a powerful combination of conceptual frameworks, strategies, and practical tools, Louise Derman-Sparks, renowned expert on anti-bias education, together with experienced early childhood directors Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo explain the structural and individual changes leaders must foster. Featuring the authors’ extensive experience in the field, supplemented with insights from other anti-bias educators, they build on and expand current thinking about best early childhood leadership practices. This is an essential resource for anti-bias education leaders engaged in change in the wide range of early childhood care and education settings. 

Book

The principles, guidelines, and strategies needed for school- and program-wide transformation. Activities for working with teachers and families to integrate an anti-bias approach. Strategies for supporting and strengthening the leader’s ability to initiate and sustain anti-bias education change, including resources to increase staff skills for implementing anti-bias education with children. Tools for assessing anti-bias education progress and managing mandated standards and assessments.“A concise and powerful message for anti-bias leaders in early childhood education everywhere. A truly inspired gift of lessons from the movement, for the movement.”—Carol Brunson Day, President of the Board, National Association for the Education of Young Children

“If you are an educator wanting to see more equity and inclusiveness in the world, at times discouraged confused, or overwhelmed with how to manage the conflict that always emerges in the change process, you’ll find reassurance, resources, and strategic thinking to engage in this anti-bias work.” —Margie Carter, author, The Visionary Director, and international early childhood consultant

"It is never too early to prepare children to deal effectively with issues of race, class, gender, family, and ability and equity. This book is a tool box for building early childhood programs that foster sentiments of justice and fairness in leaders, teachers, and young children, and help them to act on these values.” —Herbert Kohl, educator and bestselling author of The Herb Kohl Awakening the Heart of Teaching

Genres: Education, Professional Development, Nonfiction

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 7, 2014

Reviews

[Joseph Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it for my child's development courses

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be sure to also utilize the appendices: https://www.tcpress.com/filebin/PDFs/...

[Teri Pardue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Derman-Sparks and the work and research she had put into doing antibias education. Her learning goals for both adults and children are helpful for thinking through ways to lessen prejudice and discrimination.

I’d recommend this resource for anyone working with young children or educators. I recently used it as I prepared a workshop for future teachers on addressing colorism with young children and found it very valuable (along with Derman-Sparks’ book “What if All the Kids Are White”).

[Tugce Tuncdemir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like how they organized the book. This book is for teachers and directors who are familiar with anti-bias education. The book compares anti-bias education for children and adults, provides a baseline for planning, suggests getting-to-know activities for teachers, and gives family resources and inclusion activities. The example books and clasrromm activities are also very northworthy. I also think about the parts possible answers for challenging situations. In the end, the authors explain how common core standards work with ABE and use standardized assessment tools that support anti-bias education.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource I will be returning to again and again