The goal of this book is to help teachers assess where they are in their current teaching goals and become more intentional and organized in planning. Teachers can begin with tools they already have and build on previous activities that worked well. Great lesson planning helps teachers to choose a range of strategies that match what children are learning and doing -from directed mini-lessons to facilitated group activities. Each chapter provides a wealth of tips and ideas. The strategies discussed in each chapter helps build a toolbox with tips that match each teacher's approach.

Child-centered lesson planning provides a system to strengthen teaching. In each chapter contains step-by-step hints and action steps to make the most of your unique setting. You will explore new ways to:

• Build on early learning guidelines and standards to maximize planning and communication.
• Identify learning goals for materials, activities, routines, and interactions.
• Design dramatic play themes that relate to daily life, families, cultures, and communities.
• Infuse vocabulary to scaffold language development.
• Support executive function skills and self-regulation.
• Activate emotion coaching goals.
• Evaluate and adapt spaces and materials to address physical needs.
• Meet the linguistic and social needs of dual language learners.
• Prepare meaningful and stimulating cognitive experiences.
• Connect content skills, language, and literacy to dramatic play.
• Integrate family engagement as a strength and asset for development and learning.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues to ensure high-quality learning experiences.

About the Author
Marie Masterson, PhD, is the Director of Quality Assessment at the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership at National Louis University. She is a licensed early childhood teacher, a national speaker, child behavior expert, and author of multiple books and articles that address behavior guidance, parenting, early care and education, and high-quality teaching. She was previously a university professor in early childhood teacher education and early childhood specialist for the Virginia Department of Education.

Reviews
Masterson's instructive book explores all facets of preschool lesson planning to energize intentional teaching, bridging the dichotomy between teacher and child-centered curriculum. Full of useful classroom examples and complete lesson plan samples, this book addresses planning for all developmental domains, all learner types, and all modes of child activity. -- Michael Haslip * Drexel University *
This book encourages early childhood educators to deepen their teaching practice. It offers practical and applicable strategies to intentionally develop lesson plans that are culturally, linguistically, and developmentally responsive and to provide high-quality classroom learning experiences where "children recognize their experiences in the curriculum, materials, and activities." Dr. Masterson is an educator of educators and is an important voice in providing professional learning for the field of early childhood education and has written an anchor text for teachers and administrators, at all levels of their development, to build classrooms "for children to engage with peers and adults in meaningful learning throughout each day." -- Emily Simon * Chicago Public Schools *
I believe hands-on exploration is a major component in the early years. This book will be a great asset to educators everywhere. The examples of emergent teaching, individualized teaching, and teaching children with disabilities are great resources for assistant teachers. -- Hope Cain * NASA Goddard Child Development Center *



Book Information
ISBN 9781938113833
Author Marie Masterson
Format Paperback
Page Count 152
Imprint National Association for the Education of Young Children
Publisher National Association for the Education of Young Children