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Understanding Schemas and Young Children
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Understanding Schemas and Young Children
From Birth to Three



April 2013 | 224 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Shortlisted for the 2013 Nursery World Awards!

'This exciting book will greatly enhance understanding of learning throughout the early years, and reinforces the importance of responsive professionals who understand children's schemas. Atherton and Nutbrown have brought together socio-cultural and cognitive learning theories with ease, and their metaphors are brilliantly evocative'
-Dr Anne Meade, Consultant

'This book is drawn from a study carried out with rigour and contains several gems, such as the 'bike and slide exploration'; the idea of adults engaging in 'a dialogue of conceptual correspondence' with children; and tables outlining 'what the children might have been thinking'. A great read!'
-Dr Cath Arnold, Pen Green Early Years Centre

'This is an exciting and illuminating account of babies and toddlers, following their schema fascinations with determination and competence, as they continually explore and experiment and come to know their world. This book captivated me. It should be in every early childhood education setting'
-Pam Cubey

This is the first book to focus specifically on Schemas and children under three. The authors trace the development of schemas from motor level through to symbolic representation, and show how to use schema theory to understand young children's learning and behaviour.

This accessible and student-friendly book includes:

-activities and discussion points

-links to policy and practice

-descriptive observational material

-a look at the ethics of this kind of research

-numerous photographs and illustrations

-suggestions for follow-up reading

The book is aimed at early childhood professionals and practitioners in ECEC settings, as well as those on initial training courses, teacher education, Early Years courses, and higher degrees.

 
Acknowledgements
 
About the Author
 
Foreword
 
PART ONE: KNOWING ABOUT SCHEMAS
 
Introduction
 
Schemas and the Youngest Children
 
Observing Children: Spotting Schemas
 
PART TWO: HOW DO CHILDREN UNDER THREE PURSUE THEIR SCHEMAS? 'ALL ABOUT HENRY'
 
Henry's Containing and Enveloping Schema
 
Henry's Back and Forth Schema
 
Henry's Dynamic Vertical Schema
 
Henry's Mark Making and Figurative Representations
 
PART THREE: DEVELOPMENTAL JOURNEYS: TRACING DEVELOPMENTS IN CHILDREN'S THINKING FROM MOTOR TO SYMBOLIC BEHAVIOURS
 
Containing and Enveloping Schema
 
Going through a Boundary Schema
 
Dynamic Vertical Schema
 
Stories from Home
 
Epilogue
 
Bibliography
 
Name Index
 
Subject Index

Very useful for individuals who would like a greater understanding of schemas, particularly within the under-researched area of birth to three

Mr Joe Murdoch
Childhood Studies, Isle of Wight College
February 1, 2016

A very useful, well written, easy to understand text about children's schemas.

Miss Alyson Lewis
Department of Educational Studies, Bath Spa University
September 29, 2015

Nutbrown is widely used on most early years courses and this book fulfils many of the course objectives and initiates many discussion opportunities and points of reference for critical analysis.

Mrs Terrie A Blaszczyk
Education Department, Roehampton University
August 20, 2015

Helpful insight into children's play and why they do what they do the way they do.

Ms Dawn O'Connell
Centre for Youth Ministry, St John's College
June 9, 2015

This is an excellent text for students on early childhood programs. Accessible to students for level 4 and upwards.

Mrs Michelle Rogers
Centre for Early Childhood, University of Worcester
April 29, 2015

Very thorough and pertinent to child development and professional studies

Mrs Jenny Carpenter
Faculty of Education & Theology, York St John University
February 22, 2015

A very clear book which explains clearly schemas.

Miss Katie Lee
Early Years Department, Solihull College
January 1, 2015

Informative, accessible and comprehensive text suitable for all students and practitioners. Great for study and for developing or updating practice.

Ms Caroline Brooks
Childcare & Early Years, Sheffield College
September 16, 2014

A very welcomed text. It strengthens and supports findings from research surrounding schematic learning in young children. Excellent pictorial evidence and case studies that demonstrate schematic learning experiences which will strongly support student’s knowledge and understanding. The observations of schematic learning can only enhance the role of the working professional who wants to improve practice when working with the under three age range. Particularly welcomed is the links with theoretical and research knowledge e.g. Rogoff. This book reinforces the need for highly reflexive and responsive early year’s individuals.

Mrs Sharon Colilles
Carnegie Faculty of Sports & Education, Leeds Metro Univ.
September 7, 2014

This book is filled with wonderful images and descriptive observational material.
Students have found the text accessible and really informative, as it has been cited on frequent occasions by students studying the Developing Child Module.

Mrs Denise Salter
Faculty of Health Studies, Bucks New University
August 12, 2014

Sample Materials & Chapters

Sample chapter (Chapter 1)


For instructors

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ISBN: 9781446248942
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