Did you know that emotions boost our memory? Or that small muscle exercises help the brain develop? Early experiences contribute to the structure of the brain and its capacities. The quality, quantity, and consistency of stimulation will determine, to a large extent, the number of brain synapses that are formed and how those connections will function. This is true for both cognitive and emotional development, and the effect is lifelong. Start Smart offers simple, straightforward ways to boost brain power with active exploration, repetition, sensory exploration, and direct experience. Revised to reflect the latest research about how children learn, the new edition of this classic bestseller offers explanations on how and why these activities help the brain develop. The layout has been updated, and the illustrations are now in color.

There's more than one way to be smart! This award-winning curriculum for three- to six-year-olds offers a complete plan for every learning style. Revised and updated, the new edition of this classic bestseller is full of new activities based on the latest research about how children learn. Each activity now includes a Morning Message and Home Connections, and many of the original activities have been updated to include ideas for outdoor play. Full of old favorites and new ideas, the more than 1,200 activities in this curriculum are sure to engage all children. The comprehensive appendix has been updated, and the patterns are now available exclusively online so teachers can easily print them onto any paper at any time!

What do children need to learn first? Their ABCs? Their numbers? As it turns out, the “what” children need to develop is their social intelligence and emotional intelligence, the essential building blocks for all future learning. Best-selling author Pam Schiller provides information, activities, and experiences that develop the seven skills children need in order to become successful learners. These include social intelligence skills, such as relating to and playing with others, as well as emotional intelligence skills, such as expressing feelings and understanding how others feel. Strengthen the foundation children need to become successful learners with the seven skills in this practical, easy-to-use book!

Best-selling, award-winning authors Pam Schiller and Clarissa Willis have teamed up to create this collection of 100 literacy lessons, designed to introduce children ages 3-6 to a variety of literacy concepts and build important literacy skills. Each of these simple, fun lessons offers adaptations for children with special needs, including:Visual impairmentsHearing impairmentsCognitive challengesMotor delaysSpeech/language delaysEmotional/behavior issuesThe first page of each two-page lesson features a learning objective, a literacy activity, extension activities, a daily reflection, and vocabulary. The second page has adaptations specific to the literacy lesson for children with special needs.A great grab-and-use book for preschool teachers!

Toddlerhood, the age from 12 months to 3 years, is the most fertile time of life for acquiring and understanding the elements of language. With more than 250 songs, rhymes, and chants, this book is a fun way to enrich toddlers’ language experiences. By incorporating songs, chants, and rhymes into the classroom, teachers provide opportunities for children to develop every aspect of reading readiness and literacy. While the selections themselves are a great way to enhance the development of literacy skills, the follow-up suggestions for story time, outdoor play, music and movement, and literacy extension activities will be a sure-fire hit with this age group.

Featuring one hundred well-loved and easily available children’s books, Starting with Stories has more than 1,500 activities to actively engage every learning style. This literature-based resource book combines quality children’s books, learning centers, and multiple intelligences to give teachers a comprehensive, creative curriculum.

The Complete Resource Book for Infants is a collection of experiences and activities that maximize learning and development for children from birth to eighteen months. The ideas are organized by developmental area: language, social-emotional, physical, and cognitive, which are the essential building blocks of infant development. The appendix is chock-full of songs, rhymes, recipes, sign language, recommended books and toys, and family connection resources.