Powerful Children

In Possible Schools, Ann Lewin-Benham showed us that we can create schools that engage the minds of children and involve parents. In this book, she describes projects in a school that successfully adapted the Reggio Approach with Head Start–eligible children. She explains how to use the Reggio Approach to address current major concerns in early education, including helping children become self-disciplined, making sure children are ready for 1st grade, assessing children’s progress, and laying a foundation for literacy. Presenting a multitude of examples of excellent preschool practice, this dynamic book: Introduces the concept of “significant work” that draws deeply on young children’s innate intelligences. Provides teachers with an opportunity to reflect on what they know and understand about young children. Illustrates how teachers can make changes in their classrooms to expand and improve learning. Describes robust activities from an urban preschool, including how each project relates to a particular teaching principle. Suggests more clearly defined standards and lays out policy implications for each.