Today’s the big day! We’re excited to announce our newest feature on the blog: Beyond The Pages. Beyond the Pages is an online blog book study. This feature acknowledges the importance of reading books while taking you beyond the pages and creating group dialogue. Stacie Goffin has charged those in early childhood education to “continue the conversation” and we believe that this is one method to do that.
Our first book this fall will be Rae Pica‘s What If Everybody Understood Child Development? We highlighted her book on the blog last May. You can learn even more about this book in Rae’s candid interview. Find her online at Rae Pica’s Bam-Radio Facebook page and on Twitter @BodyMindChild #AskingWhatIf .
We’re also pleased to announce that we have an amazing lineup of early childhood experts (see below) to assist in leading the conversation around this book! In the coming weeks, the names of those participating as content experts will be announced. We realize that some of you may be new to the idea of an online book study. Don’t worry…there are no pre-reqs for participation. Everyone is welcome!
FAQs
- How does this study work?
Order your book right away as this study begins on Aug. 31st, 2015! Please note that this study is organized around topic chunks, rather than chronological order. Follow along and read with us by using our Book Study Timeline (below). You may check in at your convenience each week. If you have the chapters read by the week of release, you can fully participate and join in the conversation. We’d love to have your voice added! Because this is an online study, the commentary will be available at a later date should you get behind. Please note that the Access The Author feature is only guaranteed during the live book study dates. Visit our Blog, Twitter, and/or Facebook each week (Aug. 31-Dec. 7) for inside access and additional commentary about the book chapter(s). JOIN this event! https://www.facebook.com/events/431601440379065/ - How do I get the book?
*You could order direct from the publisher- Corwin. Receive a 10% discount by using the code ECE and ordering directly through Matt Minney at Corwin Press. Matt.Minney@corwinpress.com or #1.800.831.6640 ext 7278. This discount offer is good through Aug. 31st, 2015.
*RedLeafPress (here in MN) has it available for online ordering.
*You can also find it on Amazon. - How do I access the blog book study?
You may access our book study a few different ways:
Visit our Blog– https://blogs.dctc.edu/ecyd/ and subscribe (upper right-hand corner)
Like on Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/EnhancingYoungMinds/
Follow on Twitter– https://twitter.com/mdcteacher
*On this page, see below. To learn about the experts, click on their names below. To read the expert commentary for a specified week, click on the Chapter titles. - Do I need to register?
Simply follow along each week to access the new discussions about the book, unless you are a MN participant and are seeking a certificate for training hours. - Is there a fee?
No fees except the cost of the book. (Approx. $24) - Can I participate?
Absolutely! You may participate a few different ways: read the book, follow along with the study, share on social media, post chapter comments on our blog and/or Facebook page, and/or blog your responses to chapter topics on your blog and link back to our expert commentaries. Twitter hashtag #BeyondThePages - What is Ask the Author?
The author of this book, Rae Pica, has generously agreed to follow along and participate in our blog study by answering questions from participants! How cool is that?! #AskAuthor - What if I miss the LIVE study? Can I still participate?
Yes- Absolutely! This book study will be available online afterwards. This allows you to join and begin at any time. Decide on a pace that works for you. Read the assigned chapters for each session and then click on the chapters below to access the expert commentary. Be sure to still comment on the blog so we can all be part of your conversation as well!
Book Study Timeline
(click on chapter(s) or name below to access that content)
- 8/31/15 – Book study begins! Chapters 1, 2, 7 (Commentary by Angèle Sancho Passe)
1. All Children Are Not The Same
2. The Earlier The Better?
7. Doing Away With the Baby Stuff - 9/7/15 – Chapters 3 & 5 (Commentary by Gwen Simmons)
3. The Power of Joy
5. When Did a Hug Become a Bad Thing? - 9/14/15 – Chapter 4 (Commentary by Mike Huber)
4. Bubble Wrapping Not Required - 9/21/15 – Chapter 6 (Commentary by Diane Levin)
6. Teaching Girls They’re More Than a Pretty Face - 9/28/15 – Chapter 13 (Commentary by Walter F. Drew)
13. Play Is Not a Four Letter Word - 10/5/15 – Chapters 8, 9, 29 (Commentary by Teacher Tom)
8. But Competition Is Human Nature
9. Terrorist Tots
29. You’re Outta Here! - 10/12/15 – Chapters 10, 14, 15, 16 (Commentary by Richard Rairigh and Lorie Barnes)
10. The Myth of the Brain/Body Dichotomy
14. The Body Matters Too
15. Reading, Writing, Rithmetic, and Recess
16. Why Kids Need Gym - 10/19/15 – Chapters 11 & 12 (Commentary by Deborah Stewart)
11. Why Does Sitting Still Equal Learning?
12. In Defense of Active Learning - 10/26/15 – Chapters 17 & 18 (Commentary by Michael Gramling)
17. In Defense of Authentic Learning
18. Who Should Lead the Learning? - 11/2/15 – Chapters 19 & 24 (Commentary by Scott Wiley)
19. The Trouble with Testing
24. The Homework Debate - 11/9/15 – Chapters 20 & 26 (Commentary by Kelly Pfeiffer)
20. Failure Is an Option
26. No More Good Job - 11/16/15 – Chapters 21, 22, 23 (Commentary by Tamara Kaldor and Blakely Bundy)
21. Should We Teacher Handwriting in the Digital Age?
22. Just say No to Keyboarding in Kindergarten
23. iPads or Playdoh - 11/23/15 – Chapter 25 (Commentary by Laurie Greeninger)
25. In Defense of the Arts - 11/30/15 – Chapters 27 & 28 (Commentary by Deborah Hirschland)
27. Bribes and Threats Work, But…
28. Time to Give Time-Out a Time-Out - 12/7/15 – Book study ends. Spring book study announced! (Commentary by Stacie Goffin)
I don’t really understand how this works. Is the conversation online? In writing or a webinar style? Does it happen at a particular time on the dates you list above?
Great questions Shawn! Thanks for asking. Each week (per the timeline) content experts will provide commentary here on this blog regarding the book topics. Blog posts are also shared on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Participants are able to provide insights/ideas/thoughts/etc. by commenting on each blog post (as you just did here), by commenting on the post through our Facebook page, by replying to the tweet on Twitter, or by blogging about it on their blog and linking back to us. Yes, there may be different conversations happening through the varied social media sites, but we want to be somewhat inclusive to the sites people prefer. If you only use one, you can participate there. If you happen to use all three, then you’ll have access to all the conversations if desired. The beauty of having these discussions in this format is that participants will have the entire week to respond and participate in the conversation at their convenience. In fact, conversations can continue on afterwards and we hope they do! Hopefully that provided some clarity…
I am looking forward to learning and participating.
Chapters 1,2,7
Children need to be children, but also need to be taught the basics. Some may need more encouragement than others. With educational toys, games and interaction with other children they will learn the various skills.