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Early Childhood Education
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High quality early childhood education has proven to be a great investment for our country and we believe that this is a necessary investment, which should not be passed up. Studies have shown that a strong focus on education for children under five has produced long-term benefits.
A well-known study found that people who were in a quality preschool program later in life earned up to $2,000 more each month than those who were not. Children who were in preschool programs usually graduate from high school, own homes, and have longer marriages.
Similar results are shown in other research. Children who have been in quality preschool programs are less likely to need special education, repeat grades, or get into trouble with the law.
Investing in early childhood education also makes economic sense. One expert believes that the return on investment will exceed 12%.
NEA President Reg Weaver tells us, “We know that children who attend full-day kindergarten are better prepared intellectually, socially, and psychologically than children who attend kindergarten for half-days. We know that attempting to repair reading skills in the fourth grade is far more expensive and risky than guaranteeing pre-reading skills in preschool and good beginning reading skills in kindergarten.”
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- The Perpetual Preschool - A resource for kindergarten and preschool teachers including over 6,000 free songs, crafts, games, snack ideas, and learning activities. Also provides thematic units, professional development resources, and teacher forums.
- Ask The Preschool Teacher -Get answers from qualified teachers to your questions. Includes access to a library of past questions.
- A-to-Z Kids Stuff - Conducive to young learners. Provides lesson plan themes, monthly calendars, educational activities, and free downloads.
- Ask Evelyn - offers parenting resources, tips, creative ideas for kids, reviews, Evelyn Petersen's parenting columns, materials, and other helpful links.
- CanTeach - Resources for Educators - A place to find classroom management resources, children's songs and poetry, planning tools, and free lesson plans.
- Early Childhood Education Resources on the World Wide Web - A resource for teachers and children to find annotated links.
- Early Childhood Educators and Family Web Corner - Articles, message boards, chat area, and extensive web guides featured here.
- Early Childhood Educators Resources - Great ideas for art, science, small group, circle time, and quiet time activities. Includes links to pages.
- Early Childhood Focus - Find the latest news stories related to education. Users can submit news or discuss items, publications and press releases.
- Earlychildhood.com - Enhancing the lives and education experiences among young children. Includes experts who give advice in the early childhood field, creative projects, and sharing of ideas and questions with the early childhood community.
- EdnoLand.com - Providing resources for teachers and parents, on-line preschool community serves young children with interactive activities.
- Everything Preschool - A place to find lesson plans, art, songs, thematic units, and book reviews.
- Facts in Action - From the Early Education Clearinghouse. Includes summaries of early education research and policy for parents, teachers, advocates, and policymakers.
- Hummingbird Educational Resources - Features lesson plan ideas, message boards, and links.
- The Idea Box - Offers games, songs, kid recipes, craft ideas, and message boards. This site particularly targets young children and teachers.
- Kinder Korner - With over 1,200 subscribers, a resource website for preschool through 2nd grade teachers. Includes an early childhood education discussion list
- Kindergarten Classroom - Teach kindergarten science and social studies with thematic reading and math readiness activities. Includes appropriate sites and technology connected lessons for each unit.
- National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) - Features state daycare regulations.
- Postcards for Preschool - The workshop provides kids with knowledge about the United states and other countries. Sending a postcard is a great way for educators to help.
- Pratt's Educational Resources: Early Childhood Education - Website that features thematic activities, games, recipes, coloring pages, songs, and fingerplays.
- Pre-K Directory of Schools - A resource for finding U.S. preschools. Includes large directory.
- The Pre-kinder Corner - Includes activities, curriculum, schedules, and vital early childhood links. Conducive to 4- and 5-year-olds, their parents, and teachers of preschool students.
- Preschool Education - Themed activities for the preschool and kindergarten classroom. Includes a free newsletter.
- Preschool Printables - A place for teachers to print free calendars, classroom news, awards, bulletin boards, file folder games, charts, and so forth.
- The Rainbow Bag - Parents and teachers of young children can find activities and ideas. Provides a page for beginning teachers with frequently asked interview questions.
- Recipes 4 Learning - Includes free recipes, crafts, learning games, songs, and poems for kids.
- Resources for Early Childhood Education -Features a collection of links put together by Researchers at Pennsylvania State University
- Suzyque: Cyber Preschool - Free activities include fingerplays, snack recipes, art ideas, printables, and curriculum calendar. Organized by themes and months.
- Tammy's Teaching Tips - A resource for elementary and preschool teachers includes tips, themes, ideas, and activities.
- Teaching is a Work of Heart - Features thematic activities and screened links. Site updated monthly.
- What Does Research Say About Early Childhood Education? - Recommendations for home as well as classroom activities. Also explores contemporary research.
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