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The Developing Brain
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The Developing Brain
Birth to Age Eight

Edited by:


February 2008 | 144 pages | Corwin
"This tool shows how classrooms can differentiate instruction, spend time on what really matters, and make sure that all children are making progress. I love the practical applications for each age level and what teachers can do to support optimal learning in their classrooms. Fantastic!"

—Stephanie Malin, Elementary Instructional Coach

Beaverton School District, OR

"The author has managed to untangle a very complex topic and make it applicable to everyday learning and teaching. The continuous application of research to learning is a strength of the book. A true gift to a broad band of educators."

—Laura Linde, Literacy Coach

Hoover Elementary School, North Mankato, MN

Finally, a book for early childhood educators that combines child development and brain research!

How can early childhood teachers, administrators, and parents translate discoveries on early brain development into strategies that nurture cognitive growth? Synthesizing information from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and child development, The Developing Brain offers brain-compatible teaching practices that are linked to NAEYC principles for working with young children.

Best-selling author Marilee Sprenger covers the basic structure, vocabulary, and current research on the brain from an early childhood educator's point of view and provides an abundance of illustrations and descriptions. This user-friendly guide includes:

Background information on brain development from birth through age two

Scenarios and snapshots of each year from age three through eight

Reproducible developmental checklists

Over 100 brain-based activities for classroom or child care settings

Through an understanding of the phases of language, motor, and social development at each age level, educators can create enriching educational experiences that enhance children's growth and foster an enduring love of learning.

 
Preface: You Don't Know Jack!
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Author
 
Introduction
What Is Best Practice?

 
Brain-Compatible Teaching Principles

 
Early Childhood Practices

 
An Ounce of Prevention

 
About This Book

 
 
1. The Basic Biology of Brain Development
Brain Chemicals

 
Electroencephalograms

 
Windows of Opportunity

 
Experience Dependent and Experience Expectant

 
First Language

 
Second Language Learning

 
Motor Development

 
Memory Development

 
Music

 
Math

 
Emotion

 
Thinking About Brain Growth

 
 
2. Building the Brain Through Age Two
Brain Development

 
Language and Reading Development

 
Physical and Motor Development

 
Gross Motor Skills

 
Fine Motor Skills

 
Social and Emotional Development

 
Cognitive Development

 
Developmentally Appropriate Activities From Birth to Age Two

 
Reading and Language Development

 
Physical and Motor Development

 
Cognitive Development

 
 
3. The Three-Year-Old Brain
Brain Development

 
Language and Reading Development

 
Physical and Motor Development

 
Social and Emotional Development

 
Cognitive Development

 
Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Three-Year-Old Brains

 
For Language and Reading Development

 
For Physical and Motor Development

 
For Social and Emotional Development

 
For Cognitive Development

 
Child Development Checklist: Three-Year-Olds

 
 
4. The Four-Year-Old Brain
Brain Development

 
Language and Reading Development

 
Physical and Motor Development

 
Social and Emotional Development

 
Cognitive Development

 
Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Four-Year-Old Brains

 
For Language and Reading Development

 
For Physical and Motor Development

 
For Social and Emotional Development

 
For Cognitive Development

 
Child Development Checklist: Four-Year-Olds

 
 
5. The Five-Year-Old Brain
Scenario

 
Brain Development

 
Language and Reading Development

 
Physical and Motor Development

 
Social and Emotional Development

 
Cognitive Development

 
Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Five-Year-Old Brains

 
For Language and Reading Development

 
For Physical and Motor Development

 
For Social and Emotional Development

 
For Cognitive Development

 
Child Development Checklist: Five-Year-Olds

 
 
6. The Six-Year-Old Brain
Scenario

 
Brain Development

 
Language and Reading Development

 
Physical and Motor Development

 
Social and Emotional Development

 
Cognitive Development

 
Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Six-Year-Old Brains

 
For Language and Reading Development

 
For Physical and Motor Development

 
For Social and Emotional Development

 
For Cognitive Development

 
Child Development Checklist: Six-Year-Olds

 
 
7. The Seven-Year-Old Brain
Scenario

 
Brain Development

 
Language and Reading Development

 
Physical and Motor Development

 
Social and Emotional Development

 
Cognitive Development

 
Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Seven-Year-Old Brains

 
For Language and Reading Development

 
For Physical and Motor Development

 
For Social and Emotional Development

 
For Cognitive Development

 
Child Development Checklist: Seven-Year-Olds

 
 
8. The Eight-Year-Old Brain
Brain Development

 
Language and Reading Development

 
Physical and Motor Development

 
Social and Emotional Development

 
Cognitive Development

 
Developmentally Appropriate Activities for Eight-Year-Old Brains

 
For Language and Reading Development

 
For Physical and Motor Development

 
For Social and Emotional Development

 
For Cognitive Development

 
Child Development Checklist: Eight-Years-Old

 
 
Bibliography
 
Index

"I truly enjoyed the book and had trouble putting it down. The developmental checklists at the end of each chapter are awesome! I have pored over them and learned so much about my children, niece, and neighbors. Thanks for providing such a neat way to communicate expectations and guidelines."

Stacey B. Ferguson, Teacher
North Bay Elementary School, Bay St. Louis, MS

"The author has managed to untangle a very complex topic and make it applicable to everyday learning and teaching. The continuous application of research to learning is a strength of the book. A true gift to a broad band of educators."

Laura Linde, Literacy Coach
Hoover Elementary School, North Mankato, MN

"This tool shows how classrooms can differentiate instruction, spend time on what really matters, and make sure that all children are making progress. I love the practical applications for each age level and what teachers can do to support optimal learning in their classrooms. Fantastic!"

Stephanie Malin, Elementary Instructional Coach
Beaverton School District, OR

"The author took difficult information on the brain and synthesized it so that it is reader-friendly and easy to understand. She provided ideas that could easily be implemented in a classroom or at home and identified the curriculum areas for growth."

Gail Underwood, Math Coach
Columbia Public Schools, MO

"Chapters cover the basic research on the brain as it relates to educators and child development issues, pairing this survey with development checklists and over 100 brain-based activities for classroom or child care environments."

California Bookwatch, June 2008
Midwest Book Review

Marilee B. Sprenger

Marilee Sprenger is an adjunct professor at Aurora University, where she teaches graduate courses on brain-based teaching, learning and memory, and differentiation. A creative and compassionate educator, she began her career teaching prekindergarten and kindergarten. She has also taught at the elementary, middle, and high school level. As an independent consultant, her passion is brain-based teaching and best practices using brain research and differentiation. She also consults in the areas of learning styles, using music in the classroom, teaming, multiple intelligences, emotional intelligence, and memory. As an educational consultant... More About Author

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