Selecting Educational Equipment and Materials for School and Home

Résumé du livre

This revised publication focuses on selection issues relating to multicultural anti-bias curriculum, diversity, and inclusion while giving special consideration to the use of computers in classrooms. The first part of the booklet deals with the learning environment. The first article, "Creating the Learning Environment: Context for Learning and Living" (S. Vianne McLean), discusses the role of the environment in building the curriculum and factors to consider when setting up a classroom environment. The second article, "Collecting, Compiling, Constructing, Creating" (Oralie McAfee), offers suggestions for evaluating materials in commercial kits and help in selecting materials appropriate for achieving a teacher's curriculum goals. The third article, "Some Considerations in Equipping a Child Care Center or School" (E. Anne Eddowes), addresses the specifics of selecting equipment on the basis of program goals, children's needs, cultural factors and special needs. The last article in this section, "Children and Technology" (Joan P. Isenberg and Teresa Rosegrant), examines the effect of technology on curriculum, teaching and learning and provides criteria for evaluating software. The second part of this book consists of lists of suggested materials created by subject experts and organized by developmental levels: infant/toddler groups (Kathleen Ralph), preschool groups (Qiuping Cao and Betsy Mercado), and kindergarten groups (Carol Sue Marshall and Paula Weaver-Blackshear); and early elementary (Mary Lu Syllaba), later elementary, (L. Ruth Frederick), and middle school (P. Elizabeth Pate). The lists of basic materials and extensions serve as guides for equipping classrooms in group settings and should not be regarded as inventories. Most chapters contain references. (BAC)