Book Reviews

A Practical Guide to Early Childhood Curriculum

Linking Thematic, Emergent and Skill-Based Planning To Children's Outcomes

This second edition can be ordered at 800-223-1360 OR Click here to order from Amazon

What educators and inservice training coordinators are saying about the second edition…

"I was impressed with the clear and logical way developmentally appropriate skill-based planning was discussed. The concept and system of Developmental Sequencing is crucial to understanding how children learn and how to plan accordingly.
The system of using the skill-based and sequenced activities in the five categories was excellent and was a favorite of my college students. My students felt that their methods courses books were not as helpful as the Petersen book in preparing them for the real world of teaching. Until they read this book, many students were not confident in applying theory and their ideas for learning experiences into classroom curriculum. Students also appreciated the abundance of practical, "ready to go" material.. They were able to use this book in their field placement assignments as well as incorporate its material into activities required in some of their other college classes.
Evelyn Petersen has written a book in a “language” that can immediately be understood and to which both students and teachers can relate. Even though I had only been teaching for 10 years at the time I purchased the first edition of this book, the contents and pedagogical features added to my own personal professional growth and I continue to do so even more in the second edition.”
Jan Morehead, MA, Early Childhood Ed.
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico

"What I like best about the entire book is the easy way the author gets her messages across. I wanted to shout "Hurrah" as I read it because she speaks from practical experience in the field, knows what teachers need, and is not afraid to tell it like it is. I feel this book is the complete resource for early childhood educators. This is the kind of resource book that early educators need to help them understand appropriate curriculum building for young children. It is practical, "true to life," and guides the reader in each step of understanding systems of integrated planning that meets the young child's needs. I wish it had been available when I was a Head Start teacher. Now, I recommend it to my college students and to teachers and Inservice coordinators in the field every chance I get. Thank you, Evelyn.
Claude Endfield,
Head Start Consultant and Instructor
Northern Pioneer College, Holbrook AZ

I would like to thank you so much for the incredible gift that your book has given to our Head Start program. Our teachers had been struggling to build curriculum that was structured, integrated and comprehensive. Your book has brought our teachers valuable insight and given us the systematic methods we needed in Inservice training to build an all encompassing curriculum and individualized teaching that leads naturally and gradually to children's outcomes. We love your second edition! With great thanks
Mary Ellen Fritz, Director
South Central Foundation Head Start
Anchorage, Alaska

Evelyn Petersen's curriculum planning systems were a Godsend to our program at Eastern Oregon University Head Start. Like so many Early Childhood Education programs, we have teachers with a wide range of education and experience. Using the methods in Evelyn's book, we were able to do Inservice to get everyone "on the same page," using the same lesson plan format, and individualizing for children in a well-planned, intentional and consistent manner. Our classrooms run smoothly, supervisors are able to monitor effectively, and the children are achieving learning outcomes consistently. Teachers say their work is easier and their work productivity has improved. During our federal and state reviews we were in full compliance and there was not one negative comment about our education services. This was great validation for our staff and for Evelyn's approach to curriculum planning and implementation.
Virginia Bertels, Director
Eastern Oregon University Head Start
La Grande, OR

Our “Early Discoveries” program is part of the Virginia Preschool Initiative and serves 940 preschool children in a large urban region. Our centers are located in elementary schools in the cities of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, with funding and services coordinated by the YMCA of South Hampton Roads. We serve "at risk" children, so we wanted to develop a curriculum based on our mission to give children developmentally appropriate activities in all learning domains that are diverse, enjoyable and challenging. We struggled and got nowhere until we found Evelyn Petersen's book, "A Practical Guide to Early Childhood Curriculum," which became a major resource in developing our curriculum and our Skill Planning Guide. It was Evelyn's book that started us down the road to developing our own curriculum. It's in every classroom!
Linda Lloyd-Zannini
Vice President of Children's Services
YMCA of South Hampton Roads
Norfolk, VA
Llloyd-zannini@ymcashr.org

As former Chief of the Head Start Bureau's American Indian Branch, I know first hand that Evelyn's book on curriculum planning was of great benefit to our Tribal Head Start programs. The second edition, with its new chapters, illustrations, and integrated curriculum planning and individualizing systems is a superb resource for Head Start Programs who want their teachers to help children reach outcomes in appropriate, natural ways.
Scheirbeck, Helen
Former Chief, American Indian Head Start Branch
Smithsonian Institute

“Every preschool teacher should have and use this book! I use it every day. I was given this book when I started working as a preschool teachers in a public school. It is a Godsend and I recommend it to anyone who is serious about child development and early education.”
M.J. Lindenholm, Preschool teacher
Moyock, N.C.

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