Description: NAEYC publishes research-based; peer-reviewed books for early childhood educators. The topic of materials to include in the classroom impacts every teacher and the information will guide teachers to consider how specific materials help foster children's learning and development in specific domains.
Brief description:
Lisa Mufson Bresson, MEd, is an early childhood author, coach, and consultant with Beyond Boundaries, LLC, specializing in the areas of inquiry-based learning, developmentally appropriate practice, quality classroom environments, and early childhood leadership. Previously, she was the program manager for Grow NJ Kids, New Jersey's statewide Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for early childhood programs. She taught in urban public preschool settings for over a decade. While in district, she also served on the Committee for Staff Development, mentoring and coaching novice teachers.
Lisa is coauthor of NAEYC's bestselling book Big Questions for Young Minds: Extending Children's Thinking. She has been a contributing author to Teaching Young Children, NAEYC's magazine for preschool teachers, for over 10 years and currently serves on the publication's advisory panel. She frequently presents at local, state, and national conferences.
Lisa is the proud mother of two adult sons, Levi and Jacob. She and her husband Jason live in Sharon, Connecticut, and are both enthusiastic travelers and adventure seekers.
Review Quotes: This book should be in every preschool
classroom! It is difficult to find information that is new, engaging, and proven
successful in the classroom, but finally, here is a useful tool for preschool
teachers. I especially love the features within each chapter that break down
suggestions for play materials, tips for incorporating technology, questions to
consider, and more. I am excited to implement these ideas and activities.
Public Schools Grounded in developmentally appropriate
practice, this essential and practical book supports and inspires preschool
teachers and coaches to intentionally select and use play materials to foster
children's engagement, creativity, and learning across all domains. Bresson and
King empower us to hold on to the joy of teaching through creating and
reflecting on developmentally appropriate environments, materials, and
teacher-child interactions. --Holly Seplocha, Professor Emeritus,
William Paterson University, and Early Childhood Consultant and Author Play is such an important topic, and
Lisa and Megan have presented a beautifully simple approach to choosing the
"right stuff" for the preschool classroom. Each chapter is filled with ideas,
wonderings, and questions to reflect upon. Breaking the chapters down into
domains of learning allows for working on one area of development at a time.
This is the perfect addition to my bookshelf. I can't wait to share it with my
staff and see how they integrate some of these suggestions in their classrooms! --Karen Humphris, Executive Director,
Passaic County Community College Child Development Center I hope this book finds its way into the
hands of all preschool teachers, coaches, and college faculty. The authors
adopt a strong commitment to joy and curiosity and hold the teacher as a
creative professional and essential collaborator with children. The "right
stuff" it offers is everything one would need to create a vibrant early
learning classroom. It opens on a strong foundation of curiosity about and in
children and on how to foster joy and learning with play. What follows is a super
accessible and well-organized feast of resources and activities. Of note are
the questions at the end of each part that help teachers connect to their own
learning and well-being. This resource is a complete package that will help any
teacher embody the truth that any time becomes the right time to capitalize and
build on children's curiosity. --Katie Emerson-Hoss, Higher Education
Outreach and Implementation Manager, EarlyEdU Alliance at University of
Washington What a wonderful resource! The supply lists,
suggestions for how to incorporate the play materials into learning
experiences, and linkages to how they support development are both useful and
engaging. I cannot wait to use this book with my staff and graduate students. --Kristen Allen, Director of Early
Education, YWCA Rhode Island This book accurately describes how
planning and designing the environment to include specifically chosen play
materials for preschool-age children will have a significant impact on early
childhood educational practices. Well written and simply stated, this resource
will be invaluable to child care professionals in their educational journey. --Eve Robinson, Program Director, Grow NJ
Kids, and Instructor/Visiting Specialist, Montclair State University This book weaves together child
development and the critical importance of play, while empowering teachers to
creatively make decisions for play materials that foster children's learning.
It is a fantastic resource for teachers in all stages of their career and for
the coaches that support them. --Kelley J. Perkins, Co-Director, Early
Childhood Leadership Institute, Rowan University