Learning Center

What can jellyfish, a bunch of grapes, or dandelions possibly teach us about designing early childhood classrooms? As it turns out, quite a lot! Inspired by Nature: Designing Play Places for the Littlest Learners explores how nature offers valuable and important lessons about transforming classroom spaces into places where infants and toddlers can thrive. Discover what mushrooms can teach us about cozy hideaways. Learn what sea turtles can show us about wayfinding. Find out what lightning bugs can share about illumination. With gorgeous photos and intriguing connections, Inspired by Nature: Designing Play Places for the Littlest Learners will help you see your infant, toddler, or twos classroom in a whole new way. Learn how to: make your classroom twinkle like fireflies, optimize storage space like honeybees, create a cozy environment like the forest, and see from different angles like alligators. There's so much more to learn, so let the exploration begin!

New technologies and digital communications channels are changing the way parents and caregivers discover child-care centers and decide where to enroll. In response, center administrators have to rethink the traditional paths to enrollment. The Basics of Growing a Child-Care Business offers information to help you stand out from the competition. This book offers clear strategies for growth. Charm: Grab the customer's attention. Create a solid foundation for your marketing strategy. Advise: Establish yourself as an expert and set your sales goals. Delight: Design your customer experience, and create an ongoing sales pipeline. Tracks: Gather Data, measure your results, and adjust your approach.

As an early childhood educator, you want every child to thrive, regardless of their abilities or learning style. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides a framework for designing learning experiences that are inclusive and accessible to all children. In this guide, you'll learn how to apply UDL principles to your early childhood environment to create a welcoming, engaging, and effective learning environment for every child. From designing flexible learning spaces to using technology to support diverse learners, you'll discover practical strategies and tips for implementing UDL in your classroom. With real-world examples, this book shows you how to: create a classroom culture where children feel safe and comfortable, design and adapt materials for different learning styles and needs, collaborate with families and colleagues to support children's learning, use technology to enhance learning for all children, and incorporate UDL principles into your daily routines and activities.