Reviews
Review: Young Children, published by NAEYC - August 8, 2011
This book goes beyond rearranging furniture or adding new materials to the classroom. The authors urge early childhood educators to rethink what their program stands for and transform their environments in innovative ways that represent those values.
Review by: Sydney Clemens, Early childhood educator, consultant and author - August 8, 2011
Deb Curtis and Margie Carter show us how, with heedful, thoughtful observation and reflection about space, and program values and goals, we can make wonderful environments for children's learning. Profusely illustrated with clear photos from a number of high quality programs, this wonderful new book is just what teachers interested in environment have been waiting for!
Review by: Janet Gonzalez-Mena, Author of Multicultural Issues in Child Care - August 8, 2011
Curtis and Carter have done it again! This is a winner of a book! They're putting a whole new light on early care and education -- a light that was in danger of being lost in the glare of the homogenizing and institutionalizing trends so prevalent in the field. Not that their underlying philosophy is new—in fact, they are giving new twists to the sound principles on which the field is founded, principles that having gotten stretched and molded over the years into the "cookie-cutter approach" so common across the nation. Reading Designs for Living and Learning made me itch to get back into a classroom and try out some of those great ideas theyíve come up with. Anybody who can teach an old dog like me new tricks deserves lots of attention! I predict this book will become an all time best seller!
Review by: Elizabeth Jones, Pacific Oaks College - August 8, 2011
This lively, readable text, richly illustrated with photos from a wide variety of programs, is full of hands-on activities to structure adults' reflection on their practical experiences in early childhood environments and to encourage the creation of more complex and interesting learning spaces. The authors address classroom management through the organization of space and time, the benefits of orderly display of materials, and strategies for cleanup as real shared adult/child work. We are assured that active learning is necessary to both academic skills and social skills, and we are challenged to overcome barriers in implementing our good ideas.
Review by: Jim Greenman, senior vice president, Bright Horizons Family Solutions - January 1, 2008
Designs for Living and Learning is a terrific illustrated resource for transforming early childhood environments into places worthy of the childhood every child deserves. Filled with insight and concrete ideas.
Review by: Maree Sheehan, Kindergarten Teacher, West Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia - August 8, 2011
As a kindergarten teacher, I am very committed to creating natural learning environments for the children both indoors and outdoors and in children's right to play. For me, this is one of the most important books that I have had the pleasure to own in my 18 years of teaching. This book is another source of inspiration and reaffirms my strong beliefs in why I create these environments.
Review by: Aimee Strong, Owner/Operator, Emma's Garden Daycare & Preschool - August 8, 2011
I feel very fortunate to be one of the first classes to receive [Designs for Living and Learning]. The information presented was not only informational but also inspiring. I began this class with some hesitation about adding natural elements into my classroom space, but after seeing the children's reactions I am a huge advocate for this type of environment…I feel that many educators will think about their approach to teaching very differently after reading this text.
Review by: Verna Willis, Early Childhood Educator, Good Samaritan Hospital - August 8, 2011
I have been in this field a long time, have read a lot of early childhood education books, and sometimes lately find myself getting a bit tired (old? jaded? been there/done that?). Usually I just flip through most new books, maybe read a chapter or two or stick in a Post-It note to maybe refer to it in a class I am teaching, but rarely any more do I read one from cover to cover. But once I flipped open [Designs for Living and Learning] I found I couldn't put it down. Not only is the information refreshing, the book itself practices what it preaches. The book is aesthetically pleasing, welcoming/accessible, respectful of the reader/learner, and it even feels good when you touch the pages!
Review by: Andrea Viets, The Children's Garden - August 8, 2011
[Designs for Living and Learning] is an amazing compilation of inspiring color photographs from many different programs, and a synthesis of some of the wonderful strengths of approaches including Reggio, Montessori, Waldorf, and more.