<div><p>Help young children <b>develop problem-solving skills</b>, and you'll boost their kindergarten readiness and set them up for long-term success in STEM subjects. In this timely and practical book, you'll discover how to support the problem-solving skills of all young children by teaching them <b>basic practices of engineering</b> and<b>five types of critical thinking skills</b> (Curiosity, Persistence, Flexibility, Reflection, and Collaboration)—<b>AND</b> discover how to sharpen all these skills as a teacher! Using a clear instructional framework and fun activities tailored for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, you'll help children birth to 5 explore big ideas and develop new ways of thinking through engaging and challenging learning experiences. A must for teachers in inclusive early education classrooms, this comprehensive guide is your key to teaching the 21st-century skills children need for STEM learning and school success.</p><br><b>THE BOOK YOU NEED TO</b><ul><li><b>Support school readiness.</b> The problem-solving framework in this book helps children work toward kindergarten Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework.<br></li><li><b>Demystify and teach key engineering practices. </b>Prepare kids for success in all STEM areas by teaching four essential engineering principles:<i>think about it, try it, fix it, and share it.</i><br></li><li><b>Boost problem-solving skills with proven activities.</b> All the suggested activities have been piloted and tested in classrooms and incorporate teacher feedback.<br></li><li><b>Plan effective lessons for all children.</b> Discover how to use universal design for learning (UDL) to plan lessons that work for children with and without disabilities.<br></li><li><b>Start the learning early.</b> Help even the youngest children develop problem-solving skills with activities tailored for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.<br></li><li><b>Encourage language and literacy development.</b> Get suggestions for weaving reading into problem-solving experiences, and discover how your use of language can prompt children's thinking skills.<br></li><li><b>Promote other skills needed for school success.</b> With the framework and activities in this book, you'll also support development of social-emotional skills, self-regulation, and executive functioning.</li></ul><br><p><b>PRACTICAL MATERIALS:</b> Classroom activities that incorporate children's books, self-reflection checklists, practical strategies and modifications, Early Childhood UDL Planning Sheets, and blank Experience Planning Templates for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.</p></div>