Resources
The following links are only a fraction of the online resources available for those preparing to or currently work with young children. The faculty in the ECE department use many of these resources in their courses and encourage student familiarity of resources to support their professional development and partnerships with parents.
Playing for Keeps
A national not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting healthy, constructive, non-violent play for all children. Provide information and resources to parents, teachers,child care providers, toy industry professionals, researchers, health care providers, librarians, after-school programs, non-profit organizations and anyone else interested in "good" play. The link to "Constructive Play" contains some very helpful and important information for teachers.
Preschool Page
Preschool Page has a great deal of articles and information that support the care and education of 3- to 6-year-olds. The developers of this site also provide additional resources on the toddler (1 to 3 years) and K-12 (6 to 18 years) areas of development. The Preschool Page has information on topics such as education, health, medicine and diseases, preventative care and nutrition, disabilities, preschoolers, product recalls, early learning, parenting, growth and development, toys and recreation, child development, curriculum and more. This site is a true wealth of information and resources.
The Project Approach
This site features stories of projects which teachers have carried out in their classrooms. Each story will be introduced through a summary based on the framework outlined in "Engaging Children's Minds: The Project Approach," by Lillian G. Katz and Sylvia C. Chard (1989, Ablex). Where there are interesting stories to be told in greater detail, links are provided to additional texts and graphics. As these links are developed, they will provide an increasingly rich source of examples of teachers' and children's experiences of project work in many different classrooms.
Zero to Three
Offers information on child development, quality child care, and disabilities.
Early Connections - Technology in Early Childhood Education
Connects technology with the way young children learn — resources and information for educators and care providers. Site and publication from the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory.
Organizations
National Association for the Education of Young Children
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the nation's largest organization of early childhood professionals and others dedicated to improving the quality of early childhood education programs for children up to age 8. Founded in 1926, NAEYC membership grew to more than 100,000 in 1997 and includes a national network of greater than 400 local, state, and regional early childhood organizations affiliated with NAEYC. NAEYC Affiliate Groups share and help to implement NAEYC's primary goals of improving professional practice and working conditions in early childhood education and building public understanding and support for high quality early childhood programs.
The Washington Association for the Education of Young Children
Washington AEYC is the professional organization for those working with children ages birth through 8 years old in Washington. This organization has 21 local affiliate groups and more than 2,000 members throughout the state.
Children's Defense Fund
The Children's Defense Fund exists to provide a strong and effective voice for all the children of America, who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. This organization pays particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. Its goal is to educate the nation about the needs of children and encourage preventive investment in children before they get sick, drop out of school, suffer family breakdown, or get into trouble.
National Association of Childcare Resource and Referral Agencies
NACCRRA is a national membership organization of more than 400 community child care resource and referral agencies (CCR&Rs) in all 50 states. NACCRRA's mission is to promote the growth and development of high quality resource and referral services and to exercise leadership to build a diverse, high quality child care system with parental choice and equal access for all families. The CCR&Rs it represents are the only portion of the child care delivery system which maintains daily contact with both parents and child care providers in hundreds of local communities.
Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
The state agency responsible for the oversight of all education from kindergarten through high school in Washington. OSPI also is the state agency that grants teacher certification and teaching endorsements.
Publications
Young Children
Journal of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Early Childhood Today
Published by Scholastic.
Early Childhood News
Published by Earlychildhood.com.
Education Week
Leading publication on American Education.
Sources to Additional Links
The Awesome Library
Has thousands of links that have been organized for educators. The lesson plan category has a section for preschool.
United States Department of Education Website
A site that offers links to more than 100 department-sponsored websites and more than 80,000 files at ERIC education research sites.