Recommended reading for working in Early Years/ KS1

[curlytoes]

I used to teach in Early Years and KS1. I stopped work in 2008 to be a SAHM. I would like to get back into education, ideally this September. I volunteer in school, read articles in the TES & keep an eye on educational developments in the media. However, I still feel out of date. I'd like to read some good books in order to refresh my knowledge and just to really get me thinking. I'd like to find an up to date child development book as my old textbooks are old! Also, I was thinking of something around maths/ numeracy as I've read so much more recently about literacy, especially phonics, and wondered what developments there have been in teaching maths. I'm also interested in optimising learning in the outdoors. However, I'd love to know of any pedagogical reading that you have found inspirational or helpful.

My three DCs are all at home now so I'll probably have to get off MN in a minute but I'll be back.

At the moment staff is trained outside settings only if working full-time where we are & 'Babcocks' providing some online training for teachers & TAs. A lot of emphasis on linking theory with practice at the moment i.e Albert Bandura's (theory about children copy behaviour from peers and those around them) also many other child development theories and psychologists are studied. Very useful read 'How Children Learn'. Inset days for Provision management, work with other professionals, EAL provision & interventions, child protection on the agenda every time, SEN, etc. KS1 concentrating on 'Read, Write, Inc' and phonics are taught differently since last year. Many workshops for parents are held by teachers explaining about children's learning styles (visual, kinaesthetic, etc). The National Curriculum was changed last year. Also the New EYFS introduced last year. Hope it helps. Good luck.

abcdoes.typepad.com/

www.earlyexcellence.com/training_programme.html

www.amazon.co.uk/Childrens-Mathematics-Making-Marks-Meaning/dp/1412922836

www.andrelleducation.com/big-maths/

Miaow- it's interesting to hear you say that about the TES forums. I joined a few but there doesn't seem to much traffic, a lot of the threads are very old.

Mrz - I love abcdoes. I discovered it through MN. I'm thinking of getting one of Alistair's books. Probably 'From Vacant to Engaged'. Thanks for the other links too.

Thanks nicp - it's names like Bandura which are familiar but make me think, 'Which one was he again?' Hence the need for some revision! I'll check out the book you suggest.

eyfs.info/home

Please, not learning styles!

learning styles are on the Phonics check thread