Newsletter

Giving a Voice to Australian Early Childhood Educators

November 2009

Dear Early Childhood Practitioner,

Welcome to our November 2009 e-newsletter, Pademelon Notes.

In this issue of Pademelon Notes we introduce a new segment, Travels with our Authors. In this segment, Pademelon Press authors share with you their travels and discoveries in relation to early childhood education both in Australia and around the world. You will also hear about different conference events they’ve been to or where you can see them present.

Our regular features include information on new titles and past favourites that focus on school readiness, author interviews, a report on the Belfast World Forum and much more.

Voices from the Field is not included this time but if you would like to contribute to this segment for next time please email us at sue@pademelonpress.com.au. Contributions should be approximately 1000 words on a topic that you would like to share with other practitioners. Possible topics include how you adapted your program or environment, how you introduced different teaching practices or philosophies or anything, in fact, about which you are passionate..

School readiness and transition to school programs
School Readiness and Transition to School programs are an important part of a preschool curriculum. Effective transition to school involves many parties — the child, parents, early childhood educators, school educators and the wider community. Each of these parties may have a different perspective on what constitutes effective transition to, and readiness for, school. As a consequence early childhood educators often feel pressured to meet these expectations. The following resources can help both preschools and schools formulate transition programs that address the concerns of all parties.

Starting School - A Handbook for Early Childhood Educators by Sue Dockett and Bob Perry is based on the Starting School Research Project conducted at the University of Western Sydney, Australia. It gives details on planning effective school readiness programs and is a useful resource for both preschool and first year at school teachers. Click here for details.

Our Family is Starting School - A Handbook for Parents and Carers by the same authors highlights the many things parents can do to support their child’s transition to school. It discusses issues of readiness and emphasises the importance of working together to make transition to school positive. Click here for details. Please click here to link through to an interview with Sue Dockett and Bob Perry.

Seven Skills for School Success - Activities to Develop Social and Emotional Intelligence in Young Children by Pam Schiller gives information, activities, and experiences that develop the seven skills children need to become successful learners including social intelligence skills, such as relating to and playing with others, as well as emotional intelligence skills, such as expressing feelings. Click here

Me, You, Us - Social–Emotional Learning in Preschool by Ann S Epstein draws on extensive research and discussion from the early childhood field. This book helps educators chart a path for young children to develop the social–emotional skills they need to succeed in school and in life. Click here for details.

Voices from the Field
Please email us at sue@pademelonpress.com.au if you would like to contribute to this segment.

World Forum 2009 — Belfast, Northern Ireland
High spirited interactions and powerful learning opportunities engaged 630 early childhood administrators, trainers, caregivers, public officials, and advocates from 76 countries during the 2009 World Forum in Belfast. Click here for a full report including images.

Joy's Recommendation
Joy Lubawy has over 29 years experience working as an early childhood educator and trainer. She travels extensively throughout Australia bringing enthusiasm and practical ideas on a range of topics to early childhood professionals.Click here to see what Joy has to say about Nurturing Young Children’s Disposition to Learn available from Pademelon Press.

CD books and DVDs
Increasingly our suppliers are providing some of their titles as CD books or publishing a title as a DVD rather than a conventional book. This is in an effort to address the increasing concern about the rising costs for textbooks.

The following CD books, published by Exchange Press, are available from Pademelon Press:

The Art of Leadership CD Book. Click here for details.
Promoting the Value of Play CD Book. Click here for details.
Leading People in Early Childhood Settings CD Book. Click here for details.
Developing Capable and Creative Teachers CD Book. Click here for details.
Taking Stock: Tools and Strategies for Evaluating Programs, Directors, Teachers and Children CD Book. Click here for details.

The following DVDs, published by High/Scope Press, are distributed by Pademelon Press:

Moving Past Praise: Supporting Children with Encouragement Click here for details.
Adult–Child Interaction: Communicating to Support Learning Click here for details.
The Indoor and Outdoor Environment Click here for details.

Author Interview
Our Author interview is with Sue Dockett and Bob Perry who co-wrote Starting School and Our Family is Starting School. They are both professors at the Murray School of Education, Charles Sturt University, Albury. Click here to read their interview.

Travelling with our Authors
Many of our authors spend time travelling throughout Australia and the world talking with people involved in early childhood education and learning from others in diverse environments. They each have their own area of expertise and interest and this section will give them an opportunity to share this with our readers as well as provide information about where you can see them present. This issue we travel with Dr Susan Edwards and Joy Lubawy.

Dr Susan Edwards is the author of Early Childhood Education and Care: A Sociocultural Approach. Published in 2009 by Pademelon Press, the book provides a contemporary approach to understanding sociocultural theory in action and follows the experience of a group of teachers researching their own practice in Victoria, Australia. Follow this link to read Susan’s ‘postcard’ from the Vygotsky Summer School in Russia in June 2009. Click here for details.

Joy Lubawy is a long-time Pademelon Press author and her latest book, Visions of Creativity in Early Childhood: Connecting Theory, Practice and Reflection was published in 2009. Hugely successful, the first reprint is arriving at our warehouse now. Joy’s ‘postcard’ takes the reader across the country and has some insightful comments on early childhood education today. Click here for details.

Upcoming Conferences
Wodonga City Council, Charles Sturt University, Wodonga TAFE
‘ Building Bridges’
Thursday 12 November–Friday 13 November 2009
Click here for details.

Gowrie NSW
‘ The Potential of a Puddle: Nurture through Nature’
Sydney, Friday 13 November 2009
Penrith, Saturday 14 November 2009
Tamworth, Monday 16 November 2009
Click here for details.

The University of Melbourne
‘ Honoring the Child, Honoring Equity 9’
Thursday 19 November–Saturday 21 November 2009
Click here for details.

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Family and Community Strengths Conference
‘ Strong Stories, Strong Mob, Strong Kids: Growing Up Together’
Tuesday 1 December–Thursday 3 December 2009
Click here for details.

In Conclusion
We hope you have enjoyed this edition of Pademelon Notes.

Please feel free to send Pademelon Notes on to your colleagues. If they would like to subscribe to this free e-newsletter please ask them to e-mail our Office Manager, Sue Searle, at sue@pademelonpress.com.au to be added to our e-mailing list.

Go to our website at www.pademelonpress.com.au for the latest arrivals from us and our overseas publishers, contact details for upcoming conferences, World Forum news, and stores in your state that stock our books.

Bye for now,
Rodney Kenner and your friends at Pademelon Press.