Assistive Technology

The Project Approach for All Learners A Hands-On Guide for Inclusive Early Childhood Classrooms

By Sallee J. Beneke, Ph.D. (St. Ambrose University), Michaelene M. Ostrosky, Ph.D. (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), & Lilian G. Katz, Ph.D. (Professor Emerita, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

A proven and popular teaching method, the Project Approach engages the natural curiosity of children through in-depth investigations of topics that capture their interest. Now there’s a guidebook that shows future educators how use this child-centered approach to reach and teach all learners in their early childhood classroom—regardless of background or ability.

Developed by a team of experts that includes Project Approach leader Lilian G. Katz, this book is a complete guide to implementing project-based learning in inclusive early childhood classrooms. Future teachers will discover how to support diverse groups of children as they study realworld topics that fascinate them, play detective with peers to find answers to questions, and show what they’ve learned in interesting and creative ways. Teachers will also get practical, startto-finish guidance on how to apply the Project Approach, including a complete package of training materials, examples of successful projects from real inclusive classrooms, and a Project Approach Implementation Checklist that helps educators use the approach effectively.

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CONTENTS

1 . Getting Started with the Project Approach 2. Defining the Role of the Teacher 3. Implementing with Fidelity 4. Supporting the Investigation 5. Representing and Sharing Project Work 6. Sustaining the Project Approach

LEARN HOW TO: • Use the Project Approach in combination with universal design for learning (UDL) strategies • Choose a compelling project topic that encourages hands-on learning in inclusive settings • Teach children effective strategies for investigating the topic and conducting research • Build on children’s natural motivation by actively engaging and listening to them • Make the most of each child’s individual strengths and expertise during project work • Support children in representing their learning through displays and presentations • Offer accommodations and supports that meet diverse learning needs

TRAINING & IMPLEMENTATION MATERIALS: Your students will master each step of the Project Approach with the comprehensive package of supplementary materials, including the Project Approach Implementation Checklist, 38 video clips that illustrate key concepts, 22 PowerPoint presentations on important elements of the Project Approach, and six sets of training materials that correspond with each chapter. Supplementary materials are available online to purchasers of the book.