The Complete Learning Center Book: An Illustrated Guide to 32 Different Early Childhood Learning Centers [Paperback]

Christy Isbell (Author), Rebecca Jones (Illustrator), Larry Smith (Photographer)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0876591748 | ISBN-13: 978-0876591741 | Publication Date: July 1, 1995 | Edition: 1st Edition

All you ever needed to know about 32 learning centers is included in this comprehensive book. Clear illustrations provide a layout of each center with suggestions on setting up the classroom environment. Each center includes an introduction, learning objectives, letter to the parents, related vocabulary, and a web of integrated learning diagramming the spectrum of curriculum areas taught.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Enrich your classroom environment with unique learning centers and new ideas for traditional learning centers. Written for the teacher who wants to try new centers that will expand learning opportunities, as well as for every teacher who understands that children learn best in active environments.

Whether you are an experienced teacher, or a new teacher just beginning the experience of working with children in early childhood settings, this comprehensive guide will become indispensable.

About the Author

Christy Isbell, Ph.D., is the Program Director and Associate Professor for the Occupational Therapy Program at Milligan College in Tennessee. She teaches child development, human development, and pediatric therapy courses for the Masters of Occupational Therapy Program. Additionally, Dr. Isbell is Board Certified in Pediatrics and maintains specialty training in sensory integration and neuro-developmental treatment techniques.

Product Details

• Paperback: 367 pages
• Publisher: Gryphon House; 1st Edition edition (July 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876591748
• ISBN-13: 978-0876591741
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #881,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rebecca Isbell, Ph.D., is Director of the Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning and Development. She is a professor of Early Childhood Education at East Tennessee State University where she was recognized as a distinguished professor for teaching. Dr. Isbell has served as the director of the lab school for young children and currently serves as a consultant for this program. She designed a pilot site for Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance, now a state training program for early childhood educators. Rebecca has conducted research on the positive effects of storytelling on young children's language development and is involved in the annual National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. For a number of years, Rebecca has presented at international, national, and regional early childhood professional meetings. She is a sought-after presenter and keynote speaker for early childhood conferences and training meetings. Her interests cover a range of topics in early childhood education including: learning environments, learning centers, literacy development, music/art and drama, creative thinking, and infants/toddlers. Rebecca Isbell lives in Jonesborough, Tennessee.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for pre-k but not anything higher, January 28, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Learning Center Book: An Illustrated Guide to 32 Different Early Childhood Learning Centers (Paperback)

As an elementary teacher, I was looking for some helpful information about implementing learning centers in my classroom. This book provided various themes for complex learning centers, such as "Restaurant Center", "Grocery Store Center", and "Hat Center". Although these ideas were fun, there was little detail about how to make them educational. I believe these learning centers would be good for pre-school or kindergarten, but not anything higher. If you are interested in specific ideas for math activites, or literature-based learning center activities, do not get this book.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Ideas, May 10, 2000

By 

Laronda Fuchs (Marysville, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Learning Center Book: An Illustrated Guide to 32 Different Early Childhood Learning Centers (Paperback)

Great Resource book for Early Childhood Professionals. This book has lots of great ideas to use in the classroom and they are cheap and easy to implement. Wonderful for Emergent Curriculum and very Language and Literacy Rich. Highly Recommended!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learning through Play, February 2, 2005

By 

Sharon (Fairbanks, AK, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Learning Center Book: An Illustrated Guide to 32 Different Early Childhood Learning Centers (Paperback)

As a licensed group home provider, the learning through play concept was something new to me. I was one who had thought the children HAD to go home with worksheets and step by step crafts to "show" they were learning something. Through my Early Childhood Education Classes I found a new and improved way to "teach"- through play. I had really no idea where to start and so I borrowed books and this book was one I had to have! I am so happy with how they explain everything, including how EDUCATIONAL play is. I was most impressed with the Web of Integrated Learning for each center. These webs are pretty new to me and so far have me wishing I would have known about them earlier. As it states in the book "Play nurtures children's development in all areas: intellectual, social/emotional and physical." If you remember this (PIES as we call it)while looking through this book, you can see just how educational and benefiting learning centers are for our children. No matter the age. I have children from 2 to 8 and they ALL enjoy these learning centers and actually learn from each other through their play.