Customer Reviews

Project-Based Learning with Young Children

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[...] Unbelievably, Diffily and Sassman have written the most concise and straight forward book for teachers who want a clear understanding of project based learning. This honest educational guide is written from real life classrooms. From the first day the children walk in your door, Project-Based Learning with Young Children lays the foundations for successful learning. The authors encourage teachers to start using projects a little at a time, building gradually to the long term experience. It's a rare nuts-and-bolts type of education book, with room for individual teacher innovation. Diffily and Sassman's love for children, teaching, and projects comes through every page. Skills, critical thinking, and assessment are all here. Project-Based Learning with Young Children is the most encouraging educational book I have read in years. My copy has pencil marks, sticky tabs, and notes written on every page. I have already begun integrating it into my school day with the small successes that make me want to continue to see how the children will continue to dazzle me. Treat your children, as well as yourself, to the rare learning pleasure with projects.

Project-Based Learning with Young Children is obviously written by good teachers for good teachers. The book is well-organized and easy to read. It suggests ways of working with children that are very respectful of children and the learning process. The best parts of this book are the true-to-life stories of real children doing real work. Diffily and Sassman weave their own experiences working on projects with young children, as well as bringing in "voices" of other project-based learning teachers. I strongly recommend Project-Based Learning with Young Children to any K-1-2 teacher who is looking for authentic ways of teaching young children.

This book implies that teachers can go outside and teach an enormous amount of curriculum based objectives by simply implementing a 20 minute discussion regarding a tree on the playground. As a result, teachers are supposedly able to check off that students learned symmetry because of the shape of the leaves, engineering because of the roots, photosynthesis because of the color of the leaves, `life' because the tree is a living thing, art because it is beautiful, writing because you can write about it, metaphors because you can compare it to a skyscraper, etc. This book is just someone putting a new name on an old idea. Education has a pendulum that swings back and forth over the years and puts new names to old ideas. Find something that works and stick with it! Don't waste your time "giving in" to all the new "fads." It's about the kids, not about the next guy trying to make a dollar.