Threads of Thinking: Schemas and Young Children's Learning

In her new edition of this popular book, Cathy Nutbrown presents evidence of continuity and progression in young children′s thinking. She shows, with detailed observation, that they are able and active learners. She considers aspects of children′s patterns of learning and thinking - or schemas - and demonstrates clearly how children learn in an active, dynamic and creative way. This book makes schema theory explicit in practice. Supported by numerous detailed examples and the discussion of difficult theoretical issues, it illustrates children′s learning in areas such as literacy, maths and science. This new edition includes: - discussion on the need for professional development - changes in early years pedagogy - more discussion of theories of learning in relation to curriculum and teaching practices - new examples of children′s drawings - new suggestions for using stories to support schemas. Threads of Thinking is for early years practitioners who wish to support and develop children′s learning. Professor Cathy Nutbrown is Director of Studies in Early Childhood Education at the University of Sheffield.

Table of Contents:
PART ONE: YOUNG CHILDREN LEARNING Thinking about Young Children Learning Some Questions about Schemas PART TWO: CHILDREN′S PATTERNS OF LEARNING Consistency, Continuity and Progression in Young Children′s Learning Schemas as Consistent Patterns of Behaviour: Studies of Three Children PART THREE: SCHEMAS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING Children′s Developing Understanding of Mathematical and Scientific Ideas Patterns of Literacy Nourishing Children′s Thinking through Stories PART FOUR: IMPLICATIONS FOR EARLY EDUCATION A Curriculum for Thinking Children Assessment for Learning Working with Parents

About the Author :
Cathy Nutbrown is President of Early Education and Professor of Education in the School of Education at the University of Sheffield. Her research over the last 30 years, has focussed on young children’s learning and work with parents to support young children’s literacy development.  She won an ESRC Award for Research with Outstanding Impact on Society and a Nursery World Lifetime Achievement Award. She is author of over 150 publications including Early Literacy Work with Families (with Hannon and Morgan, Sage, 2005), Early Childhood Educational Research (Sage, 2019), and Home Learning Environments for Young Children (with Clough, Davies and Hannon, Sage, 2022).

Review :
Praise for the previous edition: ′Cathy Nutbrown is able to discuss difficult theoretical issues with a lightness of touch and to illustrate those issues with clear observations from children. Accessibility is combined with depth. The scope of the book is comprehensive but detailed. She covers most of the early education issues of the day in ways that will encourage professionals to develop a more coherent and meaningful pedagogy than exists at the present time′ - Chris Athey