Enthusiastic and Engaged Learners

Of all the school readiness domains, approaches to learning is perhaps the least understood but the most important. Research shows that positive approaches to learning improve both social–emotional and academic outcomes. This new resource will help early childhood professionals implement strategies to support young children’s positive approaches to learning—their enthusiasm (interest, joy, and motivation to learn) and their engagement (attention, persistence, flexibility, self-regulation, and other essential learning behaviors). Along with extensive research, the text includes images of practice in early education programs in culturally, economically, and linguistically diverse settings.

This book will help teachers, future teachers, and other early childhood stakeholders to:

• Understand how children acquire positive approaches to learning.
• Know what research says about why approaches to learning are so important.
• Recognize what supports and what undermines children’s enthusiasm and engagement in learning.
• Identify and plan specific strategies for the classroom.
• Use culturally sensitive assessments to plan interventions.
• Select and modify curriculum and teaching practices.
• Access resources to help every child enter school with positive approaches to learning.
• Influence educational policies and decision making.

Marilou Hyson is Senior Consultant with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Affiliate Faculty in Applied Developmental Psychology at George Mason University. She is the author of The Emotional Development of Young Children: Building an Emotion-Centered Curriculum, Second Edition.

“Hyson has truly given early childhood educators a great gift.”
—From the Foreword by Sue Bredekamp, Council for Professional Recognition

“Curiosity, persistence, and joy are key ingredients that pave the way for a lifetime of learning. Enthusiastic and Engaged Learners is a landmark book that should be read by all who journey with young children, encourage their engagement, celebrate their enthusiasm, and help them build a strong foundation for a successful education.”
—Joan Lombardi, Director, The Children’s Project

“Enthusiastic and Engaged skillfully describes the conceptual framework and research base around approaches to learning, while also translating the information into practical strategies that early childhood educators can use in their work with children every day.”
—Mary Louise Hemmeter, Vanderbilt University

“Enthusiastic and Engaged Learners breaks significant new ground. Best of all, the author drives the research to practice by providing essential learning tools for practitioners and families to gauge and engage young children in their approaches to learning.”
—Jana Martella, Executive Director, NAECS/SDE

Action Planning Form