Constructivist Teaching by Heart: A Child-Centered Approach for Educators, PreK-3

This insightful book offers a modern take on the time-honored tradition of developmentally appropriate, child-centered, constructivist philosophy of instruction: Teaching children one at a time, yet all at once. The book provides a comprehensive road map to teaching that supports student engagement, child development, classroom environment, grouping and organization, authentic literacy instruction, and culturally informed practices.

Through a series of practical chapter essays and examples, the authors push back against scripted curricula and "one-size-fits-all" school initiatives, offering instead rich examples and guiding questions to bring you closer to an authentic teaching approach that honors students and their learning.

Designed for early childhood through third-grade teachers, principals, administrators, and pre-service students, Constructivist Teaching by Heart is essential reading for professional development, peer discussions, university coursework, individual study, and everyone on the journey to making children the heart of their classrooms.

Krista Calvert, EdD, is currently an elementary reading specialist in Kansas City, Kansas. She has taught elementary and middle school, served as a literacy coach and a school improvement coach, and led school and district-wide literacy initiatives. She teaches master’s level reading, children’s literature, and literacy intervention courses at Avila University.

Dana McMillan is an education consultant working with educators on student engagement centered around a constructivist theory. Dana has dual degrees in elementary and early childhood education and a master’s degree in literacy education and taught early primary grades. She has consulted on the development of child-centered experiential learning programs for organizations throughout the United States.