New York, NY (November 15, 2005) -- As policymakers continue to place more emphasis on the importance of early childhood education for the more than 20 million children under the age of 5 in the country today, early childhood educators are in constant need of up-to-date resources to help them be the best providers for their students. At the forefront of early childhood education for the past 20 years, Scholastic Early Childhood Today™ magazine celebrates its anniversary with a “BEST OF” issue, featuring articles from respected thought leaders in the field of early childhood education.   
 
The November/December anniversary issue also includes a spread on the 2005 winners of the Scholastic Early Childhood Professional Awards, a top national awards program recognizing early childhood educators, as well as a look back at significant gains that the field of early childhood education has made over the past 20 years. Notable contributors to Scholastic Early Childhood Today magazine include national early childhood experts such as: Adele M. Brodkin, Ph.D., Polly Greenberg, Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D., Alice Sterling Honig, Ph.D., Ellen Booth Church, and Rebeca Barrera.
 
“In these changing times, post 9-11 and Hurricane Katrina, at the same time as teachers are under pressure to show educational gains, they also need to support children in the classroom and help parents do the same at home,” said Diane Ohanesian, Editor-in-Chief of Scholastic Early Childhood Today. “It is crucial for teachers to have access to important policy information, developmentally appropriate activities and expert advice that will help them provide children with the best learning environment possible.” 
 
Highlights from the special 20th anniversary issue include:
· WORKING WITH BILINGUAL CHILDREN -- It is often hard for a teacher to determine whether a language delay is simply in English or also in the child’s native language. An article by Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D. titled “Working With the Bilingual Child Who Has a Language Delay,” explains the importance of such a discovery and offers important strategies for working with different kinds of bilingual children in the classroom. Find out more on pg. 27.
 
· HOW TO NURTURE AND REASSURE INFANTS AND TODDLERS -- Every baby is born ready and able to express basic emotions, such as fear, anxiety and pleasure. An article by Alice Sterling Honig, Ph.D. titled “Emotional Milestones and Their Link to Learning,” reveals that the ability to form secure attachments during early childhood promotes a lifetime of emotional health, and provides tips for teachers on how to help infants and toddlers feel nourished emotionally. Find out more on pg. 30. 
 
· SHARING THE POWER OF PLAY WITH PARENTS -- Play is a young child’s most powerful tool for learning. Yet how many times have you heard a parent say, “All my child wants to do is play!” or “At school the teachers just let the children play!” An article by Sara Wilford titled “Sharing the Power of Play,” offers helpful tips for teachers on how to communicate the meaning and importance of children’s play experiences with parents. Find out more on pg. 18.
 
· DEALING WITH THE CHILD WHO SEEMS TO ALWAYS START TROUBLE -- Every teacher has experienced the child who is warm and affectionate, yet always manages to start trouble in the classroom.  An article by Polly Greenberg titled “The Child Who Always Starts Trouble,” helps teachers understand the causes of this type of behavior and offers suggestions for setting firm but reasonable limits. Find out more on pg. 24. 
 
About Scholastic Early Childhood Today™
Scholastic Early Childhood Today magazine provides early childhood teachers, directors and administrators with the most relevant and up-to-date information on center management, school policies and practices, staff development, and communicating with families. The magazine is also an educational resource, offering developmentally appropriate activities and tools for curriculum development, expert advice about behavioral, health, developmental, and family concerns, reports from the field and product reviews. 75% of Scholastic Early Childhood Today subscribers keep each issue for over one year as a center reference tool, and most readers find the magazine very/extremely useful in their daily planning. Scholastic Early Childhood Today magazine has a total readership of 260,000.
 
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology.  Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys.  The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site, www.scholastic.com.

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