The ROW book collection is a series of stories written by early childhood educators that illuminate the pedagogical approach described in the foundational text From Teaching to Thinking.
This approach includes a commitment to social justice, deep listening, thoughtful meaning-making about children’s conversations, play, and representations, documentation that foregrounds educators’ thinking, anchored by a workplace culture of inquiry that promotes strong identities and learning for children and educators alike.
Use the ROW book collection to discover how early childhood educators in the field are reimagining their work and thinking alongside children in this innovative collection of stories.
The ROW book collection includes:
Cup
A Vibrant Vessel of Learning and Creativity
by Bridgette Towle and Angela Heape whom are two masterful teacher researchers that tell the story of an unexpected co-created project of investigation. Children pursue ideas of meaning and substance with educators’ companionship and mentorship. And educators strive to understand and strengthen children’s thinking about their pursuits. It is the story of co-constructed learning at its best—inspiring you to look for, and engage in, transformations of your own.
You Can’t Celebrate That!
Navigating the Deep Waters of Social Justice Teaching
by Nadia Jaboneta, You Can’t Celebrate That! is a compelling story of an educator’s social justice journey as she partners with families to explore racial identity, religious celebrations, and racism in response to a biased comment by one child to another child in her diverse preschool class. We see Nadia’s engagement with her co-workers and administrators begin to move their school to new understandings of the fourth Anti-Bias goal—taking action.
Treasures in the Thicket: Exploring Children’s Visible Thinking | Tesoros en el monte: Una Exploración al pensamiento visible de los niños
by Bethica Quinn with Rosalina Rodriguez, Treasures | Teroros is a tender, visually engaging book, in Spanish and English, by an educator in a Spanish-immersion preschool reflecting on her experience of supporting children to create a book about the animals of San Francisco, and what she learned about the power of representational languages to express values and culture.
A Can of Worms
Fearless Conversations with Toddlers
by Nick Terrones about toddlers asking big, bold questions every day. Teachers and caregivers give shape to the world as they respond to those questions. The conversation unfolds in an electric moment–an awkward, exciting, bewildering moment. We may be surprised or taken aback, but the disequilibrium is a gift. With courage and care, we can connect with children at the level of curiosity and meaning. Written with trust in the wisdom and capacity of young children and the adults who care for them, and with belief in what is possible when children and adults come together in these electric moments, A Can of Worms is a guide and support for celebrating these most important conversations. Have no fear! Take a deep breath, and respond.
Pursuing Bad Guys
Joining Children’s Quest for Clarity, Courage and Community
How do you handle “bad guys?” Join Donna King in a yearlong, co-constructed investigation of goodness and badness, real and pretend, safety and courage. Expand your practice as you learn alongside a passionate and creative teacher, who takes risks and shares the outcomes as this energizing story unfolds.
Making Adjustments
Meditations on Learning with Children
Making Adjustments is a thoughtful and welcoming invitation to be present with children and with ourselves. Through her attentive and playful eye, Misa Okayama helps us see what is possible in our work – in our moments – with young children. Opportunities to reflect and meditate throughout the book will help you embody these practices and integrate them again and again into your pedagogy.
The Art of Troublemaking: A Teacher Unravels Racism | El arte de crear problema: Una maestra desenmaraña el racismo
The Art of Troublemaking tells the story of a teacher confronted by racism in her early childhood classroom, and her decision to lean into the reality, rather than avoid or deny it. Thus begins her journey with colleagues, the children in her class, her coach and co-conspirator, her teaching community, and larger professional development circles. This is a story of perseverance, strength and hope, as Olga navigates entrenched ways of thinking and behaving, drawing strength from her cultural heritage and her urgent desire to create a world where all are welcomed – children and teachers alike – in the fullness of their being.
El arte de crear problema cuenta la historia de una profesora confrontada por el racismo en su salón de clases de educación preescolar y su decisión de acercarse a la realidad, en vez de evadirla o negarla. Así comienza su travesía con sus colegas, los niños en su clase, su instructora y cómplice, su comunidad docente y círculos de desarrollo profesional más grandes. Esta es una historia de perseverancia, fuerza y esperanza, mientras Olga navega arraigadas maneras de pensar y actuar, tomando fuerza de su herencia cultural y su urgente deseo de crear un mundo donde todos son bienvenidos – tanto niños como profesores – en la totalidad de su ser.
Reimagining Heartbreak:
An Educator’s Journey to Reclaim Whole-Heartedness
Stop. Look. Listen. Feel. Come fully alive in your encounters with young children. Reimagining Heartbreak is a call to return to fullhearted, embodied teaching. It is a journey through the woods and into the depths. Shelley Brandon’s stories reveal the extraordinary beauty that is possible in ordinary life. Can you dare to bring your whole self to your work with young children? Can you afford not to?