Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/purchasing-educational-materials-questions-from-the-field/5013388/
Twenty-two points, plus triple-word-score, plus fifty points for using all my letters. Game's over. I'm outta here.While educational materials constitute a small portion of your budget, they are critically important in shaping the experiences that children have at your center. In addition, they may represent a major safety risk for you. Not only do you want to be sure that educational materials have sound educational value, you must also have assurance that they do not represent a threat to the health and safety of your children.To help you make wise purchasing choices, we asked our Exchange Panel of 300 members to offer their advice on evaluating materials you are considering. Based on the ideas they submitted, we have identified the following questions to capture the points for you to ponder in your purchasing:
* Does the item capture children's interest and encourage further exploration?
* Does the item encourage the child's active engagement, not just passive observation?
* Is the item colorful? Does it offer a variety of textures? Does it make a pleasing sound?
* Is the item attuned to the fine motor and gross motor skill levels of the children who will be using it?
* Does the item offer age flexibility - as a child ...