Materials for Sale
 
 
All of the following materials are available to purchase from Pen Green.  If you would like to place an order please complete our order form and email to cajohnson@northamptonshire.gov.uk and we will send you an invoice. 
 
If you would like to pay by cheque, please post your Order Form to: Carol Ann Johnson, Pen Green Research, Rockingham Road, Corby, Northants, NN17 1AG. Please make cheques payable to Pen Green Research, Training and Development Base.
 
 
Pen Green Publications
 
Item:  Involving Parents in their Children's Learning (M Whalley, 2nd Edition)
Cost:  £17.00
Description: This is the story of the pioneering work of the Pen Green Centre for Children and Families.  Showing how early years practitioners can collaborate effectively with parents, the book includes case studies which chart developments in learning for both children and parents.  The book with inspire early years practitioners and offer them practical advice on ways of developing effective work with parents.
 
This new edition follows up on the stories of people featured in the first edition, showing how they have progressed over the last few years.  It also includes new chapters covering the head of centre's role in developing parental involvement programmes, how the Pen Green approach has been applied in primary schools, and the use of parental diaries.
Item:  Understanding Schemas and Emotion in Early Childhood (C Arnold & the Pen Green Team)
Cost:  £17.00
Description: Based on research carried out alongside children, parents, workers and co-researchers at the world-famous Pen Green Nursery, and using case studies of a small number of individual children, the author shows new links between cognition and affect. The book includes a brief summary of a method of Child Study, using video and reflections on video sequences.
 
This book will be of interest to students and practitioners on Early Childhood undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as those taking modules on schema theory.
 Item:  Child Development and Learning 2-5 Years - Geogia's Story (C Arnold)
Cost:  £18.00
Description: Georgia's Story grew out of a three-year study of all aspects of her social, emotional and cognitive development, and is a valuable insight for all students and teachers of child development at the individual level. The observations and assessments presented here are unique and will enable students to use their own observations as a basis for supporting and extending children's learning.
Item:  Working with Parents (M Whalley) 
Cost: £14.99
Description:  Working with Parents is a practical guide for child care studesnt and early years workers.  The authors discuss how to achieve good practice when working in partnership with parents, based on their own experiences of working in a wide variety of settings.  The book contains examples and case studies of direct work with parents.
Item:  Observing Harry (C Arnold)
Cost:  £15.99
Description:  This innovative book is about Harry, a determined little boy, who is intrinsically motivated to explore his world from an early age.  His parents and grandparents find him so fascinating that they have kept a written and video diary of Harry's play from eight months to five years, at home and at the nursery.  The author offers theories about how children learn and applies the theories to the observations of Harry.
 
Providing a unique look at one child's early development and learning, this book will be of interest to all who are fascinated by how young children learn - nursery practitioners, early years teachers, parents, students and advisors.
Item:  My Right to Play: A child with complex needs (R Orr)
Cost:  £14.99
Description:  This lively and accessible book provides a take on a life from the perspective of a child who has no sight, no speech and uses a wheelchair because of physical disabilities.  Compassionate, sympathetic and down to earth, My Right to Play will be invaluable to a wide range of readers, from the families of profoundly disabled children to carers, teachers, therapists, and medical staff.
 
PICL Materials (Parents Involved in their Children's Learning)
 
Item:  Understanding Children's Development: A Workbook for Parents
Cost:  £8.00
Description:  Workers at Pen Green have worked very closely with parents over a number of years to share four theories of child development in order to help parents and early childhood educators to understand children's play and learning.
 
This workbook outlines the four theories of: Well-being, Involvement, Schemas, Adult teaching strategies; and allows parents to record their observations of their children and complete exercises, which they can share with other parents.
Item:  Growing Together Training DVD
Cost:  £40.00
Description:  This dvd gives an introduction to the Growing Together Groups including the background and aims.  The key concepts used in Growing Together sessions are:
  • Holding & containment
  • Pedagogic strategies
  • Involvement
  • Schema
  • Well-being
  • Video feedback
  • Attachment

It also includes various parent's stories and explains how the group works for both parent and children.
Item:  Parent Portfolios - Stephen, Jessica, Connor, John
Cost:  £23.00 each
Description:  A selection of portfolios which were produced by parents who attended PICL study groups.  Each portfolio covers, adult teaching strategies, involvement, schemas and well-being.
(Sold separately)
 
Learning Language Together
 
Item:  Learning Language Together
Cost:  DVD £40.00
 
Description:  The young children you will see in this footage are learning how to communicate and use language with their families.  You will see two babies and five toddlers accompanied by their parents in everyday situations, in a collection of moments recorded over an 18-month period.
 
Our methodology was to involve parents actively in discussions about how their children were communicating.  Parents were committed to developing and sustaining a dialogue with their children.  They knew their children were deep thinkers.  They also knew that, in the home setting, children could become deeply immersed and excited by events and the environment.
 
These video extracts show the messy reality of life, they show the rich language and communication that emerges within the dynamic, chaotic, sometimes wild, sometimes tranquil moments of family life.
 
The accompanying booklet allows you to track through the footage, highlighting key strategies.
 
Pen Green Pedagogical Documentation
 
Item:  Schema Booklet for Parents and Carers
Cost:  £4.00
Description:  Understanding children's schemas - or patterns of behaviour - at nursery has helped us to start to understand why children are doing certain things and has helped us to plan activities to meet their needs and extend their learning.  This short booklet can be used to help parents understand their child's schemas, and identifies and explains five examples.  
 
Item:  Selection of Portfolios
Cost: £15.00 - £25.00
Description: The following portfolios have been prepared by staff at Pen Green Nursery with the support of the parents of each child.
 
Joe: This portfolio demonstrates how well ‘The Pen Green Loop’ can work to enrich a child’s learning at nursery and at home.  We have worked as a pedagogical team, in discussion with the important adults in Joe’s life. We have shared our combined observations of Joe’s emotional well-being and cognitive concern, and have planned together to better meet his learning needs. £25.00 
 

Katie: This portfolio documents how Katie's mum and Katie's family worker have worked together to support her learning as she made the transition from the Baby Nest to the Snug play space of the Pen Green Nursery. £25.00

 
Ethan: This portfolio documents how Laura and Pete, both family workers, have worked together to support Ethan’s learning as he settled into nursery and followed his interests. £25.00
 
Becky: This portfolio looks at Becky's cluster of schemas: envelopment, enclosure, going through, layering.
 
Daniel: This portfolio tracks Daniel as he learns to walk. £15.00
 
Damien:  This portfolio illustrates some of Damien's schemas. £15.00
 
Kirsty: Kirsty has additional needs and this portfolio looks at her individual education plan. £15.00
 
Levie: This portfolio follows Levie's journey into writing. £15.00
 
Pokemon Play:  This portfolio shows a number of nursery children engaged in activities related to their interest in Pokemon cartoon characters. £15.00
 
Sheree:  This portfolio explores Sheree's cluster of schemas, including rotation and circularity. £15.00
 
Ross:  Ross loves Batman.  This portfolio shows how he learns through Superhero play. £15.00
 
Sara:  This portfolio explores Sara's interest in language and writing. £15.00
 
Newly developed portfolios with original DVD footage included
 
New! Portfolio: Luke - Luke and his building: developing his understanding of vertical and horizontal lines £40.00
 
New! Portfolio: Robert £40.00
 
New! Portfolio: Natasha - Mathematical understanding beyond number £40.00
 
New! Portfolio: Alice - Conveyor belt £40.00
 
New! Portfolio: Natalie - thoughts, actions and images. Notre Dame £40.00
 
New! Portfolio: Harry - unravelling learning: the importance od string £40.00
 
Miscellaneous Items
 
Item:  An introduction to the Pen Green Centre
Cost: £10.00
Description:  A 13 minute DVD.  An introduction to the facilities at the Pen Green Centre for Children and Families.
 
Item: Jacky Fleming Postcards (Pack of 10)
Cost: £10.00
Description:  Jacky Fleming is a cartoonist and illustrator.  Her cartoons have appeared in many different publications including the Guardian and the Independent on Sunday. Jacky has produced a number of cartoons for different projects undertaken by Pen Green Research Base and this selection includes some of our favourites.
 
Pen Green