QUESTION IN UPLOADED INFO

Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education: History, Theories and Approaches to Learning, 2nd Edition © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1

Introduction to the Field

of Early Childhood Education

Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, 2nd Edition Follari

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Starting Questions

• Why do you want to be a teacher?
• What has influenced you as a student and prospective teacher?
• What is it about teaching that appeals to you?
• How do you define and envision yourself as a teacher?
• Describe who you are or want to be as a teacher.
• How can you integrate what you know, believe, and who you are into one resource?
• What role do teachers play in children’s lives? In the lives of families? The community?

Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, 2nd Edition Follari

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Roles of Early Childhood Professionals

• Teacher
• Plan for and support children’s developmental processes in all domains
• Encourage children’s love of learning through interesting, meaningful activities
• Know universal milestones as well as individual children’s progress and personalities
• Be open to forming emotional relationships and bonds with children and families

Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, 2nd Edition Follari

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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• Researcher and Lifelong Learner
• “teacher as researcher” means actively exploring current research and innovations in best practices
• Network with other professionals
• Try new ideas, reflect on your own practice
• Observe children and others’ practice
• Embrace your own curiosity, interests, hobbies and share these in the classroom

Roles of Early Childhood Professionals

Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, 2nd Edition Follari

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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• Advocate
• Recognize that early childhood is a dynamic, special, vulnerable time
• Families deserve our respect and support
• Families come in many forms and sizes, but all are essential elements to children’s successful development

Roles of Early Childhood Professionals

Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, 2nd Edition Follari

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Current Issues

• Young children need plenty of active learning experiences, not just instruction
• Children benefit most from quality interactions with responsive teachers
• Classrooms are moving toward meaningful inclusion of children with varying abilities
• Classrooms, as our communities, are becoming increasingly diverse, representing different races and cultures
• What does culture encompass?

Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, 2nd Edition Follari

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Culture Belongs to Everyone

• “Culture” can encompass different influences, including:
• Ethnicity
• Religion
• Language
• Social norms and expectations
• Family traditions and values
• Personal or group beliefs
• Community norms

Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, 2nd Edition Follari

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1-*

Explore Your Own Culture

• Reflect on your own values and traditions.
• What experiences and influences have shaped who you are?
• What expectations do you hold that were instilled in you from your upbringing?

Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, 2nd Edition Follari

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1-*

Standards and Best Practices

• National organizations and legislation like the NCLB Act provide guidelines for expected teacher practices and student outcomes
• Standards are based on developmental expectations and sociocultural norms
• Standards can be used to assess outcomes and can be integrated into planning for quality, active learning experiences

Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, 2nd Edition Follari

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1-*

Teaching incorporates:

Children’s interests

Curriculum goals

Content standards

Active learning experiences

Reflection and assessment

Planning starts

with knowledge of:

Child development

Individual children

Good practice, or

pedagogy, based

on research

Appropriate

learning goals

standards,

and outcomes

Assessment demonstrates

outcomes on content standards, informs teaching,

and guides future planning

Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, 2nd Edition Follari

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1-*

Play as a Vehicle for Learning

• Play promotes authentic activity, strengthening all areas of development
• Children choose course of their play, which engages their interest more deeply
• Research shows that play based programs that give children opportunities for choices and self-direction also promote academic success

Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, 2nd Edition Follari

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1-*

Reflection Questions

• What challenges do you anticipate facing as a teacher of young children?
• How do you believe you can handle them?