Discussions 1 & 2

Introduction

Every child needs support, stimulation and encouragement in a positive environment.  This week you will begin to analyze the role of the caregiver in applying the principles of development to supporting the growth and development of children.  You will identify and describe activities to enhance language development and optimal brain development.  You will start to reflect on your own practice and how you will use theories of development in your own practice.

Required Resources Required Text

1. Children’s Journeys: Exploring Early Childhood :

a. Chapter 5: Physical and Cognitive Development in Infancy: First Excursions

Recommended Resources Articles

1. Roth, T. L., & David Sweatt, J. J. (2011). Annual Research Review: Epigenetic Mechanisms and Environmental Shaping of the Brain During Sensitive Periods of Development.  Journal Of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 52(4), 398-408.  Retrieved from EBSCOhost database.

· This article extends the discussion from Chapter 5 of the course text regarding brain development in infants and the shaping of a child’s brain during sensitive periods of development.

Multimedia

1. Storybird.  (n.d).   Storybird Quick Tour  [Video file].  Retrieved from http://player.vimeo.com/video/6178690

Websites

1. Jing  (http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html)

2. Storybird  (http://storybird.com/)

Discussions To participate in the following discussions, go to this week's Discussion link in the left navigation.

1. Early Language Development After reading about early language development in Chapter 5 of your text describe a learning center that would promote early language development.  Your description must include the learning objective of the center, the materials provided, and step-by-step instructions for implementation of the activity.  Make sure to include the specific areas of language that the center targets, the approach you will be using to introduce this center, and methods for assessing student’s development. Guided Response: Analyze several of your classmates’ learning center activities.  Respond to at least two of your classmates.  Identify the strengths of their learning centers and/or extend their idea by suggesting ideas, materials, and assessments that could add to their learning center. Carefully review the  Discussion Forum Grading Rubric  for the criteria that will be used to evaluate this Discussion Thread.

2. Optimal Brain Development The human brain is highly dependent on experiences for development.  Discuss your role as a teacher or caregiver in a child’s life in terms of promoting optimal brain development through exposure to various experiences.   Give three examples of appropriate stimulation (activities) you can employ in the classroom or daycare center to promote learning.  How can you include activities outside the classroom that will reinforce the learning?  How can you involve the parents and community resources (i.e., fieldtrips)? Lastly, include information on a field trip you could take your class on in your local area that would extend the learning that you included in one of your sample activities.  Relate experiences from your own schooling such as field trips, community events, and activities that connected your learning to both the community and your home.   Guided Response: Analyze several of your classmates’ posts.  Respond to at least two of your classmates, and suggest some ways that they can get parents involved in this learning process by extending their activities to the child’s home environment.  Discuss resources in the community that they may have overlooked.  

Carefully review the  Discussion Forum Grading Rubric  for the criteria that will be used to evaluate this Discussion Thread.

Journal To complete the following journal entry, go to this week's Journal link in the left navigation.

1. Piaget and You

Consider what age group you hope to work with and reflect on which aspects of Piaget’s theory will be the most useful to you in your future career.  How will this information be useful in your everyday work with children?  Will it change your expectations for children?  For yourself?  Journal Options:

a. Written reflection journal.

b. Jing  reflection with visuals, and paste the link into your discussion post.

c. Peer dialogue reflection (where you discuss the questions above with a peer or colleague and write a reflection that compares their peak experience with your own.)

d. Create a short video to relate your answer.

Carefully review the  Grading Rubric  for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your journal entries.