Online Companion: Early Education Curriculum: A Child's ...



Online Companion: Early Education Curriculum: A Child's Connection to the World, 4E

Chapter 1

Starting the Process

• Reflective Review Questions

• Web Activities

• Additional Related Web Links

Reflective Review Questions

1. If you are going to explain what you do in a classroom to families, colleagues, and administrators, then you need to have knowledge about the contributions of early childhood education history and theorists to the profession. With another classmate, discuss how this information gives you deep roots (the confidence that what you know is based on hundreds of years of experience and research) and also the ability to fly (the knowledge that what you do is best practices for young children).

2. Why is the term developmentally appropriate practice a key concept that every person involved in early childhood should learn about and how would you explain the concept to someone outside the early childhood education field?

3. What are the distinguishing characteristics of Lev Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory?

4. “A child’s foundation for behavior and learning for the rest of his or her life is laid in the early years.”

What is the implication for an early childhood educator in this statement?

5. Elkind said, “Free, spontaneous, and self initiated play was once the norm for young children. This is no longer the case…”

Think back to your childhood. Explain, in writing, how you played as a young child and why playing was important to you. Next, observe a preschool classroom and a kindergarten classroom. Compare and contrast the classrooms in regard to play. Describe the differences and similarities in several paragraphs. Using the ideas from your reflective thinking about your childhood and the information gathered in your classroom observations, explain whether or not you think the nature of play and the opportunity for play has changed and in what kinds of ways. If you think play has changed, what might be some explanations for those changes?

6. Children need “a predictable schedule and secure environment.”

Why? If creativity involves spontaneous and free expression, isn’t this a contradiction? Why or why not?

7. “A typically developing child [infant] needs frequent opportunities for movement and interactions with people and objects. Fixed pieces of equipment such as playpens, high chairs, and bouncy seats provide little opportunities for varied and active experiences.”

Do you agree, or disagree with this statement? Why might some infant care givers feel that it is absolutely necessary to use these pieces of equipment frequently?

8. Professional early childhood education organizations emphasize advocacy on behalf of children to all individuals working in this field. Considering the current level of support and funding given to early childhood education, why is your participation as an advocate crucial? Is it useful for all people in the field to join professional organizations? Why or why not?

Web Activities

1. National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC):



The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. NAEYC is committed to becoming an increasingly high performing and inclusive organization.

Founded in 1926, NAEYC is the world’s largest organization working on behalf of young children with nearly 100,000 members; a national network of over 300 local, state, and regional affiliates; and a growing global alliance of like-minded organizations.

This is one of the most important Web sites for individuals who are interested in working with young children and families. (Click on “NAEYC” and then Click on “Position Statements” under the section “Where We Stand.” Scroll down through the list and open up several different position statements. After you have examined several, find one that interests you. Evaluate the strengths of the statement. Do you agree with the position taken by NAEYC on this issue? Why or why not? Share your findings and feelings with a fellow classmate.

2. Standards

Currently, there is an increased expectation that standards will be addressed when teaching young children. These standards can assess children’s learning, program effectiveness (day cares, Head Start, preschools, accreditation attempts, etc.), and learning outcomes for students in Teacher Education preparation programs. Standards for children’s learning vary from state to state. Standards that assess program outcomes often are determined by the affiliation of the childcare center, although if a program is attempting NAEYC accreditation there is a predetermined set of criteria. Standards for preservice teachers are often determined by the college, State department of Education, or an accrediting body such as INTASC, NCATE, or NAEYC.

a.

Explore the NAEYC Web site and find the standards that exist for programs pursuing NAEYC accreditation. Print off the page that summarizes the Standards.

b.

On the NAEYC Web site, find the learning standards for the degree you are pursuing, either the Associate Degree or Bachelor’s Degree. Print off the page that summarizes these standards.

c. Explore your college’s education Web site to find the Learning Outcomes for your field of study. Were these standards (outcomes) generated by the college or by the State Department of Education? You may have to interview someone in the Education Department to discover the answer.

d. Search for the standards that cover the learning outcomes for young children in your state. Some states have separate standards for infants and toddlers, pre-K, and K–3rd grade. For example, Pennsylvania recently developed infant and toddler standards that can be found by conducting a Web search for “PA infant and toddler learning standards.” These searches may take some time. You might want to compare and contrast standards from several different states in order to determine whether there is consistency across state lines.

3. Brain Research

a. Child Care Aware



(Click on “The Daily Parent [see note below]” and scroll down to the bottom of the list of articles and click on “+ New Research on Brain Development Is Important for Parents.”)

The Daily Parent is on a revolving list of different topics on the lower left side of the screen, so it may take a moment to appear.

This is a valuable resource that can help you explain the importance of the early years to families.

b. The Franklin Institute Resources for Science—The Brain

This is a fascinating and fun Web site. You can spend a lot of time finding out interesting facts about the brain. One very important piece of information to gain from this site is why movement and learning are linked. After you explore this site, go back and look at question #7 in the Reflective Review section above. Do you feel that you now have a better understanding of why children must move in order to learn? Explain your reasoning to a fellow classmate.



(Click on “Table of Contents,” go to “Renew,” and then click on “Exercise”)

4. Multiple Intelligences—Project Zero



(Click on “History of Project Zero.”)

After reviewing the information on Project Zero and Howard Gardner, explain in writing how this might be useful to you when working with young children and their families.

5. Zero to Three



This Web site is especially valuable to families and early childhood education professionals. It is an organization committed to the needs of children from birth to age three. Find a subject on this site that you think is particularly interesting or useful, such as brain development in young children. Write a short description of the information you choose, and explain why it is of value to you. How will you use this information to help young children and their families?

6. To find more information on the theorists you are learning about, you could explore some of the following Web sites:

a.

(Click on any of the information under the heading “Teaching”)

Information about Constructivism, Behaviorism, and Humanistic theory

b.

Information about Jean Piaget

c.

(Go over to “Find It Fast” and scroll down and then click on “Psychological Biographies”)

Information on Erik Erikson, as well as many others

d.

(In the Find box, type in “Howard Gardner” and click)

e.

(Scroll down and click on “The Theories” and then scroll down and click on “Social Development” [Lev Vygotsky])

Additional Related Web Links

1. The American Association for the Child’s Right to Play



2. Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI)



3. Child Development Institute



4. Children’s Defense Fund



5. Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition (CDA)



6. National Association of Family Child Care



7. National Network for Child Care (NNCC)



8. National PTA’s Building Blocks: Importance of Children’s Play



9. Theory of Multiple Intelligences



(In the Search box, type in “Theory of Multiple Intelligences” )

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