Developing a Program Philosophy

ECE 290: Early Childhood Program Administration

Learning Unit 5: Assignment

Developing a Program Philosophy

An Early Childhood Education Program is based on a sound philosophy. All the coursework you've completed to date leads you to this point when you must affirm what you yourself believe. Developing a philosophy, you can commit to begins with reflection on three specific areas: How children learn (theories), Values in program planning (curriculum), and the Function of the school (education).

A series of questions and statements will give you food for thought in each area. Read through each list. Consider how each item impacts the program philosophy and reality? At the end of each section, answer the question, "What do you believe?" as concisely and clearly as you can. Submit these three paragraph responses in the assignment provided.

I.

HOW CHILDREN LEARN - Learning Theories

Environmental Approach (Thorndike, Skinner, Watson) - Children learn best when they are given extrinsic motivations in the form of rewards such as tokens or gold stars.

Developmental Readiness Approach (Gesell) - There is an inner force that activates cognitive systems as children grow and mature. When children are ready, they will choose activities and experiences that they can accomplish. Their satisfaction at mastering the tasks provides an intrinsic reward.

Constructivist Approach (Piaget) - Learning results from an interaction between the child and his/her environment. Children construct their own knowledge through repeated interactions with people and objects. They experiment, test their errors or misconceptions, arrive at new conclusions, and thus, construct new knowledge.

Social Environment (Vygotsky) - Cognitive abilities.

What do you believe about how children learn? What learning theory (one of the above or another theory) best represents your beliefs? What is the role of families in supporting learning?

II. VALUES IN PROGRAM PLANNING - Curriculum emphases on social/emotional vs. cognitive and other areas of development

Which is more important, children's self-esteem or what they learn academically?

Should children develop autonomy in order to enable them to participate fully in a free society, or should they learn to obey adults?

Do children have a right to make their own choices, or should they accept adult decisions?

What guidance approaches are most effective?

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ECE 290: Early Childhood Program Administration

Learning Unit 5: Assignment

What interest areas should be included in a classroom?

What experiences are best for language and physical development?

Should families be more a part of school activities, or is school the exclusive domain of professionals?

What do you believe should be major emphases in the curriculum? What learning experiences, materials and equipment are must haves in an ECE program? How can families contribute to/support curriculum?

III. EDUCATION AND THE FUNCTION OF THE SCHOOL - Environment, Roles of school Should a preschool prepare children for kindergarten or focus on the present? Should school prepare children for life or the next phase of education? What guidance strategies are most effective in ECE programs? Should the environment be nurturing and protective or teach respect of authority? Should schools provide parent education opportunities or leave parents to themselves? Should schools provide opportunities for students to retain their own cultural background? How do you feel about including children with special needs in ECE classrooms? How should young children's progress be evaluated?

What do you believe are the functions of schools? What kind of environment should be created?

? Joyce Nelson and Indian Hills Community College

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