education

Problem Solver A hands-on prop can be very helpful to children who are trying to resolve a conflict because it helps them to manage the steps in the process. Note that this example uses clip art, but a prop that used photos of the children would be even better. Once children are at the peace […]

Step-by-Step Photo Instructions Step-by-step instructions for classroom routines are especially meaningful if the photos used picture children from the group. Developing Self-Regulation and Problem-Solving Skills Learning to make decisions is a developmental process. With young toddlers, you make sure there are several baby dolls, for example, because deciding to share is not something we expect

Balancing Child-Initiated and Teacher-Directed Choices We want to imagine young children as “problem solvers” because children benefit from being allowed to make choices that they and we consider important in many ways. They can learn about cause and effect in a way that is personally meaningful. When they see that adults not only trust them

Promoting Responsibility, Accountability, and Organization Sometimes we do things unconsciously that reinforce child dependency. There are certainly products and tools that for safety purposes must be stashed safely out of a child’s reach. However, when you store classroom materials in locations that are inaccessible to the children, they always have to ask you to get

Fostering Independence A primary goal of early childhood education is helping each child to become independent (Copple & Bredekamp, 2009). The concept of independence is obviously relative to a child’s age, environmental awareness, language facility, and physical strength. We wouldn’t assume that a 3-year-old can cross a street, bake cookies, or operate mechanical equipment safely

Preparing the Classroom to Represent the Children in It Image Source / SuperStock Representing actual rather than generic children is an important strategy for constructing an authentic image. As you prepare your classroom or care setting to receive and welcome new children, one of your primary objectives should be to represent the actual children and

Personal Interviews With children who are old enough to converse and especially when a home visit is not practical, a one-on-one interview with each new child can be helpful to obtain the kind of information described above. Think of it as finding “quality time” for each child in your care, not just when you first

Interest Inventories An interest inventory is a questionnaire constructed to collect information about children’s routines and habits, likes and dislikes, interests, and even fears or anxieties. The inventory can be given to parents or guardians before the child enters your class or care group or can be conducted as a phone conversation or email correspondence.

Diana described the importance of parents playing with their children. What might parents learn from doing so? A home visit should focus on developing initial rapport with the child, but it also gives a parent or guardian the opportunity to ask questions or have an initial conversation about any particular concerns or goals they have

How Do Teachers Individualize the Curriculum? In later chapters, we discuss teaching strategies for implementing different aspects of the curriculum. In this section, we concentrate on strategies and practices that specifically address getting to know your students and developing the objective eye that enables you to approach curriculum decisions that will best serve the specific