Edu 320 Final- Take Home Portion
Carney Holloway
December 9, 2018
1. List three influences from the past or historical perspective and explain how each current and future practices in early childhood education.
Although there are more than 3 influences that have helps shaped early childhood education I choose to do mine on Piaget, Vygotsky, and Maria Montessori. Vygotsky and Piaget were both constructivists theorists that laid the foundation for cognitive development. Both of these men believe that children are always learning. I agree with this statement and it can be observed in any classroom. Children learn daily based off of their environment, social interactions or non-social interactions, and the information that is presented.
One of the most important things I learned this semester about Piaget was that he believed that children go through similar stages and that none are skipped over. This is what lays the basis for his “Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development”. The stages are broken down into the sensorimotor, preoperational stage, concrete, operational, formal operational. I like how Piaget thought the classroom should be more than just learning the curriculum, teachers should also teach social and emotional skills to their children. Although Piaget thought that all kids learn things at similar ages it is still important to teach catering to the child’s level.
Vygotsky was like Piaget’s apprentice and picked up where Piaget left off. Another thing I learned this semester that goes back to Vygotsky’s work was the “Zone of Proximal Development”. Now that I know what this is I can see how I have been doing this unconsciously since elementary school. The Zone of Proximal Development is defined as the difference between what a learner can do without help and what he or she can do with help. This is a technique teachers can use to make sure their work is challenging and also enjoyable to their students. I saw this first hand in my observations, my teacher, Ms. Kinchen, said she does this in reading. Her students read at grade level or below when doing the independent reading so they do not become stressed or frustrated but when they are in reading groups they read above grade level to promote growth and the teacher can help when challenging words arise. I thought this was brilliant and plan on using this in my classroom thanks to Vygotsky.
My third influencer is Maria Montessori; she was known for starting schools in the slums of London. They are known located all over the world and known as Montessori Schools but were previously known as The Children’s Home. Montessori focused on the child-centered, independent educational approach. She believed that children learned best by hands-on and at their own pace. She once said that “The child has a mind to absorb knowledge. The child has the power to teach themselves.” I love how she thought that kids should have choices and lots of activities to choose from. With this being said, these activities do need to be developmentally appropriate. I will give options in my classrooms because I think it promotes intrinsic motivation and enjoyment. I am really considering going into Montessori because of how effective I think it can be.
2. Discuss how you will establish the “Small democracy of the classroom” as an environment that will prepare children to become citizens of the larger democracy of their future.
The first day of class we talked about meeting the needs of every child. During this discussion, we listed the following qualities a child needed to reach his or her potential: to be verbal, to be given choices, and to have support from adults. I think all three of these qualities play into making the classroom a small democracy. A classroom democracy means that all children can be heard and be given a say. I think this is vital in a classroom and makes learning more pleasurable. Everyone feels more comfortable and accepted when he or she is heard and can say their own opinions. I plan on establishing this by letting my students have a say in developing the classroom rules and agreements. On the first day of school, the class and I will have a discussion on what makes a safe, fun, and respectful learning environment. We will write down these rules on a poster sheet and then hang it somewhere visible in the room. Another thing I will do early on in the school year is to ask my students how they personally learn best. I will let my students fill out a survey and then take their responses and incorporate it into my teaching. My classroom will also be centered on community and good communication. Students will be pushed and encouraged to work with everyone in the classroom and learn to share ideas and respect differences. Giving students options is also vital in creating a democracy. As a teacher, I can create two-three options for different learning objectives and let the students choose which one they prefer. An example of this would be if we are working on vocabulary the students can either illustrate the word, write a sentence with the word, or create a flip chart of the words. All of the things listed above help children develop in the citizen he or she needs to be when entering into the larger democracy.
3. The role of the teacher in developing listeners is vital for the growth of language. Discuss two methods of promoting good listeners in the early childhood classroom.
Freshman year I took the Communication and realized that communication is not just talking alone it also encompasses listening. Good communication skills are needed throughout life and need to be taught at an early age. One method I will use to promote good listening is by reinforcing active listening. I will read a book to the students and then after ask questions and lead a classroom discussion based off of the book I just read. This way I can assess what students were listening and paid attention and who was not.
Another method I would use for good listening is letting students work in groups. When working in groups students are forced to hear others out and communicate and listen to achieve the desired end result.
4. Discuss Montessori education by comparing and contrasting Montessori principles and practices with those of the Reggio Emilia inspired classroom or the High Scope Classroom view.
The methods of Maria Montessori and Reggio Emilio were started about fifty years apart. Both school settings usually have open classrooms that are prepared to help students engage in sensory experiences and hands-on learning. They both give students the freedom to learn independently. Students are not bound to a desk and can move around the classroom. Another similarity is that both require students to develop intrinsic motivation. Montessori classrooms usually have more than one teacher or sometimes known as a director. While Reggio Emilio schools the teachers work together and parents can also contribute to running the classroom. You can also find mixed-age grouping in both settings. They do have some differences though, for example, Montessori schools focus on developmental stages while Emilia schools do not tend to rely on the strict developmental stages. Another key difference is that Reggio Emilia schools incorporate theories and elements from Piaget, Dewey, and Vygotsky while Maria Montessori created her own theory. Montessori is focused on the whole child and promotes growth in areas other than core academics. Students are to be properly educated to become a well-rounded, independent person. Reggio Emilia schools are usually more art focused and put a lot of emphasis on expression and varying arts. Finally, you are more likely to find modern technology in the Reggio Emilia setting than in the Montessori classroom just because Maria Montessori developed her own learning equipment.
5. As a teacher candidate you have analyzed your career choices, are establishing a code of professional ethics and a personal approach to working with children. Discuss your philosophy of teaching with these in mind.
As a teacher, my goal is to not only teach the mandatory curriculum but to also teach life lessons. I will strive to make my room a safe haven and a place kids long to be. I will encourage them and help them to pursue their dreams. I will nurture them and help them grow so that when they leave my classroom they will be different from when they entered. I will remember what a child needs and will try to incorporate these daily. I will love them with Christ-like love and will establish a relationship that honors Him. I will help them excel in academics and will help build the foundation that will help them be successful for life.
I believe students are a gift- as a teacher I am given the honor to teach them and walk beside them for a year. Because I only have a year I will give 100% every single day. I want every one of my kids to know their worth and know that they are smart. I want them to find that one thing they love and chase it hard. I plan on getting them there by knowing each kid on a personal level and then adapting my teaching and lessons to them. If one student wants to be a scientist, then my classroom will be a lab. If another wants to be a pro-athlete, then we will learn while playing sports. If someone wants to be a chef, then we will make the classroom provide edible learning experiences. If someone wants to teach, then we will prepare a lesson and teach it together. My classroom will have no limits on what it can be but it will always be more than a classroom.
We won’t be a class that memorizes, we will be a class that does. We won’t be a class with all multiple choice test, I will assess in all different ways so every kid can succeed. We will think critically. We will leave on the last day of school changed and on fire for learning and seeking knowledge.
I personally will come to class each day prepared and ready to teach. I will leave whatever is going on outside of the classroom so my children have my full devotion and attention. I will be patient, I will be kind, I will be nice. I will respect my students and expect the same back from them. We are more than a mere teacher and her students. We are a family. We are difference makers.