Early Childhood Education, Birth-8: The World of Children, Families, and Educators

by Driscoll, Amy; Nagel, Nancy G.

• ISBN13: 9780205337538
• ISBN10: 0205337538
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

In a uniquely readable style, these authors use case studies to illustrate and integrate the foundations, key concepts, and methods of early childhood education. Written to bring the reader into the child's world, the second edition of this popular introductory text provides an overview of the foundations of early childhood education, while fostering professional development, reflective teaching and learning, and the best practices for children and their families. Organized chronologically, six age-related chapters include an integrated, thematic case that intimately describes the child, his/her family, community, caregiving and teaching situation, and highlights the best practices available for that age. This provides the opportunity to observe developmentally appropriate practices in authentic settings. Through the application of the case and the chapter's theory and journal reflection activities, students learn to integrate new concepts and best practices for young children with their own experience. This integration fosters reflective decision-making and teaching. This learning process serves as the foundation for a lifelong journey toward working with young children in a variety of early childhood education settings.

Table of Contents

PART ONE

1. What is Early Childhood Education?
Building a Community of Early Childhood Professionals.
Exploring the Options in Early Childhood Education: Programs and Roles.
What Do Early Childhood Educators Need to Know and Be Able to Do?
Principles and Insights: Becoming and Early Childhood Professional.
A Closer Look.

2. The Wonder of Children: Development and Dispositions.
Introduction to Development and Dispositions.
Studying Infants.
Studying Toddlers.
Studying Preschool-Age Children (Ages Three to Five Years).
Studying Children in Kindergarten and Primary Grades (Ages Five to Eight Years).
Dispositions.
Principles and Insights: A Summary and Review.
Becoming an Early Childhood Professional.
A Closer Look.

3. Theories of Development: Foundations for Practice.
Theories of Development at a Preschool.
Cognitive and Language Development.
Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development.
Bruner's Theory of Cognitive Development.
Vygotsky's Theory of Language Development.
Social and Emotional Development.
Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development.
Maslow's Theory of Humanism.
Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development.
Skinner's Theory of Behaviorism.
Multiple Intelligences Theory.
Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences.
Theory into Practice: A Visit to Preschool.
Principles and Insights.
Becoming and Early Childhood Professional.

4. Children's Play: A Source of Development and Learning.
Definitions and Thinking about Play.
Play and Development: From Infants to Eight-Year-Olds.
Social Development and Play.
Adult Roles in Children's Play.
Intervening at the Right Time: Secure Play.
A Playful Attitude-Sending a Message of Acceptance.
Principles and Insights: A Summary and Review.
Becoming and Early Childhood Professional.
A Closer Look: Children's Perspectives of Work and Play.
A Closer Look: Play Interactions of Children in Inclusive Settings.

PART TWO

5. Early Childhood Curriculum: Thinking and Practices.
What is Curriculum?
Ideas about Curriculum.
Maria Montessori.
Sylvia Ashton-Warner.
Caroline Pratt.
Constance Kamii and Rheta decries.
Carl Bereiter and Siegfried Engelmann.
Early Childhood Education Programs.
Putting It All Together: Weaving the Thinking and Approaches into Your Curriculum.
A Day in a Mixed-Age Preschool: Applying the Ideas.
Principles and Insights: A Summary and Review.
Becoming an Early Childhood Professional.
Your Professional Portfolio.
Your Professional Library.
A Closer Look: Teachers Study the Project Approach.
A Closer Look: Head Start Teachers and Staff Study Reggio Emilia.

6. Families and Communities: Context for Understanding Children.
Looking Back at Families.
Today's Families and "Work Sweet Work".
Families and Communities.
Significant Understandings.
Contemporary Challenges Faced by Families.
Family Involvement in Early Childhood Education.

7. Infant Care Programs and Practices: Luke's Story.
Finding Good Infant Care.
A Closer Look: What are the Results of the NICHD Study of Mother/Child Interactions and Cognitive Outcomes. Associated with Early Child Care?
Visiting the Infant Care Program: A Corporate Child Development Center.
Meeting Luke.
A Conversation with Luke's Dad.
Visiting Luke's Home with Kristine.
Visiting with Sure, the Infant Care Coordinator.
Current Issues and Trends in Infant Care Programs.
Principles and Insights: A Summary and Review.
Becoming and Early Childhood Professional.

8. Toddler Care: Ibrahim's Story.
Visiting the Helen Gordon Child Development Center.
Toddler Development: Responding with Curriculum and Guidance.
The Helen Gordon Child Development Center: A University Laboratory School.

9. Head Start: Felipe's Story.
Washington County Head Start.
Felipe's Morning.
A Visit with Susana.
A Home Visit with Felipe's Family.
What is Head Start?
Supporting Cultural and Linguistic Diversity.
Principles and Insights: A Summary and Review.
Becoming an Early Childhood Professional.

PART THREE

10. Kindergarten: Keeley's Story.
Visting Keeley.
Kindergarten: It's Position in the School System.
Kindergarten at Eliot School.
A Closer Look At Kindergarten.

11. The Primary Grades: Erin Cheyenne's Story.
Meet Erin Cheyenne and Her Family.
Reasons for Educating At Home.
Lessons from Parent's Thinking.
Erin Cheyenne's Classroom.
Learning from Paula-Meeting Diverse Needs and Providing Guidance.
Primary Grade Curriculum.
Primary Grades Literacy Curriculum.
Primary Grade Mathematics Curriculum.
Science in the Primary Grades.
Social Studies in the Primary Grades.
Assessment in the Primary Grades.
Professional Preparation of Primary Grade Teachers.
Principles and Insights: A Summary and Review.
Becoming and Early Childhood Professional.
A Closer Look: Research Findings on First Grade Teacher Characteristics.

12. Special Education: Jodie and Her Family's Story.
A Home Visit with Jodie and Her Family.
Visiting with Jodie's Parents.
Reflecting on Jodies' Experiences.
Special Education for Young Children.
Early Childhood Special Education.
Principles and Insights: A Summary and Review.
Becoming an Early Childhood Professional.

13. The Changing World of Early Childhood.
Angela's Village.
Politics and Early Childhood Programs.
Economics and Early Childhood Education.
Society and Early Childhood.
Summary of Political, Economic, and Social Influences on Early Childhood.
Advocacy: Why and How?
Professionalism in Early Childhood Education.

Appendix.

References.

Author Index.

Subject Index.