Exploring Your Role : A Practitioner's Introduction to Early Childhood Education

by Jalongo, Mary R.; Isenberg, Joan

• ISBN13: 9780135269152
• ISBN10: 0135269156
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-01-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

This text clearly focuses on the process of becoming a knowledgeable, caring, competent, and reflective practitioner who will work with children from birth through eight years of age. The book addresses the concerns new teachers often have about their effectiveness and prepares them to work with children in a variety of settings.

Table of Contents

Exploring Your Role as a Reflective Practitioner	2	(34)
Learning Outcomes	3	(2)
A Definition of Teaching	5	(1)
Your Role as a Reflective Practitioner	6	(5)
What Is the Field of Early Childhood Education?	11	(1)
Characteristics of Effective Early Childhood Educators	12	(5)
Professional Goals of Early Childhood Educators	17	(10)
The Importance of Education in the Early Years	27	(3)
Conclusion	30	(4)
Exploring Your Child Advocacy Role From a Historical Perspective	34	(34)
Learning Outcomes	35	(1)
Your Role as a Child Advocate	36	(4)
Historical Influences on Contemporary Programs	40	(8)
Time-honored Precepts of Early Childhood Education	48	(5)
Young Children Need Special Nurturing	48	(1)
Young Children Are the Future of Society	49	(1)
Young Children Are Worthy of Study	49	(1)
Young Children's Potential Should Be Optimized	50	(3)
How Programs Begin and Change	53	(4)
Societal Trends	53	(1)
Educational Theories	54	(1)
Knowledge of Child Development	54	(1)
Curriculum Standards	54	(1)
Community Expectations	55	(1)
Evaluation Criteria	56	(1)
Human Resources	56	(1)
Financial and Material Resources	56	(1)
Pedagogy	57	(1)
Early Childhood Programs for the 21st Century	57	(5)
Articulated Philosophy and Goals	58	(1)
Appropriate Structure and Organization	58	(1)
Emphasis on Concept Development	58	(1)
Attention to All Five Domains	59	(1)
Increased Opportunity for Social Interaction	59	(1)
Respect for Individual Differences	60	(1)
Recognition and Inclusion of the Contributions of Many Ethnic Groups	60	(1)
Interdisciplinary Approaches to Subject-matter Teaching	60	(2)
Conclusion	62	(6)
Exploring Your Role as a Child Development Specialist	68	(40)
Learning Outcomes	69	(2)
A Definition of Growth and Development	71	(1)
Attributes of Young Children	71	(3)
Patterns of Development	71	(2)
Essential Needs	73	(1)
Age-related Characteristics	74	(1)
What Are Infants Like?	74	(4)
What Are Toddlers Like?	78	(2)
What Are Preschoolers and Kindergartners Like?	80	(3)
What Are School-age Children Like?	83	(4)
Your Role as a Child Development Specialist	87	(2)
Why Child Development Knowledge Is Important	89	(6)
Children with Special Needs	89	(4)
Children from Diverse Backgrounds	93	(2)
Major Theoretical Models	95	(7)
Psychosocial Theory of Erik Erikson (1902-1994)	95	(3)
Cognitive Development Theory of Jean Piaget (1896-1980)	98	(3)
Cultural Context Theory of Urie Brofenbrenner (1917-)	101	(1)
Hierarchy of Needs Theory of Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)	102	(1)
Conclusion	102	(6)
Exploring Your Role in Fostering Children's Learning	108	(38)
Learning Outcomes	109	(2)
A Definition of Learning	111	(1)
Features of Authentic Learning Experiences	111	(4)
Your Role as a Facilitator of Learning	115	(1)
The Importance of Learner-Centered Experiences	116	(4)
How Play Contributes to Children's Learning	120	(7)
A Definition of Play	121	(1)
The Importance of Play	122	(1)
Stages and Types of Play	123	(4)
Major Learning Theories	127	(15)
What Is a Theory?	127	(1)
Nativistic Theory of Learning	128	(1)
Behavioral Theory of Learning	129	(1)
Social-Learning Theory of Learning	130	(2)
Constructivist Theory of Learning	132	(4)
Multiple Intelligences Theory of Learning	136	(6)
Conclusion	142	(4)
Exploring Your Role in Designing a Safe, Healthy, and Appropriate Early Childhood Environment	146	(38)
Learning Outcomes	147	(2)
A Definition of Environment	149	(1)
Principles of Environmental Design and Materials Selection	150	(3)
Your Role in Designing a Safe, Healthy, and Appropriate Learning Environment	153	(7)
Why the Environment Is Important	160	(6)
Planning and Evaluating the Indoor and Outdoor Environments	166	(12)
Preparing the Indoor Environment	166	(10)
Evaluating the Indoor Environment	176	(2)
The Outdoor Environment	178	(1)
Adapting the Environment for All Children	178	(3)
Adapting the Environment for Children with Limited Motor Abilities	179	(1)
Adapting the Environment for Children with Sensory Impairments	179	(1)
Adapting the Environment for Children with Diverse Academic Needs	180	(1)
Conclusion	181	(3)
Exploring Your Role as a Curriculum Developer	184	(40)
Learning Outcomes	185	(2)
A Definition of Curriculum	187	(1)
Why the Curriculum Is So Important	187	(8)
Influences on the Curriculum	188	(1)
Developmentally Appropriate Practice and the Curriculum	189	(2)
What Does Research Say About Appropriate Early Childhood Curricula?	191	(4)
Your Role as a Curriculum Developer	195	(2)
Understanding the Written Curriculum	197	(9)
Curriculum Standards	197	(1)
Content Areas of the Early Childhood Curriculum	198	(1)
Organizing the Written Curriculum	199	(6)
An Integrated Curriculum	205	(1)
Understanding the Taught Curriculum	206	(5)
Characteristics of a Meaningful Curriculum	206	(5)
Creating a Meaningful Curriculum	211	(6)
Thematic Units	211	(3)
Projects	214	(3)
Curriculum Theory	217	(1)
Conclusion	218	(6)
Exploring Your Role in Planning for Children's Learning	224	(50)
Learning Outcomes	225	(1)
A Definition of Planning	226	(1)
Types and Levels of Planning	227	(2)
Your Role as a Planner	229	(19)
Why Is Planning So Crucial to Success as a Teacher?	248	(4)
Planning Individual and Group Learning	249	(1)
Planning Accountability to Local, State, and National Standards	249	(1)
Planning for Each Learner's Success	250	(2)
Research on Teachers' Planning Efforts	252	(2)
Making Useful and Appropriate Plans	254	(16)
Elements of Effective Planning	255	(1)
Webbing as a Planning Tool	255	(1)
Making Long-range Plans	255	(6)
Making Short-term Plans	261	(9)
Conclusion	270	(4)
Exploring Your Role in Documenting Children's Learning	274	(34)
Learning Outcomes	275	(2)
Assessment Defined	277	(2)
Your Role as an Evaluator	279	(6)
Approaches to Assessment	285	(4)
Norm-referenced, or Standardized, Tests	286	(2)
Criterion-referenced Tests	288	(1)
Principles of Performance Assessment	289	(2)
Evaluating Individual Children's Progress	291	(8)
Evaluating Program Effectiveness	299	(1)
General Indicators of a Balanced Assessment Program	300	(4)
Conclusion	304	(4)
Exploring Your Role in Guiding Children's Behavior	308	(40)
Learning Outcomes	309	(2)
Children's Needs and Rights	311	(4)
Your Role in Child Guidance	315	(2)
Discipline and Child Guidance	317	(4)
Violence, Aggression, and Conflict	321	(4)
Positive Guidance Strategies	325	(4)
Conflict Resolution and Classroom Communities	329	(2)
Coping with Different Types of Conflict	331	(7)
Possession Disputes	331	(1)
Attention Getting	332	(1)
Power Struggles	333	(1)
Personality Clashes	334	(1)
Group-entry Disputes	334	(1)
Aggressive Play	335	(1)
Teasing and Name Calling	335	(1)
Shifting Blame	336	(2)
Guiding Children to Appropriate Behavior	338	(4)
Conclusion	342	(6)
Exploring Your Role in Supporting Families	348	(34)
Learning Outcomes	349	(2)
Understanding Contemporary Families	351	(2)
Your Role as a Family Resource Person	353	(3)
Understanding the Family as a Social System	354	(2)
Engaging Parents and Families in Educare	356	(5)
Working Effectively with Families	357	(4)
Allying with Parents and Families	361	(8)
Collaborating with Families in Inclusive and Diverse Settings	369	(1)
Major Models of Home-School-Community Collaboration	370	(2)
Conclusion	372	(10)
Exploring Your Role as a Professional in the Field of Early Childhood Education	382	(27)
Learning Outcomes	383	(2)
A Definition of Professional Development	385	(2)
Your Role as an Early Childhood Professional	387	(3)
Ways of Supporting Professional Development	390	(2)
Stages in Teachers' Professional Development	392	(4)
Life-long Learning and the Early Childhood Practitioner	396	(2)
The Concerns of Beginning Teachers	398	(3)
Conclusion	401	(8)
Appendix Compendium of Early Childhood Materials and Resources	409	(34)
References	443	(18)
Name Index	461	(8)
Subject Index	469