Farrah Smith CHD 204: Role of the Early Childhood Educator Assignment: Quality in Early Childhood Education Paper Instructor: Sara Mulso May 22, 2014 Quality in Early Childhood Education Paper Early childhood education is extremely important in the lives and development of all children. There are stages of development and each stage has to be handled separately as the growth and development calls for. Many people don’t know that development begins in the prenatal stage which is from conception to birth consisting of nine month period when “a one-celled organism is transformed into a human baby with remarkable capacities for adjusting to life in the surrounding world” (Berk, 2012, pg. 6) and ends in adolescence. Institutions are not the first source of learning for children. We are first taught by nature and nurture. By nature, “there is heredity information we receive from our parents at the moment of conception” (Berk, 2012, pg. 9) and nurture is “the complex forces of the physical and social world that influence our biological makeup” (Berk, 2012, pg. 9). Institutionalized learning normally begins in the early childhood stage, from two to six years old. During this period, “thought and language expands at an astounding pace” (Berk, 2012, pg. 6). This is a time when most children are “separating from one-to-one care for the first time” (Rosenberg, n/d) going from the caretaker at home to an outside environment. One important characteristic of an early childhood program would be one that promotes safety. A quality program ensures physical and emotional safety is a top priority. The layout of the facility is one that would provide easy supervision of the children as well as easy access. Ma... ... middle of paper ... ...promote safety, learning, socialization, and family involvement. Choosing the right early childhood program shapes the fundamental foundation of a child’s future, secondary only to that of the first caretaker, which was established at home. REFERENCES Berk, L. (2012). Infants and Children: Prenatal Through Middle Childhood. Seventh Edition National Education Association: Early Childhood Education Research and Recommendation. Retrieved 5/21/14. http://www.nea.org/home/18163.htm Rosenberg, J. (n/d) The Parents League of New York. What Makes a Quality Early Childhood Program. Retrieved 5/20/13. http://www.parentsleague.org/publications/selected_articles/what_makes_a_quality_early_childhood_program/index.aspx U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Administration for Children and Families. Retrieved 5/20/14. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about
However, although the outrage was reasonable, the concept of parents being just as educated as their students should be is not completely nonsensical. Structured and adequate homeschooling is like a chain reaction: how the material is being taught is just as important as what is being taught, which is just as important as who is teaching it. If any one of these three is weaker than the other, than the homeschooling suddenly becomes unstructured and, more likely than not, destined to fail. According to Heckman, "early childhood is the most relevant period across life span to promote the acquisition of cognitive skills." Cognitive psychology can give an inside look as to when and how to implement certain factors into a child 's education (Antonietti 477). The elements of this form of psychology state that students should be taught materials that "1. Develop an integrated structure of
Researchers have documented that human life is determine by various developmental stages. Whether development is continuous or discontinuous and is influenced by nature or nurture, these processes are experienced universally regardless of gender, age and ethnic background. This paper explores the areas of physical, cognitive, emotional and social developmental in early childhood. In a comprehensive case study of Mahki Lamar Holmes, an analysis will focus on the different aspects of his developmental progress from infancy to preschool age. This study will also describe how internal and external factors that influences Mahki’s development currently and in the future. After examining Mahki’s home, school and community setting as well as his strengths and weaknesses, Mahki has completed majority of his stages for his age group and continues to live a healthy and normal life.
Daycare’s focus is mainly on a child’s development through social interaction with children and caregivers. There are head start programs that are geared to give children a foot in the right direction in order to be ready for preschool or kindergarten. The right kind of childcare can be a wonderful opportunity to promote the profound learning children experience from birth through age five (Selecting Child Care, 2002). When selecting childcare for your child, the Foundation of Early Learning has offered some tips that they believe will be helpful in the process. The foundation says that parents have always known that a good early experience is important for their child.
Early childhood education, although constantly evolving, was actually established and practiced as early on as the times of Ancient Greece and Rome. The foundation that early childhood education is based upon is to instill in children the skills needed to succeed later on in life, while making sure young children enjoy their time in schooling. Throughout chapter 3 in the textbook Who Am I in the Lives of Children, the reader is capable of evaluating just how greatly the methods for teaching today’s youth have evolved and changed for the better.
Child Observation Record (COR) is the checklist that evaluates children’s learning in the five content areas. Each day, teachers observe children at play in natural and authentic situations and then take notes about children’s behavior. These records are gathered to help teachers evaluate children’s development and plan activities to help individual children and even the whole classroom make progress. For teachers, the Preschool Program Quality Assessment (PQA) is used to evaluate whether the whole High Scope program and the staffs are using the most effective classroom and program management
Children who participate in quality early learning programs tend to be more successful later in school. They are also most socially and emotionally competent. In addition those children show higher verbal and intellectual development during early childhood than children who do not participate in early learning programs (A Parent’s Guide to Choosing Quality Child Care). In order for a child care center to be a quality center they must have an educated staff, a program accreditation, and good health and safety practices. Parents choose high quality child care for many reasons. These programs prepare children for school in which they gain intellectual and social skills. Also the programs are a good opportunity for children because they receive age-appropriate learning materials and activities to let the children learn and grow.
The results of quality preschool programs can be seen early after they begin. Children learn many important life le...
Early childhood education programs are effective both academically and socially. Children’s first five years are when they build the emotional and social skills needed to succeed in life. Upon entering kindergarten children are expected to know the basics: how to
Additionally, a high quality early childhood program highlights on developmentally appropriate curriculum. I believe an early childhood classroom should be flexible, stimulating, clean, safe and organized. It should be a place where students can be engaged in learning through interacting with things around them.
There are many things to look for in an infant/toddler program. Being able to understand the child’s needs is what makes a great program for an infant or toddler. The five most important components when looking for a program are: the safety for the children, the environment around the whole facility, the staff’s qualifications, the teacher to child ratio, and the program’s curriculum. Programs with staff that are caring is also very important to the young children. These are important because these components will help the child to become more independent and aware as he or she grows older in the program.
There are many aspects to early childhood education including what all it contains and is being taught. People willing to teach in an early childhood center are vitally important for learning and have overwhelming benefits for the children (Teufel). Children are expected to know much more information at an early age, so it benefits children to have the opportunity to take part in a program before kindergarten.
Infants and Children: Prenatal Through Middle Childhood. Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. Cooper, J., Masi, R., & Vick, J. (2009). The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. Social-emotional Development in Early Childhood.
As an early childhood educator my job is not to simple play with children. I must plan, provide and supervise all while “playing” with my students. The classroom serves as the physical environment for the children for most of their waking hours. These classrooms need to be attractive and function effectively. Concerns for any early childhood educator should always include space, equipment and materials used, outdoor space and the daily schedule to ensure that all students are provided ample opportunities to learn and grow within a safe and secure environment.
Early childhood education plays a key role in a child’s academic development because he or she learns soft skills, job skills, and develop positive traits. Preschool is not like kindergarten, but instead a stepping-stone that prepares young students for the years of schooling they will have later in life. As more schools began to open families wanted to be able to verify that programs would benefit and protect their children. In response, the National Association for the Education of Young Children was made to help families find the best care for their children, by providing the early childhood educators with training and ensuring the quality of children’s daily experiences. (“NAEYC”5).
The purpose of early childhood education is to firstly learn about one’s self and agency, how one’s actions can affect and impact others; to develop a sense of identity; who you are and how you fit into this world. Experience a sense of belonging through interactions with peers and teachers whilst celebrating and sharing diverse cultures whilst embracing others. Children need to have opportunities to explore, experiment, to gain insight and knowledge in numeracy, literacy, science and social structure through innovative and richly supported curriculums (DEEWR, 2009). I have very high expectations of all children as I believe that this assists in building self-confidence and