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Importance of early child education
Importance of early child education
Essays on the importance of early childhood education
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During the Head Start experience, it has taught me different ways to work with children in the classroom. Being placed in Mrs. Bongivengo’s classroom was an amazing experience, and happy that I was given the opportunity to volunteer at the Head Start Program this semester. Knowing that my volunteering experience is already over, I am walking away with more experiences. As completing my hours, I was able to observe and interact with the children by communicating and education one as an educator. Volunteering at Head Start has provided me will much knowledge and focus on one can learn in the classroom. In the classroom, there was this girl who was intelligently progressing while learning. Each time I came to watch and interact with this child as she has shown maturity with classmates and teachers. This child was short, blonde hair, and blue eyes. Most of the classmates showed politeness to her and respect for others. She seemed to have developed her motor skills faster than most of her classmates. However, this child struggled with creativity. In the classroom, some of the students were working on crafts given in the day to complete on their own time. This child had numerous occasions where …show more content…
While observing a few days, I noticed most of the students enjoyed playing in the blocks area and crafts. I helped during numerous projects and taught different concepts. While teaching, most of the child were well-behaved. Others were easily distracted with other areas in the classroom. Once the students finished the projects, the teacher hung up their creations around the room to display their hard work. This shows the students and their parents how their child is learning and developing inside the classroom (Couchenour, 161). Not only were the students art work shown towards the end, but throughout the beginning of the school year to show continuous
In January of 1964 Lyndon B. Johnson declared “war on poverty” in a state of the union speech. His dream for a better America came with the greatest prosperity of the post war years. The nations GNP was up, unemployment was down and disposable personal income was at an all-time high. As the baby boom generation aged more American’s than ever would enter the work force and it was imperative that the county develop some a plan for its growing nation. As part of Johnsons war on poverty he create the idea of a “great society” in which ground rules where laid out for programs that the president was sure would help the nation. Johnsons first ever reference to the great society came in a speech directed toward students at the Ohio University in Athens where he proudly boasted “and with your courage and with your compassion and your desire, we will build the great society where no child will go unfed, and no youngster will go unschooled”. Johnson was dedicated to this ideal of a new society, together with Sargent Shriver, he worked on developing a committee of civil rights activist. He also arraigned a team of sociologist, psychologist and pediatricians including pediatrician Dr. Robert Cooke of John Hopkins University. Johnson and his crew worked rigorously to develop a program to help America’s children overcome the obstacle of poverty. The name head start was chosen as a representation of the gap that is ever present between middle class and lower class children academically and the ideal that this program would give underprivileged children a much needed head start on education and over all wellbeing.
My first observation was at Head Start. I talked to Tracey Claflin about some of the principles they use in their program and how they use them. I wasn’t able to observe the children directly because my TB skin test results came up positive. Tracey explained to me that because my results were positive I couldn’t meet children or be in the same room as the children. Due to this, I had to make some arrangements to instead speak with Tracey about some principles she has seen and that they follow. I met with her for an hour discussing the principles and how they were used in the Head Start program. One of the principles she said was highly important for Head Start was principle number 2. She explained that when there is enough time and opportunities to spend time with a child individually the caregiver puts full attention on one child. She explained that they like to focus attention on a child throughout the day so that the child doesn’t feel left out. She says that alone time for a child with a caregiver is usually tummy time. They allow the infants and toddlers to roll around and look at the carpet designs. Tracey explained to me how they asses each child through this quality time that the caregiver and the child have alone. This quality time the caregiver has with the child is important,
The purpose of this essay is to offer a concise description of the Head Start program, discuss the historical background of the policy, and analyze the economic and political forces that have influenced the development of the program. The essay also seeks to evaluate both the manifest and latent functions of the policy, consider the current debate around Head Start, describe the ideologies and values that have framed the debate around Head Start, and offer recommendations regarding the program.
Head Start meets educational needs by ensuring that each child is exposed to different learning experiences that nurse intellectual, social, and emotional growth (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2002). The children are in an atmosphere for gaining knowledge but at the same time are placed with peers whom they can build social skills and form relationships with.
chapters focus on one principle of multi-culturalism. After the principles are discussed there are questions to answer regarding the principles and the research behind them. “Head Start programs are effective when their systems and services support the cultural diversity of enrolled families. Furthermore, individual staff members must be able to demonstrate their respect for and respond to the different cultures in their community and among their co-workers.” (Office of Head Start). Maloney of Shirley Mays Head Start stated that all the staff members are required to take the Multicultural Principles for Head Start Programs Serving Children Ages Birth to Five. When asked if there were ever issues from staff regarding the diverse groups they
Seventeen to nineteen percent of the fifty percent of children who are in early education programs are in head start. Head start was created in 1965 and is the largest financed early education in the United States. Although many say that head start is a great tool to get students ready for school there are some mixed evidence on both of it. Head start has not shown any improvement on the math skills. There is only a limited research on the impact of making a teacher and student relationship. It has shown that it helped with the students who have special needs on their attention abilities. Children who went to head start did have a more positive school readiness then the one who did not go to Head
In 1964, the Federal Government asked a panel of child development experts to draw up a program to help communities meet the needs of disadvantaged preschool children. The panel became the blueprint for Project Head Start (U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, 2002). Beginning as an eight-week summer program out of the Office of Economic Development, the Head Start program was well received by the education community. From the outset the program offered not only an education program, but also a health program for children. The program strongly encouraged parental involvement
Growing up I always believed Head Start was just another option to day care or a nursery, but since I have done hours of research I found that I was wrong. Head Start is a program that President Johnson began in 1965; but was earlier thought up by President Kennedy in 1962 when he began to address the war on poverty (Vinovskis, 31). This program was originally created to give children from low income families a head start to education for free, or at a very small cost; Head Start is federally and state funded. These programs would also provide breakfast and lunch for the kids along with health screenings and health care. Most of the programs also provide the parents of these children with informal classes about raising their children in poverty and they provide the parent with the opportunity to participate in the Head Start activities. This program was established to help the children and the parents of poverty.
The Language of Art by Ann Pelo describes the inquiry-based studio practices in early childhood settings. When I started to read chapter six I traced a lot of words ,as going through the few pages I came across this word called “children’s pursuits” at the very beginning of the first question of how do we grow a culture of inquiry (Pelo,2007,p.109) . I choose this word because it is challenging for me during my first practicum placement, illustrates the heart of this chapter and guides me as an Educator to facilitate my learning for future preparation. It literally impacts our learning and pedagogical styles when we recreate art activities for children.
Head Start does an adequate job at meeting the needs of children in the manner in which it was originally founded. The Head Start program is not bad and should not be done away with. But, from what I have learned through this study, amendments could be made to increase the longevity of the desired results. In this paper I will discuss the Head Start program. How Head Start has succeeded. The way it attempts to influence children’s behaviors. I will also discuss some of the shortcomings of the Head Start program and ways to make the program more effective.
Teaching using creative methods can help develop the whole child. It can make learning experiences more exciting, more relevant, create different contexts for learning, al...
Art can be used to raise scores in every subject, “Students who took four years of art classes scored 91 points higher on their SAT exams than those who took half a year or less. Multiple studies also confirmed that there is a correlation between art engagement and students’ other achievements.” (Valeriya Metla) Even with the research linking art and better grades some educators think that it is more worth while to only focus on the core classes because it is more important to fund what is being tested than to help raise children who are creative.
Art Education is not always valued in school settings. Although some may see it as an unnecessary use of school funding, there are many who believe it is beneficial to students in more ways than one. There are many different studies that have been conducted to test the effects that art education has on school-aged children. Some studies have proven that art education can help students to improve in other academic areas. In a journal article from Ohio State University’s “Theory in Practice,” Karen A Hamblen states, “There are linkages between art learning and learning in other subjects areas and that art study can promote creative behaviors, critical thinking skills, and academic achievement.” It has also been found that the arts can teach children better self-regulatory strategies, and even foster more confidence and self-efficacy in school which relates to confidence in academics. Overall, art education in schools has been very beneficial and has proven to ignite creativity, confidence, critical thinking skills, and academic achievement in students.
The location of the observation was at the Community Center (Early Childhood education program) at 11:00am to 12:30pm on April 15, 2014. The meaningful experiences in early childhood education can positively shape children's development. With a teacher is guidance authentic child-art activity can educate enrich young students' learning abilities, encourage positive attitudes toward other children, and more importantly, learn to interact with people around them in the contemporary world. However, art for young students often takes many diversified approaches and emphasizing questionable practices. Observation is a part of meaningful and authentic early childhood art education. Observation enriches children’s experiences in their environment, gives them motivation to study, interact with other children and follow the practices of their adult models. Moreover, they develop strategies and skills to represent objects in their environment.
The class I visited is comprised of 24 five and six year old children, a lead teacher and a ‘Para-Pro” who assists the teacher and provides support and guidance for the children. Within the classroom itself, there are 6 tables organized in the center of the room in a grid formation. Children have their own workspace at a shared table. Around the perimeter of the room are ‘centers’ where each day, the children work on tasks such as listening, story development, gross and fine motor skills, math, reading and other important skills that are needed to develop socially and academically. In several places on the walls, there are displays or ‘brag boards’ where children can post their work that they feel best represents their efforts. The walls are brightly decorated and are filled with pictures, letters, numbers and other basic elementary school information. It is energizing and interesting without being chaotic or overstimulating.