Exam 1 Flashcards
Family Interactions-
- Parents are Experts on their own children
- Most important element of child’s life is their family
- Instructors are to view parents as Equal Partners
- Instructors are to utilize families as resources
- As they can provide insight on child’s ability & maintenance of skills
- Communication is Key! Do it frequently
Purposes of Communication-
- Exchanging valuable information
- Easing family concerns- they get to know you
- Establishes relationship/trust/confidence
- Educates parents on care for child at home
Guidelines for Communication-
- Consider Purpose of communication
- Consider parent perspective. Considerate of how they’ll take the news; context.
- Relay positive information Frequently as this eases relay of negative information.
- Choose appropriate form of communication.
Forms of Communication-
Face-to-face vs. Written
Forms of face-to-face communication-
Daily conversation | Conferences | Group meetings & Social gatherings | Home Visits
Conversation tid-bits-
Should be frequent, if not daily. Call parents by Name.
Conference tid-bits-
Schedule meetings when things are going well as this eases delivery when things aren’t so good.
Home visit tid-bits-
Could be intimidating to the parents. Exciting for child; gets to show off family, room, toys, etc.
What age group does Early Childhood Education encompass?
Birth-8 years
Child-Centered Programs-
- Children are allowed to make Choices
- Guidelines are Clear
- Activities are well thought out, planned to Meet Child’s Needs
- Environments are Sensitive to Cultural & Family backgrounds
- Adults are Consistent (turnover rate) & Loving
What age groups does ECE serve?
Infants & toddlers (Under 3 y/o) - Fastest growing age group Pre-schoolers (3-5) - Largest group Kindergartners (5-7) - Are not required to unroll until 7 Children in Primary Care Grades (8 or older)
What are some of the reasons ECE has grown?
- Economy: Growing gap of economic inequality (Invest in children. You will see an ROI)
- Family Life: In 1950, 12% of mothers were in the work force. In 2008, 61% (Family composition also plays role- dad out of the picture?)
- Research Knowledge: Research shows children exponentially benefit from ECE
- Public support/awareness: Learning to learn
What are the purposes/benefits of ECE programs?
- Safe & Nurturing: Allows parents to go to work knowing their child is safe & well taken care of.
- Enrichment: Sole purpose is to Enhance Development (math/science programs are considered NOT developmentally friendly.
- Compensation: Programs aims to compensate for lack of ____ at home. Examples- Food, dental, health, mental stimulation.
- Early Intervention: Child may be at risk for disability- intervention not only for child but also for parents to adjust, grow in knowledge.
Home versus center-based programs-
- In Home based programs, Younger children are more common.
- In Center-based programs, Older children are more common.
What are some helpful tid-bits for each individual classroom?
- Age grouping: Mixed age grouping has proven beneficial.
- Toys/things in classroom are Developmentally & age appropriate.
- Amount & quality of interaction: Teacher’s Intention is NOT to Control, but to Teach.
How can your classroom accommodate children of greatly varying interests, backgrounds, and abilities?
Lesson focuses on each Individuals needs.
Define an Integrated Curriculum-
A program that integrates ALL aspects of a child’s development, not just cognitive.
- Social, emotional, physical, language, creative
What age groups does ECE include?
Birth-8
- Infants & Toddlers - Under 3 (fastest growing)
- Preschoolers - 3-5 (largest group)
- Kindergarten - 5-7 (children MUST be enrolled at 7)
Name some reasons for ECE’s growth-
- Increased number of working mothers
- Increased number of single parent homes
- Increase in teenage parents
- Increase in family mobility (& decreased extended family involvement)
What are some proven benefits of ECE?
ROI through school success, decreased need for SPED, lower arrest rates, decreased welfare dependence.
What is the primary goal of ECE?
Provide a safe & nurturing environment in a developmentally appropriate setting for children.
What are the goals of Preschool ECE?
Enhance socialization, cognitive skills, overall development.
Receiving experiences they would otherwise not get at home, compensatory (painting, group activities)
Which type of instruction/learning is stressed in Kindergarten & Primary Children?
Integrated Learning
What is the focus in Before & After-School Care? Why the rise in popularity?
Focus is on recreation activities rather than educational.
Rise due to concerns about safety & lack of supervision.
What are some of the expected future directions of ECE?
- Employment opportunities in ECE will continue to rise.
- Increasing need for federal/state funded programs (versus nonprofit)
- Increasing need for bilingual/bicultural teachers.
- Growing recognition of the need for financing system in ECE.
- ECE programs will focus more on teaching non-bias & inclusion to children.
Describe a Family-Teacher Conference-
A regularly scheduled, structured meeting of a sizable amount of time.
- Should be in addition to day-to-day informal contact
- Should NEVER be Impromptu
- Preparation for conferences should be an ongoing process.
Describe a Home Visit-
- Conveys a genuine sense of care for the child.
- Makes child feel special (chance to show off ___)
- Parents can see child-teacher interactions (confidence^)
- Teacher can observe child-family interactions (gain understanding of child’s behavior)
- Especially beneficial for teenage parents.
Describe Written Communication-
Newsletters, memos, emails, school handbook, bulletin board, etc.
- Important they be attractive & grammatically correct.
Describe Group Meetings-
Families will weigh benefits compared to other demands in their life.
- To ensure benefit, conduct an Interest Survey: topics, time of day, & type of meeting.
- Enjoyable way for parents to see topics is to present slides/videos of their kids engaged. (Can increase parental understanding)
List several characteristics of good ECE teachers-
- Authenticity (know what you stand for; self-awareness)
- Creativity
- Flexibility
- High Energy (Stamina)
- Love of Learning (lead by example)
- Respect (appreciation for diversity)
- Passion
- Perseverance
- Pragmatism (compromise, pick your battles)
- Patience
- Sense of Humor (make it fun for the kids)
- Play, Protect, Listen/Comfort, Watch, Cope, Facilitate Social Interactions
What Characteristics does a teacher need if Caring for Toddlers-
- Ability to anticipate & plan
- Provide interesting environment
- Elicit language use
- Problem solving
- Play, Protect, Listen/Comfort, Watch, Cope
What are the Dispositions of good teachers?
Empathetic | Positive view of Self/Others | Authenticity | Purpose & Vision
What are some of the Director’s Responsibilities?
Financial | Personnel (hiring) | Policy & Faculty Decisions
May double as teacher for small programs.
List some of the qualities a curriculum in ECE should have-
Should be
- Thoughtfully Planned
- Challenging
- Engaging
- Developmentally Appropriate
- Culturally & linguistically responsive
- Comprehensive
How would we know if the children are developing well & learning what we want them to learn?
Assessing:
- Use methods that are developmentally appropriate for what you want children to learn.
- Use methods that are culturally & linguistically responsive.
- Tied to children’s ADL’s
- Supported by professional development
- Inclusive
- Connect to specific, beneficial purposes set in curriculum.
Regularly evaluate program/curriculum.
Provide support/training to staff in order to improve as necessary.
How could we decide whether programs are doing a good job?
Children are actively engaged:
- Cognitively | Physically | Socially | Artistically | Linguistically
Goals are clear & shared by all, administrators, teachers, and families.
Curriculum is Evidence Based.
Curriculum builds on prior learning & experiences.
Curriculum is comprehensive.
Children are Actively Learning
