High Quality Early Years T&L Flashcards
What does the NAEYC focus on?
To improve the quality and accessibility of ECE programs and services, as well as the professional practice of educators and other professionals who work in the field of ECE
What is the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) ?
A professional organisation in the USA that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, from birth to 8 years. One of the world’s largest organisations working on behalf of young children
What are NAEYC foundational documents?
- Developmentally appropriate practice
- Professional standards and competencies for early childhood educators
- Code of ethical conduct
- Advancing equity in ECE
- NAEYC early childhood program standards
What is developmentally appropriate practice? (DAP)
An approach to teaching grounded in the research on how young children develop and learn in what is known about effective early education: Teaching to children’s ages, experiences, capabilities & interests
What does the concept of developmentally appropriate practice focus on? (DAP)
- Age-related and individual human distinction
- Materials utilized
- Learning experiences
- Expectations for children
What are the 3 areas of knowledge teachers consider to make a decision? (The 3 cores of DAP)
- Commonality: Knowing about child development and learning
- Individuality: Knowing what is individually important
- Context: Knowing what is culturally important
Why is it important to know about child development and learning?
It helps to predict which experiences will support children’s learning and development
How do we know what is individually appropriate?
By continually observing children’s play and interaction with the physical environment
How does knowing what is culturally important help?
The effort in getting to know the children’s families, their values, and expectations that shape their lives at home can help provide meaningful and respectful learning experiences for each child and family
How do you meet children where they are?
- Observe children’s engagement with materials, activities & people
- Assess what children already know and their interests
- Keep teaching goals in mind
- Plan curriculum and adapt teaching strategies
How many standards has NAEYC set?
10 standards
What are the standards of NAEYC?
- Relationships
- Curriculum
- Teaching
- Assessment of child progress
- Health
- Staff competencies, preparation and support
- Families
- Community relationships
- Physical environment
- Leadership and management
What is the purpose of NAEYC standards?
To ensure high-quality early childhood education and care for young children up to age eight
Why is it important to consider relationships?
Encourages child’s sense of worth and belonging as part of a community, fostering each child’s ability to contribute as a responsible community member
How do children benefit from relationships?
- Helps them benefit from learning experiences
- Learn to cooperate & have a good relationship with others
What to look for in a program in terms of relationships?
- Children & adults feel welcome when they visit the program
- Teachers help new children adjust to the program environment & make friends
- Teachers recognise children’s work and accomplishments
- Teaching staff are encouraging and engage in warm, friendly conversations with the children
- Children are encouraged to play and work together
- Teachers help children resolve conflicts, never physically punishing children
What to look for in a program in terms of curriculum?
- How the curriculum addresses all aspects of child development
- Children given opportunities to learn & develop through exploration & play
- Teachers have opportunities to work with individual children
- Materials & equipment spark children’s interest
- Activities are designed to help children develop critical & logical thinkinh
- Infants & toddlers play with toys and art materials that “do something” based on actions, such as jack-in-the-box, play dough
What to look for in a program in terms of teaching?
- Teachers carefully supervise all children
- Teachers provide time for indoor & outdoor activities
- Teachers organise time & space so that children have opportunities to work or play individually and in groups
- Children’s recent work is displayed in the classroom
- Teachers modify strategies and materials to respond to the needs & interests of individual children
What to look for in a program in terms of assessment?
- Supports children’s learning using a variety of methods
- Assessment methods are appropriate for each child’s age & level of development, including all areas of development
- Teachers use methods & information to design goals for individual children and monitor their progress, and to improve the program and its teaching strategies
- Families receive information about their child’s development on a regular basis, through meetings or references
What to look for in a program in terms of health?
- Teaching staff have training in pediatric first aid
- Infants are placed on their backs to sleep
- Program has policies regarding regular handwashing, routinely cleans and sanitizes all surfaces in the facility
- A clear plan for responding to illness, including how to decide whether a child needs to go home & how families will be notified
- Snacks and meals are nutritious, food prepared & stored safely
Why is it important to consider staff competencies, preparation & support?
Teachers who have specific preparation, knowledge & skills in child development and ECE are more likely to provide positive interactions, richer language experiences and quality learning environments
What to look for in a program in terms of staff competence?
- Teaching staff have qualifications and specialised knowledge about young children and early childhood development
- Program makes provisions for ongoing staff development (eg: orientations for new staff & opportunities to continue education)
- Teaching staff have training in the program’s curriculum and work as a team
What to look for in a program for families?
- All families are welcome and encouraged to be involved in all aspects of the program
- Teachers and staff talk with families on their structure and views on child raising, using that information to adapt the curriculum and teaching methods to the families served
- Various strategies are used to communicate with families
- Program information provided in a language that families can understand
What to look for in a program in terms of community relationships?
- Program connects with and uses museums, zoos, etc.
- Representatives from community programs (musical performers and local artists) are invited to share their interests and talents with the children
- Staff develop relationships with community agencies that further the program’s capacity to meet the needs and interests of children & families
