Discussion essay on Ethical Conduct
Learning Approaches
As you learned in your textbook, there are several different learning approaches that can be used in early childhood education. It is important that you are able to determine which approach to teaching you connect with the most, so that you feel confident about how you are teaching your students. This discussion will allow you to share your thoughts regarding different learning approaches.
To begin, take a few minutes to read the interactivity titled A Tale of Five Classrooms (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. When reading this, you will encounter five different classroom scenarios. Each of the scenarios describes a classroom that follows one of the five main approaches (Creative Curriculum, direct instruction, High Scope, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia) that are shared in our textbook.
After reading “A Tale of Five Classrooms,”
· Determine which of the classrooms/learning approaches are most like the classrooms when you attended school. Did you enjoy being in this type of classroom? Why, or why not?
· Explain which classroom/learning approach aligns with the type of classroom environment you would like to create for your students by clearly stating at least three examples from the scenario that you would like to see in your own classroom. Make sure to include the name of the classroom/learning approach you are discussing (e.g., Montessori, High Scope, etc.).
· Use specific examples from the description as well as at least one scholarly source (see the Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. table) to explain why you believe the learning approach you chose would be an effective model for early childhood education.
o To assist you in completing the library research required for this assignment, view this How Do I Begin? (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. tutorial, which provides an overview of conducting searches in the library, generating keywords, and understanding your assignment prompt.
Developmentally Appropriate Practice
As the authors of our text note:
Since its founding in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has been an influence on early education in the United States, but never so strongly as it has been since it began writing position statements in the 1980s. (Estes & Krogh, 2012, p. 98)
One of the position statements that NAEYC created focuses on developmentally appropriate practice (DAP). Understanding what DAP is and how it will influence your work with children is critical to being a quality early childhood educator.
To deepen your understanding of developmentally appropriate practice, spend some time exploring NAEYC’s website. Pay particular attention to the section of the website dedicated to Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. While exploring the site, you can learn more about what DAP is, read NAEYC’s position statement on DAP, and learn how DAP can be implemented with different ages of children. When you are finished exploring the site, complete the following:
· In your own words, explain what the term developmentally appropriate practice means to you.
· Describe at least two personal connections you made with the DAP information you discovered on the NAEYC site.
· Summarize three main things you learned from exploring the site. How will they impact your career in early childhood education?
Learning Centers and Play
A highly debated topic in early childhood education is the role of play in the classroom. Although early childhood educators understand the importance of incorporating play into a developmentally appropriate curriculum, many parents have a difficult time understanding why their child is “playing” in the classroom. Watch the video titled The Role of Play in the Overly-Academic Classroom (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..
Now, imagine that you have recently had several families in your classroom ask you about why their child is playing in the classroom. You have decided to write a letter to the parents to help them understand why play has been incorporated into your classroom and how it is benefiting the development of their children. Please post your letter as your initial response to this discussion. Your letter should include the following:
· A description of why play is an important part of a developmentally appropriate curriculum. Support your statements with at least one scholarly source (see the Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. table).
· An explanation of how play can help to support a child’s physical, cognitive, and affective development.
· An example of one play-based activity that demonstrates to parents how play supports their child’s development. For instance, you could explain how playing a game of hopscotch can help a child with their gross motor skills (physical development) and counting (cognitive development). Please make sure that your play-based activity is an original idea or that if you use an idea from an outside source it is properly formatted according to APA as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Also, this should be a brief description of an activity. It is not a lesson plan.
ECE Careers and Dispositions
Wadlington and Wadlington (as cited in Estes & Krogh, 2012) explain, “Because of the strong connection between dispositions and teaching styles, it is desirable for individuals in the midst of becoming teachers to reflect and develop self-awareness of their own dispositions” (p. 33). Subsequently, knowing which career you want to pursue is an important first step to tackling your job search and career goals. Exploring the requirements for your potential career path, assessing your current skill set, and identifying what action steps you can take to make your career goals more attainable is the purpose for this discussion.
To prepare for this discussion, reread the list of dispositions associated with effective teachers discussed in Chapter 2 (Table 2.1) and Chapter 10. Also view the video or read the description below the video, I Am a Teacher (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Lastly, read the Career Planning Step-by-Step (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. article to better understand the importance of developing a clear career plan.
Once you are prepared, use the My Dispositions Target (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. (Figure 2.1) from your text to organize and record the initial analysis of your dispositions.
· Describe which of the dispositions from your target you already exhibit on a regular basis. Also, discuss which dispositions are still emerging for you.
· Based on the discussion of career options in Chapter 10, identify at least two possible careers that interest you and that are a “good fit” based on your personal disposition reflection, as well as the qualifications you already possess. Explain why you would be a good fit for both of your chosen careers.
· Identify your long-term goals. Where would you like to be professionally, one to five years from now?
· Reflect on the following:
o What new skills, dispositions, knowledge, certifications, or trainings might you need to be successful? Identify the additional action steps you will need to take to be even more qualified for the position you would like to pursue. Set reasonable deadlines for these action steps.
o Are there any professional obstacles you may need to overcome to be successful? Are there individuals in your professional network who can help you?
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
As your text states, “the early childhood field takes very seriously the need to adhere to ethical behavior” (Estes & Krogh, 2012, p. 285). For this reason, the NAEYC has provided guidelines to assist early childhood educators with the decisions made on a daily basis that have both moral and ethical implications.
To prepare for this discussion, read NAEYC’s Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment, and reread the NAEYC’s core values outlined in Chapter 10 of your text.
For this discussion:
· Choose four of the core values from Section 10.2 of your textbook.
· For each core value you choose, discuss how you would implement it into your future classroom.
o For example, if your chosen core value was “Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member, and colleague),” you might discuss changes you would make to a traditional holiday curriculum that would reflect this value.
· Explain how your knowledge and understanding of these values will help to make you a better early childhood educator and colleague. Support this portion of your discussion with at least one scholarly source (Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. table).
o To assist you in completing the library research required for this assignment, view this How Do I Begin? (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. tutorial, which provides an overview of conducting searches in the library, generating keywords, and understanding your assignment prompt.
