Reading Blog #4

Looking at the four models covered in the readings so far, Head Start, Portage, Eriksonian, and Behavior Analysis, let's make a comparison. Head Start seems to have a strong influence of Maslow, seeking to improve upon the physical needs of children before teaching. What other theories do you see in the program? It can be in the totality of the program or in a section. What are the commonalities and differences between the programs?

Week #3:Planning

Short and simple: Are there advantages to planning? If so, what are they? How far out do you need to plan to be most effective?

Blog #2: Ethics

As we explore the topic of ethics in the classroom, think about the origins of ethics and human nature. Is ethics something that we explicitly teach or is it innately developed as children mature? Why do we even teach ethics? How do we as teachers, as a society, decide what ethics to teach or model as the case may be? Where are the roots of ethics?

History Repeats Itself

As I read Chapter one of the R&J book, something occurs to me. It seems that EC's teaching philosophy is cyclical. For example, children in the 18th century sat in solitude and memorized facts and Scriptures then Pestalozzi introduced interactions with teachers and peers as well as the concept of Anschauung. Then preschools tended to thought of as a place to put the kids while the poor parents had to work and a stigma was attached. Froebel combated that mentality. . .and so on.

As we look at the current landscape, do you agree with this analysis of the field of child development and if you do, where do you think we are in the cycle? DAP is currently the new hot topic, but how prevalent is it in preschool and elementary schools? Is DAP on it's way in or out? Do you think DAP will fall away as well as other philosphies or is it here to stay?