Monday, June 23, 2008
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?
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In the Head Start program, i see Vygotsky's theory shine through. Vygotsky belived in the interaction between the child and the envirnoment. I strongly feel that the envirnoment is a huge factor in Head Start. As we learned last night, there are many sections into the development of Head start. They rely on the resources from the environment to shape and model these children. The differences and the similarities are completely different between all of the programs. The only similairty that I can find between all of them is they all offer the belief that they are doing what is "best for the child." They all belive. One main different that really suck out for me was the difference between the Head Start and the Behavior Analysis theories. Many and most programs are based ont he authoritative style. However, the Behavior Analysis reveloves around the authoritarian style. After allt he research that has been done on the negative effects of this style, it florred me that this program is still even considered.
Ashley Mooneyham
Mooneyham2006@aim.com
Head Start is such a great program and the more I learn about it the more I love it. Children are resilient but there is only so much children can handle physcially and emotionally and having a secure and stable environment is important at home and in the learning environment for children to develop. Setting up a learning environment where children are able to learn independently and then be able to grasp even more with assistance from the environment is very important. That intertwined with Maslow's hierarchy with making sure the physical needs of children are taken care of first goes back to what I was saying about having a secure environment both physically and emotionally to make the best environment for children.
I agree Ashely that Vygotsky's theory is implemented in the Head Start Program. I also see alot of Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Head Start seems to reach children at their level of development. It is great that Head Start wants to involve the whole family in the developmental process and give them tools they will need to be successful as a family unit, giving the child a greater opportunity for success, what is better than that!
I agree that Moslow is a strong influence in the head start program, but I also see Piaget’s theories being experienced throughout the program, but mainly in the three to five ages. They are bringing the child into the system to better prepare them for success in school. To do this they must take the steps that children need to have in understanding, so that they will understand what comes next. Many of the children do not get the experiences that others do, making it very difficult for the child to grasp meanings when necessary or have the wrong meaning. The head start program gives the child the opportunity to accommodate or assimilate the new information, at the critical time that other children get naturally in their environment.
I agree with Ashley that they all want to do what is best for the child’s development. The differences I see are in the ages and how the development is strongly looked at. The Portage is looking at helping the child from birth to school age, or head start. Head start is looking from age three through kindergarten, and the Erikson is looking at the child and how to help the caregiver respond in positive ways, so the child will have a more positive self esteem and motivation.
I appreciate your comments Lori, and have to say head start gives so many families opportunities to learn what their child needs and then have those needs provided for. It does take
a lot of effort to make the program work for as many children and their families as possible. We have to look from every approach what is going to help our children be successful in school and then throughout life. I am prayerful that the funding can stay where it needs to be so that we can continue this program. It would be sad if the future of these children is in jeopardy because we didn't put enough money into Head Start.
I agree that head start does help many families, not just the child. I too would hate to see funding stopped on this or any of the programs that benefit the child and or family to improve their outlooks. I am a firm believer that whatever a child learns while they are young will have some benefit when they are older. I would much rather see the good being taught than the negative, which some, not all, see on a daily bases.
I agree with your posts Lori about the experiences and lessons learned early on in life has an impact on the child later in life. It would be a perfect world when children all have positive experiences and never negative ones but they do happen. Headstart is a great program that attempts to give children at risk a better learning environment that is filled with positive experiences and assists with their individual and family needs.
I completely agree with Amanda. I never realized the Piaget was part of the Head Start program until she mentioned it. However, I find it o be very true. Piaget really focused on the child themselves. Head Start really does a great job on focusing on what is best for each individual child and what programs will suit that child the best as well. I also can agree with Lori and Amanda again on the issue that Head Start does a lot of great things for many familys and children. However, the only negative feeling I have towards Head Start is the admissions. I think its great to help the lower SES families by providing these great services. I also feel that it is great that it is now opened up to many middle class families as well. However, I feel as if it a shame that the higher SES cannot enroll their children in these programs. Americans think that jusst because a child's parents have money, they will be smart and receive a great education. However, not all rich families care about their children's education. Money cannot buy knowledge. Oportunities and hard work is the key to obtaining knowledge.
Ashley Mooneyham
Mooneyham2006@aim.com
I too can see Piaget in the Head Start model. I also can see some of Vygotsky's principles in there as well like Ashley said. Vygotsky believed that when and where we are born affects how our brain develops, and that cumulative culture and history play an important role in cognition. Head Start acknowledges this by trying to make sure the home environment is just as positive and stable as the environment the child encounters at school. I love that they respect the cultures of all of their students as well. We are told as teachers that we are suppose to try to balance the kids school life with their home life. I think we are moving in that direction in public education but not as fast as I would like to see it happen. I don't think teachers in public education get the support they need to nurture and produce a culturally sound classroom all the time. Head Start has been around for a long time and I think for good reason. I hope they get the funding they need to keep going. I think it would be tragic if they couldn't go on because of lack of funding.
i Agree with the people that said vygotsky therory is there. Head start beleives in starting the children early into their environment and vygotsky has that theory to have the child interaction with its environment. when you start early with the child they are more likely to be able to interact with their environment because they will be comfortable due to starting early.
Just as everyone has said so far, I agree that Vygotsky is present in the Head Start model because of the focus on the environment. I also see Vygotsky's focus on the child's environment show up in Erikson's model as well. The first stage of Erikson really focuses on trust vs. mistrust, and for young children their environment can create a climate of trust or not. For a child to feel calm and comfortable in their environment they must feel safe and loved. I think Vygotsky shows up over and over in different theories because Vygotsky's focus on the environment can be related to many different situations children are placed in.
The Portage Model is similar to Head Start in that parental involvement is paramount to success in both programs. The Portage Model also focus' a lot of attention to disadvantaged groups (also similar to Head Start), specifically those with disabilities. The Eriksonian Approach mirrors the other two models because the basis is to train caregivers to create positive learning environments for young children. The Eriksonian model believes that the emotional climate of the child is just as important as the intellectual. To me, this means that if the environment is not conducive to learning, even if the curriculum is superb, all efforts to teach are in vain. Behavior Analysis models were once seen to be the complete opposite of NAEYC guidelines because NAEYC used developmentally appropriate practices.
I agree with everyone that Vygotsky theories on the importance of the child environment. Urie Bronfenbrenner is important. He’s Ecological Systems Theory can be seen in Head Start. The home and surrounding community affects the program. According to the text, “Parents are to be a integral part of the development of the local program’s curriculum and approach to the child development and education” (p. 70) also “the intent is to provide a range of individualized services that are responsive and appropriate to each child and family within a community context” (p. 68). The Portage model involves a lot of parent involvement, which incorporates modeling from the parents.
Roopnarine, J., & Johnson, J. E. (2005). Approaches to early childhood education (4th ed.). Pearson.
Head Start is what families need in order for their children to get the best education and lerning capabilities possible in regards to low income families. I do see a bit of Piaget's stages involved in regards to their instruction in their early years. They all compare as being what's best for the child but whats different is that some of the other programs I see they provide a more uplfting and positive outlook rather than getting a education. I know that might not have made since but thin about it.
I think I answered this post incorrectly....anyway, I like the general idea behind Head Start, that if you start early with children, giving them a good start in life, then they will have the same advantages of those with more resources available to them. The problems I see with a program like Head Start is that it is assuming those in the program WANT to change their lives. Perhaps I'm a bit pessimistic, but I really think there are those out there that just want to leech off the system, take what they can, and complain about how unfair life is. I'm not talking about the whole "boot-strap theory" that to get what you want in life all it takes is hard work. In the same token though, to better your life, and the lives of your children, you have to break out of the norm. You have to put in hard work to achieve greatness, nobody is handed success, it comes with work.
So to sum up, I think Head Start is a really good idea, but for it to have long lasting effects on the future, those involved have to be active participants in changing their lives for the better.
It seems to me like Erikson's stages are similar to Piaget's. Erikson does go into more detail and breaks his approach down into more stages than Piaget does. However, both Piaget's stages as well as Erikson's have multiple similarities. The development both men focus on seem to follow the same basic line. For example, Erikson's first three stages are similar to Piaget's sensorimotor stage of development.
Head Starts focuses on the influence of the family and primary caregivers on the child during the early years of life. Without this influence, children would turn out completely different than they do with the early interactions of their life. John Locke's theory of Tabula Rasa talks about children being born with a blank slate and all the interactions that the child has while growing up will influence how they will develop over the years. This theory also states that all humans are born with an innate evil and it is the parents job in contain that part of the human spirit. Head start is a great program and I do not see it going away anytime soon.
I agree with everyone who has said that Vygotsky has a large part in this program. Many theoriest focus on the interaction between child and their environment and without this influence, you would not develop properly. Every experience that people have throughout their life help to make them into the person that thwy are today. Changing one small thing in someones life can completely change how they will end up in the long run. Even the bad experiences of your life make you into a different person. Head Start believes in the influences of parents and primamry caregivers and without this interaction, children would be totally different
I like how Lori related Piaget's theories to Head Start. The Head Start program gives the child the opportunity to assimilate new information. They may not recieve this in their natural environment, like other children that have more oppurtunity at home do. Head start is important for children's cognitive development because it gets them thinking at a young age. It also allows for families to participate and learn. The only downfall is that these less fortunate children can only recieve this education through kindergarden. Hopefully the things that these children learn will stick with them throughout the years, but a child grows cognitivley past the kindergarden years.
I also feel that Maslow's hierarchy of needs comes into play with Head Start also. Although, I tend to believe it comes into play with all aspects of childhood and school. Head start helps less fortunate families and children take care of their physical needs as well as security needs and esteem needs. It can be a safe place for young children to retreat if homelife is not that great. There is health help availiable and counseling if neccassary to get young children on track for a good future.
It just seems to me that most of these models believe one of the key components to success for these kids is parent involvement and interaction. Not all parents will be as involved as we would like, but sometimes if we let them know how important they are in their child's development it might spark something inside of them to be more involved. Sometimes no matter what you do parents just don't get involved and so we have to provide the best opportunities for them to grow and learn while the kids are in our care.
Erikson's stages are similar to Piaget's sensorimotor stage of development. It seems the Eriksonian Model provides more in detail with explaining the different stages for social development and identity crisis that human beings use in their every day life.
I agree with anyone comparing the Headstart program with Vygotsky's theory. They both have a great concept in providing in detail the belief that the interaction between the child and their evironment gives a huge benefit on how they handle situations in their lives.
after hearing about the head start program and learning about i found a lot of it to be like ECI or the Portage model. Head start wants the child to feel comfortable in the suroundings and so does ECI that is why they go to the childrens homes.another simularity is that they both are good for low income families. one idfference is that ECI is for children with disabilities only where as head start is for both. Both of the programs include the parents a great amount. both of the programs are good programs that more people should know about.
I agree with everyone that suggest Vygotsky's theory present in Head Start. Working in this setting Vygotsky's theory can be seen in the classroom. There is an emphasis in making the envirnoment home like by having family style lunch, social interactions through play, and alson mix aged older peers teaching younger peers. I also see Piaget's cognitive theory because of their stress on school readiness.
I agree with everyone that said that Head Start is a great program. If the program is followed through children can benefit from the program greatly. Like explained in the presentation there had been a decrease in delinquent behavior on students that attend a Head Start program. Like the portage has home visits as those in head start.
It seems that both Headstart and the Eriksonian approach place an emphasis on basic needs of a child. Behavior analysis differs from these models in the sense that it assumes behavior originates from within and should be molded by the environment. Headstart and Eriksonian focus more on the needs to mold the environment.
Nakisha is spot-on when she points out Brofenbrenner's presence in the head start program, as it's very community focused. Also, as everyone else has mentioned, Vygotsky's theories are also evident in many of the models discussed.
I see many different theorist ideas in the head start program. I personally see Vygotsky the most. Head Start promotes interaction between children and enviroment. Head Start relies on the help of the community and local resources to make the program sucessful.
Jennifer Boyd's blog about Lockes theory was interesting. I am not familiar with Tabula Rusa but will now look into it further. I agree with what she said about children are born with a blank slate and what they experience in their early years helps to shape who they will be. I think that Head Start tries to provide posotive influences and experiences for children who may not other wise get the attention that they need.
Well, some of you girls might disagree with me, but I believe that the Head Start Program it’s a mix of so many theories put together. First of all I would like to say that I see John Bowlby’s attachment theory. I say this because as we know, the Head Starts is big on getting parents involve and to me, this influences in the type of attachment the child develops with his or her caregiver, thus affecting how well the child interacts with teacher, children and how well he or she does academically. This then takes me to think about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. I said this because I do believe children need to feel safe, and love before they develop a positive self esteem. This needs in my opinion can’t we meet if there is not attachment with someone, primarily the caregiver. After these needs then the child in my opinion is ready to learn. As many of you mentioned, Lev Vygotsky theory is definitely part of the Head Start because of their emphasis on the relationship with environment. Also I would love to mention Urie Bronfenbrenner and his ecological model for humans. I learned about this ecological model in many of my other classes and I believe this model influences the head start program because of the importance they place among the relationships among the microsystem, exosystem, and mesosystem. There are other levels but those were the one I felt were more related with the Head Start Program.
Tammy, I have to say that I completely agree with you when you mention that they key component to success for these kids is parent involvement and how they interact with their children. It is true that not knowing how much we can influence in the development of children is one of the reasons why parents are not involved as they should with children. This is why I believe we are here, to promote the involvement of parents and to teach them about things that not everyone knows. Like Tammy said, we are here to provide” the best opportunities for them to grow and learn while the kids are in our care”
I agree as well that Head start is a wonderful prograam and it is such a positive thing for struggling families. By involving the whole family, the values and tools can extend the classroom. I would be a tragedy if they lost funding. Too many families need programs such as this to build a strong foundation. It is so essential to have programs that not only teach the child but the parents as well. By improving the physical needs of children, the children are more likely to learn without that as an added stress. The portage model shows through as well. Both programs not only help the children but help the whole family by offering assistance woth resources as well as education.
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