Enhancing Early Childhood Education: A Personal Philosophy Statement

Personal Philosophy Statement

The Right to education and the right to pursue the course of interests of the children helps to take effective steps to bring in changes in the education systems. I believe that the children must be given the chance to choose from their interests, which will be helping them to inculcate positive learning experiences. According to me, the chief function of the early childhood educator (ECE) is to ensure that the children find their most proffered pathway and thereby bring in progression in the academic fields. The view of Reggio Emilio clearly portrays that the children must be given a chance to choose their viable subjects as it will be helping the same to maintain positive growth in their processes (Hewett, 2001). Therefore, I believe that the four elements that will be helping to enhance the learning experience of the children are being discussed in this section of the report.

Setting the goals for the children helps in providing the same with a vast scope of opportunities for growth and achievement. McLeod and Bleile, (2004) stated that the enumeration of the goals for the children helps in delivering them with a purpose for undertaking the specific educational activities. The identification of the purpose for education helps the children in understanding the value for the education they receive and the manner in which they can implement the same on their academics. The setting of the goal helps in the effective growth of the children in the academic fields. It also helps the children in identifying the future aspects of the education they undertake. The enumeration of the goals helps in maintaining the competency of the early year childhood gains. While acting as an early life educator for the children I must take steps to make the education more competitive to enhance the education systems through the enumeration of both short and long term goal setting for the young. goal setting also influences the curriculum and its smooth functioning depending on the needs of the children.

Focusing on the needs of the children helps in identifying the different skills that are inherent in the children and thereby guiding the same to bring in improvements in the set of skills. The identification of the specific needs of the children through the preferences of the same will be helping me to formulate a proper curriculum for the kids. It will be helping me to redesign the different aspects of the curriculum and thereby incorporate different factors that will adhere to the needs of the children.  Identifying the issues that are faced by the children helps the early life educator to formulate strategies to undertake steps to bring in changes in the curriculum. Issues like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD) affects the natural responses of the children and it is responsibility of the early life educator to identify the issues to plan the curriculum that sits the purpose of the children(Dale, 2008). On the other hand, the interest of the children is again another factor that is required to be processed by the early childhood educator to adhere to the changes in the curriculum based on the identification of the interest of the children. I believe that I have the capability of understanding the needs of the children and thereby formulate strategies to bring in change in the education systems.

Setting goals for children

The participation of the children in the education process is a crucial step that is required to be taken by the educator. The involvement of the children in the processes helps in maintaining the different aspects of the change in the curriculum. the children must be included in the decision making process as it will be helping to enhance the involvement of the same in the processes that are planned by the educator. I believe that the participation of the kids in the processes of education helps in boosting their self-confidence and security. School is a centre that helps in boosting the child’s mental growth and maturity through the interchange of ideas and thoughts. Involvement of the students is an enriching activity that is undertaken by the educator to bring in efficiency in the educational processes (Wien, 2015). Development of internal motivation and guidance helps in maintaining the efficiency of the functions of the module that is adapted by the educator. I believe that the empowerment of the children can be undertaken through the active participation of the same in the activities through innovative experiences, which helps in leaving a everlasting trail on the lives of children in my care.

References

Dale, N., 2008. Working with families of children with special needs: Partnership and practice.Routledge.

Hewett, V.M., 2001. Examining the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. Early Childhood Education Journal, 29(2), pp.95-100.

McLeod, S. and Bleile, K., 2004. The ICF: A framework for setting goals for children with speech impairment. Child Language Teaching and Therapy, 20(3), pp.199-219.

Wien, C.A., 2015. Emergent curriculum in the primary classroom: Interpreting the Reggio Emilia approach in schools. Teachers College Press.

The differences in the approach to teaching are dependent on the functioning of the early childhood educators and the manner in which they evaluate the needs of the students. The teaching method is developed through the study of different resources and the study of the philosophical contexts that fits into the systems of educating the children more efficiently. The identification of the different flaws in the previous curriculums helps in identifying the key issues and thereby bring in changes in the systems. The three examples of pedagogical approaches include the Reggio Emilio Approach, the Montessori Method, and the High/Scope Approach.

Activity	Daily routine
	Introduction of the students with one another helps in integrating the class
	Encouraging the engagement of the students by asking the same to share their intro to make the class aware of the fellow class mates Students also demonstrate art work. Tutor introduces themselves in the snack sessions to make them identify themselves
	Introduction of new ideas and activities to the children Teacher involves students to teach them of the discipline and ethics Tutor facilitates interaction between the students to improve their communication ability

The Montessori style of education created by Dr. Montessori is a method of child education, which is based on scientific observation and reasoning of the growth process. the method that was applied by Dr. Montessori’s approach is being tested in the different modules and thereby has brought about changes in the systems of education.  the identification of the approach helps the teacher in providing the students with the best classroom atmosphere that will be helping to enhance the studying abilities through enumeration of a sense of order, independence, and freedom without limits (Giovannini, 2000).

1. How the Willow Oak Montessori curriculum reflects on my personal standpoint of the child and educators.

The Willow Oak Montessori approach helps me to understand the different aspects of the change in the educational environment that helps in the inducing efficient learning attributes based on the identification of the needs of the students.

1. How individual and group strengths, interests and goals in conjunction with the Framework’s Learning Outcomes are planned for

Focusing on children needs

The Willow Oak Montessori Method helps in maintaining the different roles to the students through breaking them down in multi-ageing groups. The elder students are given the post of leadership (Cossentino, 2005). It has helped in maintaining the proper functioning of the educational systems. The different bonds that are shared by the educators and the students are based on the identification of the needs of the students and the manner in which the learning cycles are enhanced. The proper enumeration of the classroom environment helps in maintaining the different levels of change in the systems and the functioning of the students (Sobe, 2004).

1. How the curriculum planning format records each child’s participation in the program and the opportunity for children and family to comment on and provide feedback about the curriculum. How families and children can actively contribute to future planning in order to support the learning, development and interests of the children.

The curriculum that is devised by the Willow Oak Montessori education helps teachers to observe the children during work and play and thereby record their interactions. It helps th4e teachers to understand the psychologies of the students. On the other hand, the active participation of the families helps in bringing in changes in the schedule of the children through the better understanding of the children and their capabilities. The active participation of the parents helps to bring in changes in the systems that are undertaken by the Montessori teachers (Elkind, 2003). 

1. How the program format is accessible, flexible, easy to use and interpret by staff and families.

The respect of the youngsters and the understanding of their needs relating to education is facilitated through the understanding of the needs of the children and thereby devising strategies to bring in changes in the systems.

1. How documented assessment and critical reflection and evaluation by educators is included. Does it include what children know, say and can do? Is there evidence that shows how this assessment/evaluation leads to future curriculum decision making that extends children’s learning?

Documentation of the child’s experiences helps in maintaining the different levels of change in the curriculum that helps the teachers to bring in changes in the systems of education.

1. The High/Scope Approach

The HighScope approach is based on the assumption of the involvement of the students in the learning practices and the manner in which the practices helps to enumerate learning materials, ideas, and people.

Example of a daily curriculum plan for Alderwood Early childhood Centre

Activity	Daily routine
Greeting Time	Asking the students to pick a color as they enter the class Segmentation of the children based on their choice of color
Planning time	Segmentation of the children in groups and thereby introducing them to the value of sharing The instructor asks the students to hold hands which symbolizes the cooperative action of the students
Work time	Teacher involves the students through different toys that helps in enumerating the formal learning discourse Empathy of the teacher helps in the identification of the issues that are faced by the students

Analysis

1. How the format reflects or does not reflect your view of the child and educator

I find the HighScope idea to be contradicting with my philosophy as the idea portrays light on the materials that will be helping to bring in changes in the educational systems whereas my philosophy focuses on the goal centric approach that helps in the progression of the students.

1. How individual and group strengths, interests and goals in conjunction with the Framework’s Learning Outcomes are planned for.

The constructivist theory helps in delineating the fact that interactions helps in the better identification of the issues and thereby bring in changes in the educational systems. However, the HighScope approach is aimed at understanding learning attribute rather than teaching.  

1. How the curriculum planning format records each child’s participation in the program and the opportunity for children and family to comment on and provide feedback about the curriculum. How families and children can actively contribute to future planning in order to support the learning, development and interests of the children.

The daily observation of the kid’s improvements is facilitated through the KDI’s which helps in the identification of the issues that is faced by the students and the manner in which they can be outnumbered. It helps in the proper identification of the change needs in the educational systems.

1.  How the program format is accessible, flexible, easy to use and interpret by staff and families.

Parents and families must take part in the different activities of children as it helps in maintaining the proper progression of the children in the education problem. The education program is accessible to the parents to bring in changes in the systems of the children’s education.  

1.  How documented assessment and critical reflection and evaluation by educators is included. Does it include what children know, say and can do? Is there evidence that shows how this assessment/evaluation leads to future curriculum decision making that extends children’s learning?

The welcome packets has helped in integrating the interest of the parents and bring in changes in the education systems through the identification of the needs of the students through subtle observations. it helps in maintaining the different levels of change in the education systems. 

1. Reggio Emilio Approach

Encouraging children participation

Reggio Emilio principle breakdown for Parkview children’s center

Principle	Breakdown
Child’s image	The student’s right to choose their own interests The students are a source of inspiration and strength
Children’ relationships and interactions	Undertaking conversations with parents during group activities
Parent’s role	Open door policy helps in undertaking steps to engage the parents of the students to involve themselves
Classroom environment	Well organized shelves helps students to find learning materials at ease.

Analysis

1. How the format reflects or does not reflect your view of the child and educator.

The approach reflects my understanding of the teacher’s role  which helps in maintaining the goal oriented functioning of the students.

1. How individual and group strengths, interests and goals in conjunction with the Framework’s Learning Outcomes are planned for.

 The enumeration of the social teamwork, as per the approach helps in maintaining the different aspects of changes in the educational frameworks.

1. How the curriculum planning format records each child’s participation in the program and the opportunity for children and family to comment on and provide feedback about the curriculum. How families and children can actively contribute to future planning in order to support the learning, development and interests of the children.

The observation of the teachers helps in maintaining the different levels of change in the systems of the learning attributes. it helps in identifying the issues that are faced by the children and thereby bring in strategies to mitigate.

1. How the program format is accessible, flexible, easy to use and interpret by staff and families.

Parents contribute to the approach through providing their views with the teachers for making them better understand the psychologies of the students. It will be helping the teacher to bring in strategic changes in the systems.

1.   How documented assessment and critical reflection and evaluation by educators is included. Does it include what children know, say and can do? Is there evidence that shows how this assessment/evaluation leads to future curriculum decision making that extends children’s learning?

The Reggio-Emilio curriculum documents is based on the identification of the child centric philosophies through interactions with the same. Documentation of the child psychologies and observations of the same has helped in maintaining the different levels of change in the education systems.   

Proposed curriculum planning format implemented across a five day learning period.

The proposed curriculum is a philosophy designed for preschool and primary education. The pedagogical technique bases its assumption based on the views of self-expression, active learning, class arrangement, daily schedule, and assessment.

Day	Activities
	Self-expression	Dynamic learning	Class arrangement	Daily schedule	Assessment
1.	Teacher asks students to introduce themselves	Tutors introduce children to the learning modules.	Arrangement of materials to ensure that the students find the study materials	Tutor draws up an evaluation manual depending on the level of interaction with the students	Observation of student behavior
2.	Teaching the proper communication methods to the students	Picking up learning materials	The teachers provide teaching materials to the kids.	Usage of presentations and charts for making the topic more viable to the students	Correction of the mistakes done by the students
3.	Children learn the manner in which communication on paper can be promoted	Children engage in group activities	Identification of the learning capabilities of the children	Children watch educational film to enhance their understanding	Children interactions
4.	Identification of the needs of the students through interactions	Children engage in practical skills	Testing the children	Children go for an educational field trip.	Teachers through photographs document

Self-expression

Self expression is a method where the teacher encourages students to involve in interactions with the peers where the teacher uses less off hands-off tutoring and more off explanatory teaching which helps students to communicate with one another.

The dynamic learning principle helps in identifying the responsibility of the students to engage themselves in the learning and thereby assess in the manner in which the learning can be more efficient. It helps in the proper functioning of the education systems through the active participation of the students and the teachers in the process.

The class arrangement and the equipments functions like props which helps in maintaining the extensive learning attributes of the students in the context. The key elements of the change is based on the following factors:

•    Child  interests (for instance kindergarten kids are fascinated by art, housekeeping, or blocks.
•    Enumerating different Opportunities for supporting concepts and skills and practical use of those abilities
•    Teachers choose materials on the basis of encouragement

The daily scheduling helps in undertaking the plan-do-appraisal, which helps in the proper functioning of the educational aspects of the change in the structure and the functioning of the education systems. It helps the teachers to enumerate plans for the children and thereby lookout for its implementation and afterwards it analyzes the results of their operations. Assessment

Teachers record unusual behaviors, statements, and things that help them to comprehend a child’s way of thought and learning. Teachers make use of twofold mechanisms to assist them in compile data, portfolio and important experiences note form. This curriculum’s observation record is further used to evaluate children’s development.

1.    How the format reflects or does not reflect your view of the child and educator.

I believe that the involvement of the students in the particular activities will be helping the teachers to understand the different aspects of the change in the systems of education and  thereby bring in modifications in the same. It reflects the model that I might apply for my students.

1.    How individual and group strengths, interests and goals in conjunction with the Framework’s Learning Outcomes are planned for.

As per my personal philosophy and the attributes of dynamic learning children are to an extent responsible for their education. Education is dependent on the curriculum plan where instructors  provide learning materials to children and observe the manner in which they utilize the same.  

1.    How the curriculum planning format records each child’s participation in the program and the opportunity for children and family to comment on and provide feedback about the curriculum. How parents and children can actively contribute to future planning to support the learning, development, and interests of the children.

Curriculum Approaches

My curriculum plan is based on the valuation of the need of the students and thereby delivering them with the same to enhance their educational experience.

1.    How the program format is accessible, flexible, easy to use and interpret by staff and families.

The involvement of the parents in the educational structure helps in identifying the capabilities of the students and thereby brings in modifications in the systems of education. It helps in maintaining the steady performance of the students and their progression.

1.    How documented assessment and critical reflection and evaluation by educators is included. Does it include what children know, say and can do? Is there evidence that shows how this assessment/evaluation leads to future curriculum decision making that extends children’s learning?

Documentation of child behavior helps in identifying the issues faced by the child and thereby formulate strategies to mitigate the same to bring in efficiency in the functioning.

References

Cossentino, J., 2005. Ritualizing expertise: A non-Montessorian view of the Montessori method. American Journal of Education, 111(2), pp.211-244.

Cox, M.V. and Rowlands, A., 2000. The effect of three different educational approaches on children’s drawing ability: Steiner, Montessori and traditional. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 70(4), pp.485-503.

Elkind, D., 2003. Montessori and constructivism. Montessori life, 15(1), p.26.

Giovannini, J., 2000. The Montessori Method. Architecture, 89(6), pp.116-121.

Sobe, N.W., 2004. Challenging the gaze: The subject of attention and a 1915 Montessori demonstration classroom. Educational Theory, 54(3), pp.281-297.

Developing a learning curriculum that incorporates children from Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders people

The education and healthcare of the Aboriginal people are often hampered through the different racist policies and statutes. It has affected the livelihood of the people living in the external regions. MacNaughton and Hughes, (2007) stated that the inclusion of the different early childhood learning programs will be helping the communities to grow and thereby bring forth changes in the lifestyle. The programs will be helping the community to take part in the different functions that are planned by the government to ring in changes in the nation.  The Educators Guide to National Quality Standards for Australia helps in identification of the different cultures that are inherent among the Aboriginal communities (Sumseon et al., 2009). The HighScope method portrayed an improvement in the learning attributes of the children from underprivileged backgrounds in US. The introduction of quality education to the children has helped in maintaining the balance in their growth and development as responsible citizens of the nation (Currie, 2001).

The development of the early childhood curriculum for children from Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders people helps in the identification of the position of the Native Australians, which is affected by exploitation and colonization. The cultural competence that is portrayed in Early Years Learning Framework for Australians requires knowledge, skills, and attitude to cope in various situations of the deficiencies that are faced by the indigenous communities (Vinson, 2009). The different aspects of the change in the educational systems are dependent on the factors of not offending the cultures and the heritages of the communities while offering the improved healthcare and educational practices. It has helped in the assimilation of the different political interferences in the functioning of the education systems while operating as per the needs of the aboriginals. Australian Institute of Family Studies (2011) offers the different contradictions to the beliefs as it highlights the following points:

•    The non-aboriginal teachers must have a knowledge of the different cultures of the aboriginal children to facilitate the best practice of providing proper education.
•    Diversity management is again a consideration that must be taken by the teachers in order to work with the diversity in the culture of the students without affecting the different aspects of the sentiments

The transforming nature of education has helped in identifying the issues that are faced by the aboriginal people and the manner in which strategies can be formulated top bring in changes in the approach of teaching (Neegan, 2005).

Respect	Respecting the beliefs and the cultures of the aboriginal people (Battiste, 2002).
Love	Demonstrating of the faith that the Aboriginal students also can prosper through the proper execution of the education systems (Castagno, 2008)
Truth	Development of result based teaching which will be portraying the success of the students who have attained education in the programs  (Aikenhead, 2001)

References

Aikenhead, G., 2001. Integrating Western and Aboriginal sciences: Cross-cultural science teaching. Research in Science Education, 31(3), pp.337-355.

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF FAMILY STUDIES, INFORMIT, & RMIT PUBLISHING.(2011). Families & society collection.Melbourne, Vic., Australia, RMIT Pub.

Battiste, M., 2002. Indigenous knowledge and pedagogy in First Nations education: A literature review with recommendations. Ottawa: Apamuwek Institute.

Castagno, A.E. and Brayboy, B.M.J., 2008. Culturally responsive schooling for Indigenous youth: A review of the literature. Review of Educational Research, 78(4), pp.941-993.

Currie, J., 2001.Early childhood education programs. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 15(2), pp.213-238.

MacNaughton, G. and Hughes, P., 2007. Teaching respect for cultural diversity in Australian early childhood programs: A challenge for professional learning. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 5(2), pp.189-204.

Neegan, E., 2005. Excuse me: Who are the first peoples of Canada? A historical analysis of Aboriginal education in Canada then and now. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 9(1), pp.3-15.

Sumsion, J., Barnes, S., Cheeseman, S., Harrison, L., Kennedy, A. and Stonehouse, A., 2009. Insider perspectives on developing belonging, being & becoming: The early years learning framework for Australia. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 34(4), pp.4-14.

Vinson, T., 2009. The origins, meaning, definition and economic implications of the concept social inclusion/exclusion: incorporating the core indicators developed by the European Union and other illustrative indicators that could identify and monitor social exclusion in Australia. Canberra: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.