Intro to Early Childhood Education

I am really glad that I chose to that this class, because I learned a lot of information that the Special Education did not have the time to teach us. Now after taking this class, I have decided to get a MAT in Early Childhood Education and hopefully work with "possible" special needs students (LD/ED) in the primary grades.
I want to give a special Thank You to Dr Bartel for allowing me to take this course.

My Brown Eyes

OMG, I loved this moive. Although the moive was only 18 minutes long, its message was very powerful. I can relate to the little boy in the moive, because I too am a minority student at an all white school and some times the only male in classes. I believe that the teacher did the correct thing, when she noticed that the little boy was responding. However, Dr. Robinson, the principal, should have been more interested in learning the teacher's problem before the situation gone out of control.

Tammy: The Hardworking Mother

OMG! I feel very sorry for this woman. She is doing this best that she can to provide for her family. I really respect Tammy, because she is willing work hard to provide for her family instead of taking government assistance.
However, I feel even sorrier for son because he doesn't value the hard work that his mother is doing to provide a life for him. He only sees the difference between his lifestyle and his friend's lifestyle.

Assessment Tools in my Classroom

For the past three weeks, we have beening talking about assessment tools for early childhood classroom. Before one decides on what type of assessment tools, they must remember the purpose of assessment.

• To plan instruction for individuals and/or groups of children
• To communicate with and assist learners in reflection on their own learning
• To communicate with families about individual children's progress
• To identify children and families who need specialized programs and support services
• To evaluate program quality, teaching methods

In my early childhhod classroom, I will use preformance and portfolio assessment. Preformance assessment is designed so the students create a response form their existing knowledge base. The teacher may use a variety of formats in performance assessment, including products that the students construct. This type of assessment may involve several levels of cognitive processing and reasoning and may allow educators to tap into areas not assessed by more traditional types of assessment. Portfolio assessment is a collection of student work that provides a holistic view of the student's strengths and weaknesses. The portfolio collection contains various work samples, permanent products, and test results from a variety of instruments and methods.

Time Management

Time management refers to a range of skills, tools, and techniques utilized to accomplish specific tasks, projects and goals. As a teacher, it is important to have good time management skills, becuase we have so many things to do [write lesson plans, teacher meetings, partent meetings, IEP meetings, etc]. I normally have good time management skills, but no one is perfect.

15 Time Mangement Tips
1. Write things down
2. Prioritize your list
3. Plan your week
4. Carry a notebook
5. Learn to say no
6. Think before acting
7. Continuously improve yourself
8. Think about what you are giving up to do your regular activities
9. Use a time management system
10. Identify bad habits
11. Don’t do other people’s work
12. Keep a goal journal
13. Don’t be a perfectionist
14. Beware of “filler” tasks
15. Avoid “efficiency traps”
(provided by: http://www.timethoughts.com/time-management.htm)

High/Scope Approach

The philosophy behind High/Scope is that children should be involved actively in their own learning. They learn by doing, often working with hands on materials and carrying out projects of their own choosing. The adults working with the children see themselves more as facilitators, partners than managers, or supervisors. High/Scope's approach encompasses all aspects of child development and involves teachers and parents in supporting and extending children's emotional, intellectual, social, and physical skills and abilities.
In a High/Scope school, different areas of the classroom are designated for different activities, for example water play, reading, sand play, art, writing, dramatic play, etc. Children are intended to be able to access all facilities independently and be able to take some responsibility for use of these areas.
An important part of the High/Scope approach is the plan-do-review sequence. Children first plan what materials they want to work with and what they want to do. Only once they have made a plan, however vague, of what they want to do can they go and do it. Then, after this choice worktime, the children discuss what they have been doing and whether it was successful.

Student in David's Class

DISTAR Method in First grade. DISTAR is a phonics-based reading program that was developed to help students who lagged behind their peers in language skills. Most of the program is scripted.
What does it feel like for George? George is a student that is excelling in the small group instruction. George feels smart because he can make the sounds that letters make immediately.
What does it feel like for Melaney? Melaney is a student that is not excelling in the small group instruction. Melaney most likely feels ashamed, because she cannot make the sounds that letters make immediately.