Press Release
A Look at an Early Childhood Professional in Today’s Society
As an early childhood teacher, I wear many hats. As a new teacher, I have to remember that my job description may change on a daily basis. So being a professional goes beyond academic degrees and experiences. Professionalism in early childhood education is based on six National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards for professional development. All six standards listed below are essential for your professional development:
1. Promoting child development and learning
2. Building family and community relationships
3. Observing, documenting, and assessing to support young children and families
4. Using developmentally effective approaches to connect with children and families
5. Using content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum
6. Becoming a professional (Morrison, 2014)
Many educators have become wary of standards and with good reason. It seems that all some standards do is constrict learning and have a one-size-fits-all mentality. But standards can also be visionary and empowering, for children and professionals alike. NAEYC is hoping its standards for professional preparation can provide something more valuable than a list of rules for programs to follow (Hyson, 2008).
By applying these standards to my work, it will offer me a framework to become an excellent teacher who is a decision maker, engaged in a continuous interplay of theory, research, and practice.
Early Childhood Education Background
How did early childhood begin? Where did our ideas about early childhood education come from? Below are listed some of the founders of early childhood education and their theories and/or approaches. They are still alive and well in our classrooms today!
1. Friedrich Froebel - Founder of the First Kindergarten
2. John Dewey - Father of Pragmatism
3. Maria Montessori – a Sensory Approach to Learning (Wilson, 2000, p...