1. Diane Clark ECE 101 Week 3/Assignment
Learning Theories, Approaches, & Practices

2. Learning Approaches, Theories, and Practices
Theorists/Theories – Most connected to least connected
Learning Approaches – Most connected to least connected
1.Erikson’s Theory Of Psychosexual Development
1. Montessori
2. Vygotsky’s Theory of Sociocultural Development
2. Reggio Emilia
3. Skinner’s Theory of Operant Conditioning
3. High/Scope
4. Bandura’s Social Learning Theory
4. Creative Curriculum
5. Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development
5. Project Approach
6. Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence
6. Direct Instruction
7. Piaget’s Theory of Moral Development
8. Kolberg’s Theory of Moral Reasoning

3. Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development
Erik Erikson ( )
Is characterized in eight stages.
Also called Ages of Man
At each stage individuals are faced with a social- emotional crisis.
Each stage are either positive or negative.
Trust vs Mistrust (Hope)
Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt (Will)
Initiative vs Guilt (Purpose)
Industry vs Inferiority (Competence)
Identity vs Role Confusion (Fidelity)
Intimacy vs Isolation (Love)
Generativity vs Stagnation (Care)
Ego Integrity vs Despair (Wisdom)

4. Vygotsky’s Theory of Sociocultural Development
Lev Vygotsky did not view development in a series of stages (Estes & Krogh).
Viewed in terms of physical & social world
Individuals develop intellectually
Private speech (when young children speak their ideas aloud)
Zone of proximal development (area between present level skills and potential skills)
Scaffolding (the process of providing assistance to learners within their ZPD)

5. Learning Approaches Montessori Reggio Emilia
The Practical Life area features a home-like quality with tables large enough to accommodate small groups of children, fabric tablecloths and window curtains, fresh flowers, and framed art.
The Sensorial Learning area evolved from Montessori's belief that young children learn using their eyes to observe, their ears to listen, and their hands to touch and manipulate.
The Language area supports the four systems of communication: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
The Mathematics area fosters not only awareness of number and number concepts, but also opportunities to employ problem-solving strategies.
The Cultural Learning area encourages children to respect differences and recognize similarities among people and regions of the world.
Creativity is important in Reggio Emilia education.
Teachers observe and document daily.
All as appropriate to children's interests and needs.
Indoor and outdoor learning with materials selected and created to foster development.
Infants to preschool-age children

6. Why is it Important and How will it Benefit?
Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development
Lev Vygotsky’s Theory of Sociocultural Development
This theory is important because it will help instructors deal with individuals that are in different stages or ages.
This theory emphasized the individual’s need for social gratification and is extended to cover their whole lifespan.
(Estes & Krogh)
This theory is important because it helps children as well as adults through social interactions.
Private speech aids young children to be able to connect their inner thoughts through action.

7. Why it is important and How will it Benefit?
Montessori
Reggio Emilia
This approach shows respect for the student.
Shows self learning
Uses sensory materials
This teaching method is a benefit for the students as well as the teachers because it enhances the students ability to learn and develop new skills.
(A Tale of Five Classrooms)
Builds on the interest of students in the classroom.
Instructor is able to identify the students’ strength
Parents can collaborate with their child(ren) learning.
(A Tale of Five Classrooms)

8. How will this Help?
The Montessori theory will help because it is self motivated learning. It allows younger children to learn from older children. The Reggio Emilia theory makes it easy for a younger child with advanced skills in a particular area to be able to work at a higher level than other children of the same age.
(Estes&Krogh)

9. How will this help?
Children benefit both from engaging in self-initiated, spontaneous play and from teacher- planned and structured activities, projects, and experiences (Estes&Krogh).

10. Why is this the top II on my theory/approach list?
I chose these top two theories because they were most appeasing to me. I like the way Erikson breaks the life stages down in eight stages.
In addition Vygotsky’s theory is infamous for the scaffolding method, which is a method still used in the educational system today.
I chose these top two approaches because as an instructor I would like for my students to stay engaged in their learning experiences.
In the Reggio Emilia approach I would like for my students to show me their creative sides.
With the Montessori approach, I would love to give my students a challenge. I would like to challenge the learning skills.

11. Summary
In summarizing the theories, approaches, and practices, there are various ways to approach a classroom setting. Although the age levels may play a major role in determining such, its all about you approach. The approach that was play a big role in my future classroom setting would be the Montessori approach or maybe even the Reggio Emilia approach. These two approaches are high on my list because they stood out the most when it came to individual learning and challenging the students. Erikson’s theory breaks the entire lifespan down to eight stages; nature vs nurture being the most important one out of all.

12. References
Dodge, D. T. (2004, February). Early childhood curriculum models: Why, what, and how programs use them. Retrieved from
Estes, L.S., & Krogh, S. L. (2012). Pathways to teaching young children: An introduction to early childhood education. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Zaur, J., & Simmons, J. (2014). A tale of five classrooms [Interactivity]. Ashford University, College of Education, San Diego, CA.