NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8

Critical Issues Reducing the learning gap and increasing the achievement of all children. Creating improved, better connected education for preschool and elementary children. Recognizing teacher knowledge and decision making as vital to educational effectiveness.

Reducing learning gaps and increasing achievement for all children 3 specific subgroups of children in the U.S. lag behind their peers: 1_______ 2_______ 3_______ Prime differences: 1_________ 2________ Part of larger concern: _________________ Action: Learning standards Action: Child outcomes framework

Creating improved, better connected education for preschool and elementary children Mandated accountability requirements. Increased publicly funded early childhood experiences. Alignment is critical – but should not be simplifying for younger children – but should be based on children’s development Concerns: 1__________ 2_________ 3___________4__________5________ 6___________ Together teachers must ensure _____________

Recognizing teacher knowledge and decision making as vital to the educational process Teacher preparation in child development Teachers know the children in their classroom as a group and individually 1_______________2________________ 3________________ Expert decision making requires that teachers have: To make sound instructional decisions teachers need: 1 ________________2________________ In summary, good teaching requires:

Research 4 Domains: PIES Learning Goals 1_________ 2_______ 3__________ Proven practices 1_________ 2__________ 3________ Research about teachers Knowledge about____________ Repertoire of______________

Core Considerations Knowledge to consider in making decisions 1___________ 2_______ 3 ___________ Challenging and achievable goals for acquiring skills, abilities or knowledge – stretch, mastery and set new goals Teachers are INTENTIONAL 1__________ 2_________ 3__________ 4_________ 5_________ 6_________

Principles of child development Not based on what we _________ be true nor on what we _______ about young children. Developmentally appropriate practice is informed by what we know from___________ Just as all domains of development and learning are ____________, All principles _____________

Principle #1 All domains of development and learning are important and they are closely interrelated.

Principle #2 Aspects of children’s learning follow well documented sequences.

Principal #3 Development and learning proceed at different rates

Principle #4 Development and learning result from interaction of biological maturation and experience

Principle #5 Early experiences have a profound effects on development and learning AND optimal periods exist for certain types of development and learning.

Principle #6 Development proceeds toward greater complexity, self-regulation, and symbolic or representational capacities

Principle #7 Children develop best when they have secure, consistent relationships with responsive adults and opportunities for positive relationships with peers.

Principle #8 Development and learning occur in and are influenced by multiple social and cultural contexts.

Principle #9 Children learn in a variety of ways: a wide range of teaching strategies and interactions are effective

Principle #10 Play is an important vehicle for developing self regulation as well as for promoting language, cognition, and social competence.

Principle #11 Development and learning advance when children are challenged to achieve at a level just beyond their current mastery, and also when they have opportunities to practice newly acquired skills.

Principle # 12 Children’s experiences shape their motivation and approaches to learning, such as persistence, initiative, and flexibility; in turn, these dispositions and behaviors affect their learning and development.

Guidelines for developmentally appropriate practice. Creating a caring community of learners Teaching to enhance development and learning Planning curriculum to achieve important goals Assessing children’s development and learning Establishing reciprocal relationships with families.