D History1 The History of Early Childhood Education The History of Early Childhood Education

Who are you? How did you grow to become the unique person you are today?

D History3 What do you remember about your childhood? n Earliest memory n Memory you expect to keep throughout life

D History4 Other Memories... n Most embarrassing moment? n Happiest experience? n Scariest experience?

D History5 The Importance of History n Why is it important to know about the history of early childhood education?

D History6 Knowing about ECE History n Provides a sense of support and perspective n Serves as a source of inspiration n Helps teachers develop creative expression n Helps teachers develop better methods of teaching n Creates awareness and understanding of changes in education n Helps individuals get in touch with their own early childhood experiences n Helps individuals develop a philosophy of teaching

D History7 Many people have contributed to our understanding of child development …

D History8 John Locke Tabula rasa n Founder of modern educational philosophy n Theory based on scientific method, study of mind and learning n Believed that each child is born with a “clean slate” (tabula rasa) on which their experiences are written

D History9 Environmentalism The environment, not innate characteristics, determines what children will become The environment forms the mind

10 Your Views - John Locke n What do Locke’s beliefs and his work mean to you? n What do you think about his “clean slate” theory?

D History11 Friedrich Froebel Coined the word kindergarten Started the first kindergarten in Germany in 1837 Emphasized teacher-directed learning Advocated freedom, initiative, and relevant curriculum

D History12 Friedrich Froebel --- Father of the Kindergarten  In German, the word kindergarten means “children’s garden.”  Association between flower buds opening and children going through a natural unfolding process

D History13 Your Views – Friedrich Froebel n What do Froebel’s beliefs and his work mean to you? n What do you remember about being in kindergarten? n Did your kindergarten experiences affect the person you are today?

D History14 Sigmund Freud A child’s personality develops through a predictable pattern of psychosexual stages. Many emotional and psychological problems of adults are connected to how their parents and care providers met their basic needs as children.

D History15 The Id, the Ego, and the Superego – Sigmund Freud

D History16 Your Views – Sigmund Freud n What do Freud’s beliefs and his work mean to you? n How well were your needs met as a child?

D History17 John Dewey First real American influence on American education Founder of progressive movement His theory = progressivism Advocated child-centered learning in groups

D History18 Dewey’s Pedagogic Creed “Education, therefore, is a process of living and not a preparation for future living.” - John Dewey

D History19 Your Views - John Dewey n How much of education do you believe is preparation for future living, and how much is the actual process of living? n Do you feel that learning should be centered around the subject or around the child?

D History20 Margaret McMillan Margaret and her sister Rachel extended concern beyond education to medical and dental care for children Created open-air nursery in a slum Developed the McMillan theory of fresh air, sleep, and bathing

D History21 The McMillan Sisters n Margaret and Rachel McMillan crusaded to improve child care in English slums. n Many people credit the creation of nursery schools to these sisters. n Margaret created the name nursery school --- nursery to focus on the goal of nurturing good health, and school to focus on educating young children.

D History22 Your Views – Margaret McMillan n How important are fresh air, sleep, and bathing to the health and well- being of children? n Have you ever known a situation where a child did not receive adequate physical care? What were the results?

D History23 Rudolph Steiner Founded Waldorf Schools Interdisciplinary, multi- sensory curriculum with emphasis on the arts Emphasized the whole child; begin where the learner is. Promoted self-regulation and self-discipline

D History24 Rudolph Steiner n Steiner believed that experiences for young children need to be carefully selected. He believed that fairy tales helped them learn important truths. n Modern-day followers of Waldorf philosophy believe that TV-viewing for children should be limited.

D History25 Your Views – Rudolph Steiner n What are your views on children and television?

D History26 Patty Hill Founded the National Association for the Education of Young Children Originated large-muscle equipment and materials for climbing and construction. Wrote the song “Happy Birthday”

D History27 Patty Hill n n Her ideas about unifying kindergarten and first-grade work became the focus of modern kindergarten practice.

D History28 Your Views – Patty Hill n Do you believe it is important for kindergarten and first-grade learning experiences to be unified?

D History29 Maria Montessori Education begins at birth The early years are very important as children go through “sensitive periods.” Their curiosity makes them ready to learn certain things at certain times. Goals of education: the formation of the child and development of character Child copies reality, rather than constructs it.

D History30 Maria Montessori n n Elements of early childhood programs that are attributed to Montessori: – –A prepared environment (the teacher’s responsibility) – –Self-correcting and sequential materials (usually tactile-touch) – –Teaching based on observation – –Trust in children’s inborn drive to learn

D History31 Your Views – Montessori n Which of Maria Montessori’s philosophies ring true for you? n Were you ever enrolled in a Montessori school as a child, or have you ever visited one?

D History32 Lev Vygotsky Focuses on the child as a whole Incorporates culture and values into child development Sociocultural Theory: A child’s development is influenced by more than personal experiences

D History33 Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory n Important influences on a child’s development include –Family –Community –Socioeconomic status –Culture

D History34 Sociocultural Theory- Implications for Teachers 1. Incorporate each child’s family and culture into the school. 2. The relationship between teacher and child is very important to learning. 3. Use the tools of the society to help children learn. 4. Play is an important part of learning. 5. It’s very important to note individual differences among learners.

D History35 Lev Vygotsky n n Zone of proximal development (ZPD) (the distance between the actual developmental level and the level of potential development) (the distance between the actual developmental level and the level of potential development)

D History36 Your View – Vygotsky n Can you think of an area of skill in which your ZPD is large --- that is, the distance between your actual level of skill and your potential skill level is very great? “You have a long way to go!” “You have a long way to go!”

D History37 Loris Malaguzzi Founded Reggio Emilia Schools Schools have teachers, a pedagogista, and an aterlierista All children capable of learning Children construct their own learning Documenting children’s work is essential for success of the program

D History38 Loris Malaguzzi n n The family and community are important parts of the “amiable school.”

D History39 Your Views – Malaguzzi n What do you think should be the role of the family in an early childhood classroom? n The role of the community?

D History40 Imagine what our world would have been like without... n Kindergarten n Nursery school n Montessori schools n Child-centered learning n Medical/dental care for children?

D History41 What do you think the contributions of these leaders will mean to you as you work with young children?

Stay tuned for more... Objective 3.01 Recognize the importance of and contributions of leaders in the history of early childhood education.