Theory
When it comes to my beliefs, I believe all children learn differently and not all at the same pace. Where one child might learn their colors within a week it might take another child a month or longer to catch on to the same material. Also, being a teacher I feel you should evaluate yourself and ask yourself is it me why they’re not catching on? Do I need to change my learning approach? What more can I offer for them to succeed?
The two theories I most connected with is Jean Piaget Cognitive Development and Erik Erikson theory of Psychosocial Development. Piaget believed that through time and experience children grow and learn through experimentation. In addition, Erik Erikson believed that for a child to learn they need to know they can trust you and that they feel comfortable around you.
Approach to Teaching
The teaching approach I align with the most is the Creative Curriculum. The Creative Curriculum helps educators to create high quality programs that meet the unique needs of the children and families they serve (Teaching Strategies. 2002-2014). The Creative Curriculum is designed to help children in so many ways. For example, in one area (blocks) you introduce the different shapes of blocks, colors, comparison (big or little), ask opened ended questions such as: how many blocks can you stack before it falls? This way you are still teaching them but making it interesting for them to want to learn. As an educator, I believe this learning approach is effective because we are meeting the children needs of early learning standards day to day while being able to bring our own creativity into the lessons for the children to better their development (“Teaching Strategies”, 2013).
Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)
Developmentally Appropriate Practice is a resource that helps educators have a better understanding of where children should be. Also, DAP is a resource that gives educators an opportunity to observe the child during the program to find out what they are interested in, how to build on their interest and what more can we add to enhance their development.
When it comes to my beliefs, I believe all children learn differently and not all at the same pace. Where one child might learn their colors within a week it might take another child a month or longer to catch on to the same material. Also, being a teacher I feel you should evaluate yourself and ask yourself is it me why they’re not catching on? Do I need to change my learning approach? What more can I offer for them to succeed?
The two theories I most connected with is Jean Piaget Cognitive Development and Erik Erikson theory of Psychosocial Development. Piaget believed that through time and experience children grow and learn through experimentation. In addition, Erik Erikson believed that for a child to learn they need to know they can trust you and that they feel comfortable around you.
Approach to Teaching
The teaching approach I align with the most is the Creative Curriculum. The Creative Curriculum helps educators to create high quality programs that meet the unique needs of the children and families they serve (Teaching Strategies. 2002-2014). The Creative Curriculum is designed to help children in so many ways. For example, in one area (blocks) you introduce the different shapes of blocks, colors, comparison (big or little), ask opened ended questions such as: how many blocks can you stack before it falls? This way you are still teaching them but making it interesting for them to want to learn. As an educator, I believe this learning approach is effective because we are meeting the children needs of early learning standards day to day while being able to bring our own creativity into the lessons for the children to better their development (“Teaching Strategies”, 2013).
Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)
Developmentally Appropriate Practice is a resource that helps educators have a better understanding of where children should be. Also, DAP is a resource that gives educators an opportunity to observe the child during the program to find out what they are interested in, how to build on their interest and what more can we add to enhance their development.