Shaping Early Childhood: Learners, Curriculum and Contexts

Front Cover
McGraw-Hill Education (UK), Dec 16, 2003 - Education - 368 pages
"This should be essential reading for anyone involved in the training and professional development of early years practitioners... It is an impressive analysis of the historical and contemporary 'big ideas' that have influenced societies ' and practitioners' views of children and the nature of the curriculum.

There are powerful sections on parents and communities ... I particularly liked the stimulating 'ideas galleries' with their statements from researchers, policy-makers and practitioners around the world."
 Nursery World, October 2004

This key textbook introduces students and practitioners to a wide range of different approaches to early childhood. It provides practical strategies for developing and implementing early learning experiences that promote excellence and equity for children.

The book presents the latest research and thinking about good practice, discusses how various philosophies and beliefs influence decisions in early childhood education, and identifies the key thinkers behind each approach. By examining different perspectives, the book helps early childhood practitioners to navigate their way through competing views, make informed choices, and be critically reflective in their work.

In an accessible, lively and user-friendly way, it explores issues such as:

  • What constitutes an appropriate early childhood curriculum
  • How best to study and assess children
  • Involving parents and children in early childhood learning
The book features a range of pedagogical devices to inspire early childhood workers to reflect critically on their work and the ideas underpinning it, including:
  • Boxed definitions of key terms
  • Ideas summary charts and ideas galleries
  • Clarification exercises
  • Case studies
  • Further reading lists
This essential textbook is ideal for students undertaking early childhood qualifications at degree level, Masters courses in early childhood education, and for practitioners who work with children from birth to eight in early childhood settings.
 

Selected pages

Contents

Introduction
1
Part One Models of the learner
7
Part Two Positions on the early childhood curriculum
111
Part Three Curriculum contexts
245
References
320
Index
341
Back cover
353
Copyright

Common terms and phrases

achieve action activities adults allow approach appropriate areas argued assessment Australian become behaviour believe build centre challenge chapter child children learn concerns conforming construct create critical critical reflection culture developmental discourses diversity early childhood curriculum early childhood education effects environment equity example experiences explore families feel feminist gender girls goals happens ideas implications important individual influence instance interaction interests involved issues knowledge language learner lives look materials meanings models nature objective observation offer outcomes parents particular person perspectives planning play political position possibilities practice professional programme questions reading reflect reforming relations relationships role sense share skills social society space specific staff stories structures teachers teaching theory thinking traditional transforming truth understandings values young children

References to this book

About the author (2003)

Dr.Glenda Mac Naughton has worked in the early childhood field for nearly 30 years. She is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne, where she established and now directs the Centre for Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood. Her years in early childhood have included work across all sectors as a practitioner and a manager and she has been a senior policy advisor to government in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Bibliographic information

TitleShaping Early Childhood: Learners, Curriculum and Contexts
UK Higher Education OUP Humanities & Social Sciences Education OUP
AuthorGlenda Mac Naughton
PublisherMcGraw-Hill Education (UK), 2003
ISBN0335226280, 9780335226283
Length368 pages
Subjects ›  ›  › 

Education / General
Education / Schools / Levels / Early Childhood (incl. Preschool & Kindergarten)
  
Export CitationBiBTeX EndNote RefMan