Exam 1

Question 1

Family Interactions-

Answer 1

• Parents are Experts on their own children
• Most important element of child’s life is their family
• Instructors are to view parents as Equal Partners
• Instructors are to utilize families as resources
• • • As they can provide insight on child’s ability & maintenance of skills
• Communication is Key! Do it frequently

Question 2

Purposes of Communication-

Answer 2

• Exchanging valuable information
• Easing family concerns- they get to know you
• Establishes relationship/trust/confidence
• Educates parents on care for child at home

Question 3

Guidelines for Communication-

Answer 3

• Consider Purpose of communication
• Consider parent perspective. Considerate of how they’ll take the news; context.
• Relay positive information Frequently as this eases relay of negative information.
• Choose appropriate form of communication.

Question 4

Forms of Communication-

Answer 4

Face-to-face vs. Written

Question 5

Forms of face-to-face communication-

Answer 5

Daily conversation | Conferences | Group meetings & Social gatherings | Home Visits

Question 6

Conversation tid-bits-

Answer 6

Should be frequent, if not daily. Call parents by Name.

Question 7

Conference tid-bits-

Answer 7

Schedule meetings when things are going well as this eases delivery when things aren’t so good.

Question 8

Home visit tid-bits-

Answer 8

Could be intimidating to the parents. Exciting for child; gets to show off family, room, toys, etc.

Question 9

What age group does Early Childhood Education encompass?

Answer 9

Birth-8 years

Question 10

Child-Centered Programs-

Answer 10

• Children are allowed to make Choices
• Guidelines are Clear
• Activities are well thought out, planned to Meet Child’s Needs
• Environments are Sensitive to Cultural & Family backgrounds
• Adults are Consistent (turnover rate) & Loving

Question 11

What age groups does ECE serve?

Answer 11

Infants & toddlers (Under 3 y/o)
  -  Fastest growing age group
Pre-schoolers (3-5)
  -  Largest group
Kindergartners (5-7)
  -  Are not required to unroll until 7
Children in Primary Care Grades (8 or older)

Question 12

What are some of the reasons ECE has grown?

Answer 12

• Economy: Growing gap of economic inequality (Invest in children. You will see an ROI)
• Family Life: In 1950, 12% of mothers were in the work force. In 2008, 61% (Family composition also plays role- dad out of the picture?)
• Research Knowledge: Research shows children exponentially benefit from ECE
• Public support/awareness: Learning to learn

Question 13

What are the purposes/benefits of ECE programs?

Answer 13

• Safe & Nurturing: Allows parents to go to work knowing their child is safe & well taken care of.
• Enrichment: Sole purpose is to Enhance Development (math/science programs are considered NOT developmentally friendly.
• Compensation: Programs aims to compensate for lack of ____ at home. Examples- Food, dental, health, mental stimulation.
• Early Intervention: Child may be at risk for disability- intervention not only for child but also for parents to adjust, grow in knowledge.

Question 14

Home versus center-based programs-

Answer 14

• In Home based programs, Younger children are more common.

- In Center-based programs, Older children are more common.

Question 15

What are some helpful tid-bits for each individual classroom?

Answer 15

• Age grouping: Mixed age grouping has proven beneficial.
• Toys/things in classroom are Developmentally & age appropriate.
• Amount & quality of interaction: Teacher’s Intention is NOT to Control, but to Teach.

Question 16

How can your classroom accommodate children of greatly varying interests, backgrounds, and abilities?

Answer 16

Lesson focuses on each Individuals needs.

Question 17

Define an Integrated Curriculum-

Answer 17

A program that integrates ALL aspects of a child’s development, not just cognitive.
- Social, emotional, physical, language, creative

Question 18

What age groups does ECE include?

Answer 18

Birth-8

• Infants & Toddlers - Under 3 (fastest growing)
• Preschoolers - 3-5 (largest group)
• Kindergarten - 5-7 (children MUST be enrolled at 7)

Question 19

Name some reasons for ECE’s growth-

Answer 19

• Increased number of working mothers
• Increased number of single parent homes
• Increase in teenage parents
• Increase in family mobility (& decreased extended family involvement)

Question 20

What are some proven benefits of ECE?

Answer 20

ROI through school success, decreased need for SPED, lower arrest rates, decreased welfare dependence.

Question 21

What is the primary goal of ECE?

Answer 21

Provide a safe & nurturing environment in a developmentally appropriate setting for children.

Question 22

What are the goals of Preschool ECE?

Answer 22

Enhance socialization, cognitive skills, overall development.

Receiving experiences they would otherwise not get at home, compensatory (painting, group activities)

Question 23

Which type of instruction/learning is stressed in Kindergarten & Primary Children?

Answer 23

Integrated Learning

Question 24

What is the focus in Before & After-School Care? Why the rise in popularity?

Answer 24

Focus is on recreation activities rather than educational.

Rise due to concerns about safety & lack of supervision.

Question 25

What are some of the expected future directions of ECE?

Answer 25

- Employment opportunities in ECE will continue to rise. - Increasing need for federal/state funded programs (versus nonprofit) - Increasing need for bilingual/bicultural teachers. - Growing recognition of the need for financing system in ECE. - ECE programs will focus more on teaching non-bias & inclusion to children.

Question 26

Describe a Family-Teacher Conference-

Answer 26

A regularly scheduled, structured meeting of a sizable amount of time. - Should be in addition to day-to-day informal contact - Should NEVER be Impromptu - Preparation for conferences should be an ongoing process.

Question 27

Describe a Home Visit-

Answer 27

- Conveys a genuine sense of care for the child. - Makes child feel special (chance to show off ___) - Parents can see child-teacher interactions (confidence^) - Teacher can observe child-family interactions (gain understanding of child's behavior) - Especially beneficial for teenage parents.

Question 28

Describe Written Communication-

Answer 28

Newsletters, memos, emails, school handbook, bulletin board, etc. - Important they be attractive & grammatically correct.

Question 29

Describe Group Meetings-

Answer 29

Families will weigh benefits compared to other demands in their life. - To ensure benefit, conduct an Interest Survey: topics, time of day, & type of meeting. - Enjoyable way for parents to see topics is to present slides/videos of their kids engaged. (Can increase parental understanding)

Question 30

List several characteristics of good ECE teachers-

Answer 30

- Authenticity (know what you stand for; self-awareness) - Creativity - Flexibility - High Energy (Stamina) - Love of Learning (lead by example) - Respect (appreciation for diversity) - Passion - Perseverance - Pragmatism (compromise, pick your battles) - Patience - Sense of Humor (make it fun for the kids) - Play, Protect, Listen/Comfort, Watch, Cope, Facilitate Social Interactions

Question 31

What Characteristics does a teacher need if Caring for Toddlers-

Answer 31

- Ability to anticipate & plan - Provide interesting environment - Elicit language use - Problem solving - Play, Protect, Listen/Comfort, Watch, Cope

Question 32

What are the Dispositions of good teachers?

Answer 32

Empathetic | Positive view of Self/Others | Authenticity | Purpose & Vision

Question 33

What are some of the Director's Responsibilities?

Answer 33

Financial | Personnel (hiring) | Policy & Faculty Decisions May double as teacher for small programs.

Question 34

List some of the qualities a curriculum in ECE should have-

Answer 34

Should be - Thoughtfully Planned - Challenging - Engaging - Developmentally Appropriate - Culturally & linguistically responsive - Comprehensive

Question 35

How would we know if the children are developing well & learning what we want them to learn?

Answer 35

Assessing: - Use methods that are developmentally appropriate for what you want children to learn. - Use methods that are culturally & linguistically responsive. - Tied to children's ADL's - Supported by professional development - Inclusive - Connect to specific, beneficial purposes set in curriculum. Regularly evaluate program/curriculum. Provide support/training to staff in order to improve as necessary.

Question 36

How could we decide whether programs are doing a good job?

Answer 36

Children are actively engaged: - Cognitively | Physically | Socially | Artistically | Linguistically Goals are clear & shared by all, administrators, teachers, and families. Curriculum is Evidence Based. Curriculum builds on prior learning & experiences. Curriculum is comprehensive. Children are Actively Learning