Greetings Readers~
Our assignment is to discuss one or more real life examples that represent innovative learning during early childhood. I reflected, research and it was a comment that set me on this path. One of my staff members walked up to me yesterday and said "I did the Tooty Tah with my class. They loved it and we created new verses". I thought rather than listing a program or a curriculum innovation, I would discuss a person that affected me as I entered the field of early childhood education after watching her at a conference.
When I started teaching kindergarten I transitioned from a self-contained special education class of 9 children to a class of 29 children. I received curriculum guides and materials, met with my team and implemented the program. My third year teaching, my perspective changed from an academic readiness perspective to a developmentally appropriate practice promoter. That year, I requested to attend a conference with another teacher. We went to see Dr. Jean.
For anyone who hasn't listened to Dr. Jean Feldman or seen her in a workshop, I highly recommend it. I came out with new ideas new songs and a new approach to teaching children. The children love the music and her ideas promote readiness skills but in a fun engaging way. It motivated me to change my perspective on how I teach, to teach for the child, rather than to and to always remember that they are children.
Here's her website: http://drjean.org/
Have you gone to any conferences that have motivated you as an educator to try different things? Who or what has impacted your approaches to education?
Our assignment is to discuss one or more real life examples that represent innovative learning during early childhood. I reflected, research and it was a comment that set me on this path. One of my staff members walked up to me yesterday and said "I did the Tooty Tah with my class. They loved it and we created new verses". I thought rather than listing a program or a curriculum innovation, I would discuss a person that affected me as I entered the field of early childhood education after watching her at a conference.
When I started teaching kindergarten I transitioned from a self-contained special education class of 9 children to a class of 29 children. I received curriculum guides and materials, met with my team and implemented the program. My third year teaching, my perspective changed from an academic readiness perspective to a developmentally appropriate practice promoter. That year, I requested to attend a conference with another teacher. We went to see Dr. Jean.
For anyone who hasn't listened to Dr. Jean Feldman or seen her in a workshop, I highly recommend it. I came out with new ideas new songs and a new approach to teaching children. The children love the music and her ideas promote readiness skills but in a fun engaging way. It motivated me to change my perspective on how I teach, to teach for the child, rather than to and to always remember that they are children.
Here's her website: http://drjean.org/
Have you gone to any conferences that have motivated you as an educator to try different things? Who or what has impacted your approaches to education?