Early Childhood Education and Learning Approaches

This assignment discusses various approaches to early childhood education, including Montessori, Head Start, and Reggio Emilia methods. It highlights the importance of adapting teaching techniques to meet the needs of young learners and promoting their social, emotional, and physical development. The assignment also emphasizes the need for play-based learning and creative models in early childhood education.

Early Childhood Curriculum
Models

Table of Contents
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
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MAIN BODY
Model 1: Montessori Approach – It is a method of education which involves self directed
activities and collaborative games for the children where the main role of the teacher is
observing and guiding. This method has been practised over 100 years with a rate of success
around the globe. A learning triangle is made from child, teacher and environment. The
classroom is by the teachers in order to motivate independence and sense or order. Dr.
Montessori suggests that children faces certain sensitive period in their life as they grow. At that
time, Montessori teachers emulate required lessons and material as it is the most favourable time
for learning and observing. In early childhood, the child learns with the help of sensory-motor
activities, working with different materials which would help them develop cognitive powers
through direct experiencing such as seeing, touching, hearing and many so.
 Main Proponents- Montessori Method was founded by Dr. Maria Montessori in early
1900s in Italy. The main objective of this method was to develop the child's whole
personality with the help of such system which is focused on human intellectual.
 Date of Conception- Dr. Maria Montessori opened her first classroom in 1907 by the
name of Casa dei Bambini or Children's House in Rome.
 Theoretical underpinnings – This theory favours self direction and collaborative games
for learning where various modules and materials are provided to the students in order to
grasp things. On the basis of these practices, a educator can enhance self learning skills in
individuals by creative ideas and thoughts. This approach is majorly focuses towards
different modules of learning.
 Strategies for teaching - There are different strategies for different age groups of
Montessori students as the approach supports the learning from birth to middle school.
▪ Infant/ Toddler( 0-3 years) – The Montessori teacher helps in developing
gross motor coordination, fine motor skills and language skills. Additionally,
the teacher focuses on Developing confidence in their rising abilities and giving
opportunity to help them feel independent in everyday task.
▪ Primary (CASA, 3-6 years) – The teacher includes a large variety of materials
to help the students improve sensory perception and development of literacy and
metamathematical learning. Promote social development with the help on clear
and respectful communication.
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 Learning – Montessori approach uses various methods and materials to help the
children of different age learn in an easier yet creative way. Some of the learning
materials are movable Alphabets, Pink tower, Sound Cylinders, puzzel maps and many
more. Also, this approach believes in involving students in various tasks such as
pouring and scooping, Ironing, Gluing paper and many so.
 Assessment – This method is specifically non competitive which also believes in
avoiding punishments in order to encourage confidence and development of the
children. Primary students are responsible for their own progress through work journal
which is updated everyday. Also individual conferences takes place with their teachers
where they maintain portfolios of complete work.
 Planning and Reflection – Montessori approach requires proper planning as to decide
what module and material would be appropriate for different age group. As this
approach works on each student individually and mentions that each student have a
different sensitive time to grasp things. Therefore, depending on the student's
performance, the level of difficulty needs to be decided.
 Goals and outcomes- The prime Goal of Montessori method of teaching is to provide a
stimulated and well planned environment which will help the child in creating a perfect
foundation for creative learning. This approach also helps in developing a healthy and
positive attitude towards further schooling. Each new learning module is developed on
the basis of previous learned module which helps the child to develop self confidence.
The approach works towards effective learning via making the children listen carefully
and respond to what is demonstrated or said. This makes the Montessori students
observe more carefully which leads to increase in their concentration abilities.
Additionally, when the child is surrounded by appealing materials and learning
activities, he becomes habitual in engaging on his own which results is developing a
habit of initiation in the child.
 Position on play- The games or play in the respective theory are mostly self chosen,
directed by themselves where the child is free to quit anytime. It involves active, alert and
stress free frame of mind.
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Model 2: Head Start approach to early childhood education - Head start approach to school
readiness is that period when children are ready for schools and their families are ready to
support their child's learning as well as schools are also ready for children. This readiness comes
when all essential ingredients like social, emotional, physical and cognitive development are
present. For head start school readiness is considered when children processing skills, knowledge
and attitudes which is necessary for children's success in school as well as continuous leaning in
life. Readiness program must establish specific goals in school that helps in success of all
enrolled children, irrespective of their age and development. This approach will help the program
to become individualize for each child and make sure about all the present involvement that are
required to be ready for kindergarten (Head Start Approach to School Readiness, 2018). This
program also respect and engage parents to promote school readiness among them as well as
they also contribute in achieving school readiness goals.
 Main Proponents – First director of Head Start Early Childhood education program was
Jule Sugarman. It is the program of United State Department of health and human
services.
 Date of conception – This model is launched in 1965 through its creators as well as first
director. Head Start was mainly conceived as an summer school program which teach
children's who's parents have low income. Those child in some weeks get knowledge
about what is required for starting elementary schools. Then, Head Start Act of 1981 has
expanded the program and this program was revised when the same get authorised in
December 2007.
 Theoretical underpinning - Head star is a different educational model which based on
four different aspects as education, health, Parent involvement and social services.
Therefore, it is required to provide a better learning experience to children for the social,
emotional and intellectual growth.
 Key strategies of teaching – Both Head Start and Early Head Start programs provides
educations and facilities to children from their birth to five years. Main objective of this
model is to improve childhood skills of those child who are from low-income families.
Involvement of parents is also a major concern therefore I am conducting those activities
in which I can involve parents with child education. It will assist in maximising parents
knowledge towards their child's educations. Some strict rules are required in these models
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thus Children and families who receive home-based services meet twice monthly with
other enrolled families for a group learning experience facilitated by Head Start staff.
 Learning - Being a teacher, it is my responsibility to provide play based learning to child
that aid physical educational learning in them as well as maximise additional skills from
the child birth. In this procedure, health is also a major issue that I needs to support
properly as dental, physical, mental and nutritional services of child.
 Assessment – For the assessment of child learning, it is required to conducts a another
program as home-based, in which a staff member visits children home once a week and
works with the parent as well as with the child's primary teacher. Through this, teacher
can analyse development in the child by timely analysis practices.
 Planning and reflection – For this model, I requires to make a proper plan in which I
can schedule education, health, Parent involvement and social services of children.
Through this, I can develop curiosity in child for the new learning approaches.
 Goals and outcomes - Main goal behind implementing this model is to social and
emotional development, Approaches to learning, cognition, language, literacy, perceptual
and physical development of children's. After applying Head Start Model several
outcomes is gained these are categorised in 2 parts family and child. In terms of family
member these are positive relation within parents and their children, family well-being,
As learner, member of children's family are engaged in various transactions. Whereas,
result gained from child are they get ready for going school, successful in the area of
education and entire life, learning related to several things like safety and individual
development. Early education of children not only assist in their development only but
also in entire family member as well as other people who belong to them.
 Position on play – In this approach, children are classified from the birth to the age of 5.
Thus, it is required for teacher to pay their maximum attention toward play based
learning for the mental and physical development of child.
Model 3: Curriculum Model to early childhood education – This model is basically uses to
create a document for child education that determines the philosophy, teaching approaches and
methods. It is not a easy task to manage these things properly for a easy guidance of teaching
modules because for this teacher needs to put time as well as energy to goes into the creating of
documentation. Educator use these guides to decide how, when and what to teach to students.
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For early childhood education these kind of activities create major complexities for the creation
of proper guide to teach students in appropriate because at this stage of child teacher pay their
maximum attention towards play based learning.
 Main Proponents – This model is basically first reform and informed by a question that
has been posted by Herbert Spencer. The question for this theory was What knowledge is
of most worth? Major reason behind identification of its results to modularize education
in specific format that provide guide to teachers for student's learning.
 Date of conception – In 1892, Herbert Spencer developed the curriculum theory as a
reaction to the classicism and faculty psychology. This philosophy was based on the
thoughts of Johann Frederich Herbert who is a German philosopher. They thinks that "the
mere memorizing of isolated facts, which had characterized school instruction for ages,
had little value of either educational or moral ends"
 Theoretical underpinning – The focus concept looks at a subject or a student and
centres instruction on them. The approach component is a traditional or modern method
and looks at the type of instruction that will be used. In the content component, a slant
towards a topic-based or content-based is used, asking how units or strands will be
written. The process structure looks at assessment: formative or accumulative. Finally,
structure components focus on the system of review, determining how the curriculum
will come up for revision.
 Key strategies of teaching – For the implementation of this model, it is required for me
to create a appropriate strategy for the creating of guide document. This modules should
have to consider five different aspects as subject, Integrated, inquiry and experiential as
well. Main objectives of this procedure is to manage teaching modules properly that
guide each and every aspect properly to me while teaching to child. One major
requirement for in Curriculum model is that it should have to be include all the guidelines
on the basis of children as well as play based learning.
 Learning – This is a Dynamic learning process that include various approaches for
teacher to create a guide about what to teach, how and why to teach. Main objectives of
this approach is to maximise student's leaning attribute by implementing easy techniques
and ideas. For children, I needs to implement play based learning that assist them to
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engage in physical activities. Scaffolding and reinforcement can be a best model of these
learnings that assist to enhance creativity in students for learning practices.
 Assessment – The implementation of this strategy is required for timely evaluation in
which I needs to analyse what student's are learn from Curriculum activities. The major
requirement of the application of this model is scheduling teaching practices on the basis
of student's requirement and need. For the final assessment, I needs to analyse how much
students obtain from these learning practices.
 Planning and reflection – For the implementation of Curriculum model, it is required
for me to make a proper document, in which I needs to mention what and how to teach.
Through this, I can prepare a proper guide for my students to manage their learning
attributes properly. Through this model, I analyse that teacher's also requires to put their
major efforts in teaching modules so that we can render quality services to students of
different age groups.
 Goals and outcomes – Major objective of this model is to manage learning approaches
of student's in effective manner from their childhood. Through this can be grasp several
aspects for their own development procedure. Through these learning models I can easily
enhance abilities of child, in order to getting desired outcomes and goals.
 Position on play – For children, it is required to implementing play based learning
because through this we can engage them in fast learning practices that they can adopt by
putting physical efforts.
Model 4 : Reggio Emilia Approach- It is an educational philosophy which is made for
preschool and primary education. This theory is based on principles of respect, responsibility and
community. It also believes that children develop their own personality during their early time of
development. This theory also suggest that young children are individuals who have the curiosity
about their world and have a potential power to learn from what surrounds them. Additionally,
children are presented with 100 languages with the help of which, they can express their thoughts
and ideas. Therefore, teachers adapt such strategies which expose the children to a wide variety
of opportunities of education which built logical thinking, problem-solving, self expressing and
communication. The prime motive of Reggio Emilia Approach is to teach the child symbolic
languages such as sculpting, painting and drama and way of using it in everyday life.
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 Main Proponents- It was developed by Psychologist Loris Malaguzzi and parents in the
villages near by Reggio Emilia, Italy. Hence, it derived its name from the city.
 Date of Conception- This theory was developed after World War II .
 Theoretical underpinnings – This approach believes that children uses different
methods to express their thoughts and understanding such as dancing, sculpting, music
and many other means in respect to learn by using all their senses.
 Strategies for teaching- The class needs to be organised in such a way which can help
the child to make thoughtful decisions about the type of material they would prefer for
various projects. The progress of the child needs to be documented by available means
such as work portfolios, videos,etc. Additionally, another group of parents and teachers
can be formed to analyse different thought process and compare information to adjust as
per the need interest of the child.
 Learning – As this theory underpins their own natural way of learning through various
means of language, it uses various materials which help the student learn from its
surrounding environment with materials which enhance the senses, open ended. Natural
and inviting such as buttons, tree stumps, table clothes and many so, as they have a
potential to keep things interesting which makes one explore more and try new things in
order to create and wonder.
 Assessment- The assessment of this method includes project works which are given to
the children. The influenced educators of this method are asked to analyse, document and
observe the child growth. This further helps them in deciding what approach or method
of learning is best for them and where they need to focus to help the child in better
learning.
 Planning and Reflection- The primary role of Reggio Emilia teacher is to learn along
with children and get involved in group learning in order to guide them.
Documentation of learning growth of child is an important element as it helps in
analysing the child's growth. For this purpose, photos of children at work and play along
with the discussion of their experience are documented which helps the teachers and
parents to figure out what method works best for the student. As the environment is
considered the third teacher in this method, great amount of time is taken to create
appropriate environment which can help to access exploration of their interest. The
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documents that are mentioned above are kept at child's eye level which helps the child
observe their own progress throughout the year.
 Goals and outcomes- Reggio Emilia approach is based on project making which lead
the child to investigate and explore the area of interest. This also helps in developing
exploring skills. The material used in this approach helps to provoke child's curiosity,
creativity, problem-solving and communication skills which helps in developing
foundation for lifetime. Children are taught to take care about the needs of people around
them which helps the child in building social skills and value of relationships.
Additionally, it helps in developing tangible memory of learnings as the method of
learning is not through books, but by their own experience.
 Position on play- The respective approach uses various methods to learn new things such
as drama, sculpting, dancing, music and many other approaches. The material used
helps the child in creating multi sensory settings with different surfaces suuch as wet,dry,
smooth, translucent, bright and transparent.
Reflection -
As a teacher, I need to interact with child and also taking session with their parents.
Because kids are spending hardly 6 to 7 hours at school and remaining time at the home. For
this, I required to communicate with their parents regarding their behaviour, attitude and way of
living. It is required for school staff members is to provide them extra circumlunar activities
classes where they make fun with their friends. I need to select various methods and techniques
which is best appropriate for them and enhance their learning skills. The best way of given
knowledge to child through pictures, images and spatial understanding. Also they learn with the
help of verbal, written and words. As a teacher, I can use Montessori Approach that help in self
directing children activities and engaged them in games in which my main role is to observe and
guide them towards conducting right action. With the help of this approach, child can easily
identifying his/her direction and try to learn new things which is helpful for them in interesting
manner. On the other hand, head Start approach to early childhood education help me in identify
heir emotional, social and physical status of mind. I need to provide them play based learning
where learn various new things with fun. With the help of this learning, child's vocabulary has
grow and develop as they play together and interact with other kids. I am conducting play based
learning in the school which help in making positive relationship and encourage them to learn
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new words and knowledge in better manner. Early childhood education is the foundation of
child's development therefore I needs to analyse creative models that I can implement in learning
practices. It is a program which is offered to children who are below the age of 8. The reason for
these type of programs is the rapid growth and development of child's brain which happens in the
span of early 8 years. It is the time when a child develops their social skills, perception for the
world and moral values. Meanwhile, I needs to implement head star approach in which I can
enhance abilities of children from their birth to the age of 5. Now a days, increasing in
technology has resulted in several advance techniques for educating children's. In this procedure
early childhood education required for implementation of specific model in between Reggio
Emilia, Montessori, Head Start Approach and Curriculum model. By the implementtaion of these
approaches, I can address range of descriptive characteristics such as key strategies for teaching,
learning, goals and outcomes, date of concepts and so on. Moreover, all these models helps in
teaching children's using several tools and techniques.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Online
Head Start Approach to School Readiness, 2018.[Online].Available
Through<https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/school-readiness/article/head-start-approach-school-
readiness-overview>
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