Early Childhood Education and Care: Analysis of Two Teacher Approaches

This essay analyzes a case study titled 'Holding Hands' in the context of early childhood education and care. The assignment explores two different teacher approaches and their impact on child development, focusing on the roles of Teacher Maya and Teacher Philip. Teacher Maya's approach empha...Read More

Running head: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE 1
Early Childhood Education and Care
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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE 2
Analysis of the case ‘Holding Hands.’
Question One
A role script guides the actions of a person when they are taking on a certain role. The
role requires certain actions, has goals and may come out with specific expectations. Teacher
Maya is working from an unexamined teacher script of assisting children to follow routines so
that they get into the next planned activity. The teacher wants to ensure that the children have
enough time for play. Teacher Maya’s approach contributes towards development of a thinking
culture in various ways as she focuses on time and schedule (Curtis & Carter, 2017). In her mind,
she wants to assist the children develop a certain routine. When children get used to a certain
routine, it will enhance their thinking culture, as children will have a clearer understanding of
their world and this will enable them to feel more secure. The regular schedule will lead the
children to organize their lives in a better manner (Campbell & Jobling, 2012). Young children
who already predict an outcome are more positive in themselves and their world. They will not
encounter unfamiliar roles, when they are not ready.
Teacher Maya’s script will assist the children to make simple predictions and therefore
understand concepts like before and after. The children will also develop self-discipline, as they
will know that they have to wait until a particular time to do a particular activity. In this case,
children like Savannah, will know that it is outdoor playtime, immediately when Teacher Maya
talks about cleaning up (Wright,2010). The children will also become responsible and
independent hence perform more tasks without help.
Teacher Maya is also emphasizing on the outdoor, as it will also enhance the thinking
culture of the children. Playing will advance the mental representation development in children.
In this case, children like Savannah will be able to separate the meanings of objects and their

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physical form. Playing in the outdoors will also enhance voluntary actions from children, as they
will be able to sequence whatever actions they take, follow rules that they are given by Teacher
Maya and learn to focus their attention on whatever is being explained or taught by the teacher.
The children will therefore think through before they do any activity and this enhances their
thinking culture as they continue to develop and learn new activities.
Question Two
Teacher Philip is more concerned about what Savannah learns and therefore takes the
time to coach, as he believes in her competence. He believes that this strengthens relationships
and learning with children. The process that he uses has integrated critical, creative and reflective
thinking hence enhancing development of children. Critical thinking is the reflective judgement
concerning what to do (Bredekamp, 2016). Creative thinking is the capacity to give an outcome
through a skill that is imaginative, while reflective thinking refers to analysing and making
judgments about something that has happened.
Teacher Philip’s role in this case was to support Savannah and Kyle as they learnt how to
close the sensory table. He uses his knowledge and ideas in a playful manner to coach the
children. He has used his creative thinking skills in assisting Savannah and Kyle to close the
sensory table. Children need to develop critical thinking skills by experiencing risk and making
decisions, so that important connections are formed in their brains (Follari, 2015). In this case,
Savannah and Kyle are faced with a decision on how to close the sensory table. Once they are
taught, they will be able to each make a decision on how to close the table in future.
Creative thinking has been adopted by Teacher Philip in the way that he suggests that the
three of them work together to close the sensory table. This is a key skill for children to develop,

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as they will come up with creative solutions for any challenges that they face. Creative thinking
brings meaningful learning to children as they get to explore different ways of sorting out
challenges.
Reflective skills are demonstrated when Teacher Philip reflects on how Savannah wanted
to help with cleanup and he coaches them on whatever they are interested in learning. These
skills are important for children as they will use them when faced with a similar challenge in
future (Bruce, 2012).When Kyle and Savannah play with the sensory table again, they will
reflect on what they have been taught previously and use this to make decisions on how to close
the sensory table (Curtis & Carter, 2017).
Early childhood education is a crucial phase for enhancing critical, creative and reflective
skills. Teachers should use a holistic approach just as Teacher Philip did so that they impart these
skills to children. Teachers must also observe and listen to children and ensure that they develop
life-long skills, which can be applied to a situation or experience in the future.
References
Bredekamp, S. (2016). Effective practices in early childhood education: Building a foundation.
Boston: Pearson.
Bruce, T. (2012). Early childhood education. London: Hachette UK.

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Campbell, C. & Jobling, W. (Eds). (2012). Science in early childhood. New York: Cambridge
University Press.
Curtis, D. & Carter,M. (2017).Learning together with young children: a curriculum framework
for reflective teachers. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.
Follari, L. (2015). Foundations and best practices in early childhood education: History,
theories, and approaches to learning. Colorado: Pearson Higher Education AU.
Wright, S. (2010). Understanding creativity in early childhood. Mean-making and children’s
drawings. London: Sage.