Discussions are designed to be mini, low-stakes writing assignments. This may be different from what you have experienced in other classes. Discussions are not completion grades. You will be graded on the content and quality of your writing.
Audience: Your fellow classmates, TAs, and instructor
Purpose: To apply vocabulary, concepts, themes, and perspectives to demonstrate learning and understanding
Tone: Informal but articulate
To set yourself up for success, complete the recommended reading before starting the discussion. You will need to use information from your book to support your conclusions for full credit.
Read the discussion prompt.
Watch the video(s).
Type out your response in a word processor. Support your conclusions with evidence from the video, your textbook, personal experience, or other sources.
At the end of your response, pose a question to your discussion group that encourages your classmates to connect the material to personal experience, course vocabulary, concepts, theories, or different perspectives. You may even bring in external content (i.e., other videos, published research, websites, etc.).
Proofread your post for focus, organization, evidence, language and conventions. Check your word count. Save your work to your computer, then copy and paste it into Canvas and submit. Your first post will be the one that is graded, no exceptions.
Respond to the discussion prompt with your initial posting by 11:59 pm on the Tuesday before the due date for full credit. Your initial posting must be between 250 and 500 words.
Respond to at least two classmate’s posts by the due date. Your responses should clearly articulate the question being answered and provide specific examples and/or evidence to support statements. You may even pose additional questions to further the discussion.
Click here for discussion grading rubric
Discussion 7 | Preschool Philosophies
Recommended reading: Chapters 7.3 – 8.3
Learning Outcome: Understand the application of developmental psychology to real-world issues and evaluate the impact of policies and practices on children and families. Propose and justify evidence-based recommendations for improving child development outcomes.
Discussion prompt:
After watching the videos, spend 10-20 minutes or more researching an additional preschool approach on your own. Some examples of other approaches include: project-based, religious, cooperative, emergent curriculum, representational development, language immersion, academic, play-based, and collaboration.
Imagine that you are a parent who is planning to enroll your child in preschool. You visit four preschools with four different approaches: Reggio-Amelia, Montessori, Waldorf, and the additional approach you chose to research. Based on your “visits”…
Which school would you choose to send your child to?
Why would you choose that school over the others?
At the end of your response, pose a question to your discussion group that encourages your classmates to connect the material to personal experience, course vocabulary, concepts, theories, or different perspectives. You may even bring in external content (i.e., other videos, published research, websites, etc
VIDEOS
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As a parent, choosing a preschool for my child would be a significant decision that requires careful consideration of various factors, including the school’s approach. After watching the videos and conducting additional research, I would choose the Reggio-Emilia approach for my child.
The Reggio-Emilia approach emphasizes child-led learning through exploration and play, with teachers serving as facilitators rather than directors of learning. Children are encouraged to use their natural curiosity to explore the world around them, and teachers work to document and build upon children’s interests and experiences.
One of the key features that sets Reggio-Emilia apart from the other approaches is its focus on building strong relationships between children, teachers, and parents. The approach values collaboration and communication, with parents and teachers working together to support each child’s unique learning journey. This sense of community and partnership is something that I believe would be valuable for my child’s development and would help to foster a love of learning.
Additionally, the Reggio-Emilia approach emphasizes the importance of the environment in supporting children’s learning. The approach values aesthetically pleasing and organized classroom spaces, as well as opportunities for children to engage with natural materials and outdoor spaces. As someone who values a connection to nature and the importance of aesthetics, this aspect of the Reggio-Emilia approach aligns with my own values and beliefs about learning.
With that, while each of the four preschool approaches has its strengths, the Reggio-Emilia approach resonates most with my personal beliefs and values about education and child development. I appreciate the emphasis on child-led learning, collaboration, and the importance of the environment in supporting learning.
A question for the discussion group: How do the different preschool approaches align with or challenge traditional educational models? In what ways can these approaches be adapted or modified to better meet the needs of all children?
