Early childhood education- case analysis - Essay Example

This paper makes a conclusion that teachers develop a curriculum from observing the children and noting down their developmental skills, interests and other possibilities they can discover on their own within the parameters of safety. This curriculum envisions implementation in an environment organized by teachers to be rich in possibilities and provocations that challenge children to explore, problem-solve, usually in small groups while the teachers act as keen observers or recorders of the children’s learning.

Teachers get to balance their role by sometimes joining the circle of children and sometimes objectively remaining outside the loop. In doing so, children are allowed feelings of success as they manage to be architects of their own learning. This exercise of analyzing the case helps teachers be more aware of the learning that goes on during play, link it to theory, and guide these children to pursue their interests in a safe and conducive environment. This paper talks that children had the freedom to communicate with whoever they wanted in the environment.

Children relate to others on their own. Imogen felt the need to share the information she learned from her exploration with her friends. The learning environment provided the children with opportunities to explore and to learn for themselves. Learning ensues in a conducive environment that offers interactions with peers and supportive adults. Piaget contends that children learn a lot from interactions with the environment, at the same time, Vygotsky theorizes that children learn through conversations and involvement with peers and adults. . dges (2008) explains that the play-based curriculum of Te Whaariki provides children with several opportunities to express, represent, explore and extend their numerous interests (Strands 4 and 5, all goals).

She offers that a socio-cultural approach can bring out children from the comforts of their own culture; hence, the quality of teaching relationships should encourage and extend such interests of the children to venture into the real world. Allowing Imogen to pursue her interest in caterpillars and equipping her with the knowledge and skills in this area gave her confidence to show her “expertise” to her peers (Principle of Empowerment, Strand 3, all goals, Strand 4, goal 4). What was impressive was the adults’ approach in the children’s learning as they threw stimulating questions at the children to deepen their explorations and discoveries.

This is consistent with Te Whaariki’s belief that young children need adults who can provide them with the resources, challenges and support they need for their widening interests and problem-solving capacities (Principles of Family and Community and Relationship) (MOE, 1996). Hedges (2008) advises teachers to be more responsive to the “here and now”. They need to loosen the reins of control over curriculum planning and share the construction of learning experiences with the children. This empowers children to learn for themselves and not just to respond to what the teacher offers (Principle of Empowerment, Holistic Development, Strands 3 and 5, all goals).

Malaguzzi (1993) concludes that teachers should be researchers that think and produce a true curriculum centered on children’s needs. Teachers develop a curriculum from observing the children and noting down their developmental skills, interests and other