Quick primers on pioneering theorists of early childhood education: Part 1

Sound exciting? 

It actually is.  Read this, and upcoming posts, and you'll discover that it's fascinating to understand the roots of modern thinking around early childhood education. Here is the first profile of five that will explore the thoughts of some of the most influential thinkers on child development.* 

John Dewey (American, born 1859; PhD in philosophy, significant contribution to education - "My Pedagogic Creed", a document published in 1897 by the Progressive Education Association)

Quotes:

-"[T]rue education comes through the stimulation of the child's powers by the demands of the social situations in which he finds himself."

- "The school life should grow gradually out of the home life. . .  It is the business of the school to deepen and extend the child's sense of values bound up in his home life."

- "I believe that education, therefore, is a process of living and not preparation of future living."

- "I believe, finally, that the teacher is engaged, not simply in the training of individuals, but in the formation of a proper social life."

Dewey believed that teachers must:

- have a strong base of general knowledge as well as knowledge of specific children

- be willing to make sense of the world for children on the basis of their greater knowledge and experience

- invest in observation, planning, organization and documentation

Advice:

- Observe children closely and plan curriculum from their interests and experience.

- Don't be afraid to use your knowledge of the children and the world to make sense of the world for children.

When planning activities, teachers need to ask:

- How does this expand on what these children already know?

- How will this activity help this child grow?

- What skills are being developed?

- How will this activity help these children know more about their world?

- How does this activity prepare these children to live more fully?

An experience, according to Dewey, can only be educational if:

-It is based on the children's interests and grows out of their existing knowledge and experience.

- It supports the children's development.

- It helps the children develop new skills.

- It adds to the children's understanding of their world.

- It prepares the children to live more fully

How can early childhood educators use Dewey's criteria?

- Do not accept "it's fun" as a justification for curriculum, but ask how an activity will support the children's development and learning

- Invest in organization and documentation of the children's work.

*summarized from "Theories of Childhood: An introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget and Vygotsky", written by Carol Garhart Mooney