When teachers encourage children’s curiosity and help them to
ask questions, the study of local everyday topics becomes interesting and
relevant to them. Young children’s learning is energized as they become part of
a community of investigators and share the findings of their inquiry. Children
apply skills and knowledge in their study of buses, shoes, trees, or grocery
stores. They learn about the value of reading, writing, and numbers in the life
of the adults around them. In the context of the project the children become
apprentices in the pursuit of knowledge alongside their teachers. Teachers take
a responsive role in developing the project. They coordinate different interests
and support small group and individual inquiries as these emerge. Teachers who
use the project approach report that students show great interest and actively
participate. They ask questions and follow up their own curiosity with
investigations.
This is an excerpt from an article from
Sylvia Chard explaining the advantages of the Project Approach. Which is what she developed along with Lilian
Katz and it is the method of teaching children through project investigations.
When
I observe and reflect on the complexities of providing good quality programs
for the preschoolers in our state, it occurs to me that we should be primarily
concerned about the nature of the experiences they
are having in these programs rather than just about “outcomes” and “outputs.”Standards
of Experience by Lilian Katz October
2012
In the media
segment Sandy Escobido stated her passion comes from the involvement of her parents and how they played a role in her
education. It made her want to be involved in education. In early education she feels that it’s a unique
opportunity to work with children she also said those in early childhood children
have the opportunity to shape a child’s life for the better.
