Early Childhood Education

A child will develop to his or her fullest by being offered an environment where they are able to thrive. This environment would provide a variety of materials, a safe place free from bias and stereotypes, plenty of opportunities for play and socialization, and a teacher who will facilitate to the needs of children and create a bond with each individual child. The teacher is solely responsible for the environment and curriculum in which a child can develop to his or her fullest, and there are many aspects which a teacher must consider in order for a classroom to be successful in developing the whole child.  
There is not any one style in which every child learns best. Just like Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, every child needs to be recognized as unique with certain strengths and weaknesses which can be used to their advantage, and one child’s strength might be another’s weakness. I believe that the best way for children to construct knowledge is through hands-on learning, in an environment rich with materials which children can manipulate and explore. Also, play can offer numerous benefits to children, and offers many opportunities for the them to construct knowledge when offered often and over extended periods of time. Through play, children can gain knowledge and experiences having to do with socialization, self-regulation, motor skills, problem solving skills, language development and multiple other domains important to the development of the whole child.
Just as a child’s role is to seek knowledge and explore, a teacher’s role in a child’s learning and development is to offer materials, set the stage for play and experiences, and facilitate and environment of learning. Some of the most important qualities a teacher can have are a passion for their job and the welfare of their students, respect for themselves and each child, a creative mind, and the capability to acknowledge one’s mistakes and use that knowledge to improve. A teacher can build... [continues]

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