ERIC Number: EJ1378828
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2331-186X
Quality Early Care and Learning: Exploring Child-Centered Pedagogy a Qualitative Multi-Case Study
Cade, June; Wardle, Francis; Otter, Jan
Cogent Education, v9 n1 Article 2144589 2022
Early childhood education (ECE) programs in the United States are experiencing paradigm shifts resulting from the standards-based movement. The notion that all children should be ready to learn when they enter school has resulted in ECE programs attempting to balance a standards-based curriculum with the child-centered approach to learning as part of quality early care and learning. While an association between quality early care and learning has been established by the rating system of the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS-3), the Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS-R), and the Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale (FCCERS-R), little is known about how classroom practices meet the developmental needs, interests, and abilities of young children based on children's zone of proximal development (ZPD). This study aimed to explore toddler and preschool teachers' and directors' perceptions about quality early care and learning and determine what strategies are used to integrate children's developmental needs, interests, and capabilities into classroom practices as part of the child-centered approach to learning. The study used a qualitative method of in-depth interviews and the collection of documents to answer the research questions. Results suggest that adherence to a standards-based curriculum with a teacher-centered approach seems to be at the expense of the constructivist approach to learning.
Descriptors: Educational Quality, Toddlers, Preschool Education, Child Development, Preschool Teachers, Teacher Attitudes, Educational Research, Preschool Curriculum, Constructivism (Learning), Student Centered Curriculum, Teacher Role, Lesson Plans, Small Group Instruction, Childhood Interests, Early Childhood Education, Rating Scales, Child Care Centers, Infants
Cogent OA. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale; Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A