ERIC Number: EJ1417547
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 6
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1068-6177
EISSN: N/A
Role of Early Childhood Educators in Addressing Diversity
Jasmin A. King; Ksenia S. Zhbanova; Jeffrey L. Leffler
Dimensions of Early Childhood, v52 n1 p30-35 2024
Early childhood educators have a tremendous opportunity to foster inclusivity, respect, and a sense of belonging in young children and their families (Abacioglu et al., 2020). They can impact children's early experiences by creating caring and inclusive learning environments in schools and homes (Vidal-Hall et al., 2020). Facilitating diverse classroom experiences requires cultural knowledge and competence on the part of early childhood educators. Cultural competence requires educators to understand other cultures, traditions, and beliefs. It also involves recognizing and correcting one's biases and assumptions and actively seeking different perspectives. Culturally responsive teaching in early childhood education is essential for creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment. This article provides the following practical ideas with examples that early childhood practitioners can incorporate into their teaching: (1) foster cultural awareness; (2) anti-bias education; (3) create secure and inclusive learning spaces; (4) build relationships with families; (5) integrate culturally relevant content in the curriculum; and (6) responsive teaching practice.
Descriptors: Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Teachers, Teacher Role, Student Diversity, Inclusion, Educational Environment, Cultural Awareness, Culturally Relevant Education, Family School Relationship, Bias
Southern Early Childhood Association. PO Box 8109
Jacksonville, AR 72078. Tel: 501-221-1648. e-mail: info@seca.info; Web site: www.seca.info/dimensions
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A