Propose an Early Childhood Education - Coursework Example

Propose an Early Childhood Education Introduction Globalization plays a vital role in today’s education especially in relation to early childhood education program. Consequently, we at Bright Kids Learning Academy understand the importance of the first few years in a child’s life especially in the modern world. These are the best years in implementing a child’s life, and our school provides programs for children aged between six weeks to eight years. This paper narrates a proposal on Bright Kids Learning Academy, which engages in Early Childhood Education. Our school has the Early Care program services that cater for the infants aged between 6-24 months. The design of this program ensures that it meets each child’s needs whether physical or developmental. In addition, the program ensures that each child’s sleeping and eating patterns remain consistent with the child’s needs. However, later the program introduces the toddlers to the necessary skills and concepts that prepare them for the next program. The next program involves the Preschool program for children aged between 2-5 years of age. In this Academy, each age group will have its classroom, and at four years of age, the child joins the state funded Pre-K Program. It is important to note that each class will have its theme based on each child’s age and development. In addition, the daily schedule depends on the teacher and child activities. Globalization means long working hours for the parents and therefore Bright Kids Academy understands the need to offer before and after school care to such parents. The Academy will provide ample time for homework as well as life enhancing skills and projects during the after school program. The Academy stands out from the rest due to its mission and vision. Vision Statement The Academy will remain active in a learning environment while building partnership with the employees, community, and parents in order to provide the best educational experience and a bright future for our children. It will create life-long learning inspiration through working with families ensuring that each child learns, grows, and plays in a rich and safe environment. Mission Statement Bright Kids Learning Academy mission is to provide every child with quality education ensuring that they learn on their own and at their pace while receiving any help they need in their development. The Academy encourages play through various curriculums because it is their only work. It encourages the children to love learning, while seeking their curiosity through play. Through learning, children can communicate, explore, hold discussions, and manipulate through group activities. The learning curriculum includes emotional, social, physical, and cognitive developments, and the children are our first and last priorities. Personal Philosophy Schindler (2010 p. 15) notes that all students can learn, want to learn at least some time, and most students want to learn most of the time. In addition, all students can succeed as long as the assessment methods are appropriate. The Academy needs to offer activities that provide all students with opportunities to effective learning because different students learn in different ways, times, and for different reasons. It is clear that students learn best as long as they can enjoy the activities involved while learning. My personality puts me more on a democratic rather than autocratic continuum, which helps me in resolving problems instead of “sitting on the fence”. Any realistic solution is acceptable in my classroom as long as it is congruent with my core principles. Early childhood development is a set of facts, principles, and concepts that explain the processes involved in change from immature to a mature functioning. This change may be physical, cognitive, or social emotional development. Early childhood involves three stages ranging from infants and toddlers, preschoolers, and children in primary grade. In any education setting, classroom management plays a vital role hence it is a key component. Learning can only take place in a safe environment, and punishment does not always solve behavior problems. According to Campbell (2012 p.12), it is important to incorporate a tone in a class that would prevent behavior problems by engaging some interesting curriculums. The process involves engaging all the students in a class to ensure the standards meet their needs. My major goal of implementing a good school management plan is to ensure that the learning environment is conducive for all students, making the learning process easier for them. This paper formulates my ideal personal classroom management plan for a primary school class. Environmental Specifics Classroom and Playfield According to Haynes (2013 p.42), Skinner was among the first philosophers who came up with the Applied Behavior Analysis, which later refined to Functional Behavior Assessment and Positive Behavior support. These theories posit that antecedent conditions like the environment and their consequences play a vital role in controlling behavior. Room Arrangement plays a vital role in any learning environment, and, therefore, The Academy will ensure that as students walk into the classrooms the natural lighting from the windows will welcome them to the class. In addition, the wall colors will attract their attention while walking into the classroom. The Academy will set their seats in a big circle of tables because this will help them face each other while facing the wall around the room. The round tables equally provide rich discussions. I will ensure that the colorful walls are due to the educative maps, different cultural pictures, art, and pictures of famous people. Engaging students in reach discussions tend to draw out ideas while allowing every student to learn from each other. With every student facing each other, the students enjoy not only facial contacts, but also the facial expressions. In this case, the students are able to generate ideas, and not simply receiving them from higher authority. I believe that students require constant challenges and provocation that may lead them to critical thinking. The Academy will put a display of posters showing the year’s outline ensuring no white wall to bring a blank image to the student’s mind. The Academy will ensure that these educative posters engage each student’s mind especially during their idle moments. In addition, it will use supplementary materials, which the students will easily access from the bookshelves set at the corners of the classroom. There will be computers available for different projects, reports, and researches bearing programs like PowerPoint to make the class more interesting. The Academy will place desks at the corner but strictly for administrative duties only. On each desk, the Academy will place a computer, which will help me compute grades, store lesson plans, and attendance among other miscellaneous documents. However, during discussions, the teacher will have his seat at the round table while ensuring that he makes classroom rounds in order to attend to all students. It is important to avail other learning resources like rulers, atlases, and dictionaries among others since the students can peruse them out of curiosity during their free time. In addition, the Academy will have markers, paintings, colored pencils, and butcher papers that the students can use to make presentations of artwork to the class. Other class activities to keep a vibrant class may include singing, dancing, and other creative activities like story telling time. The school will introduce different games in the playfield also ensuring maximum interaction. These games help the child to open up to others through different games. http://www.designshare.com/Research/Tarr/Aesthetic_Codes_3.htm Theoretical Base Morgan (2011 p. 26) argues that a good theory not only explains but also predicts phenomena while giving you guidance to teaching. Therefore, a sound understanding and knowledge of theory with pertinent educational research provides the teacher with an opportunity to both identify and engage the theory based on evidence-based best practice. In addition, there is a probability that a teacher may choose a reasonable understanding and knowledge on classroom management theory. However, it is important for a person to adopt or develop his or her management theory one that strongly brings out coherence to both the teaching philosophies as well as classroom management. The following are some of the classroom management theories that I believe best fit with my psychological beliefs, and which guided my development of my recommended practices. Psycho-educational Theories These theories posit that everyone including students have needs, and their positive or negative behaviors are attempts to have their needs met. Therefore, the teachers have a duty to create the best learning environment for these students. Glasser’s Choice Theory is a good example of a psycho-educational theory. These theories base on the principles of Individual Psychology studied in both classroom and behavior management. Cognitive Behavioral Theories The Cognitive Behavioral Theories help in developing a student’s self-management skills to a behavioral point of independence. Research shows that a competitive self-management teacher helps in motivating the students in complying with instructions and directions, while giving the student meta-cognitive skills that enhance efficacy of other behavioral interventions. This theory works well with students suffering from complex conditions like depression, low self-esteem, underachievement, and other disruptive behaviors. However, through self-talk, these theories may have a positive impact on the student’s academic skills while improving the mental health. I believe in complimenting the student’s performance hence this theory works best I am able to realize the student’s skills in other fields if not academic performance. Cognitive Behavioral Theories argue that motivation highly relates to success, and by complimenting these students’ performance, they stand higher chances of better performance. Job Descriptions Director Job Descriptions The Director should have a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or Development. He or she should equally have a minimum experience of three years in education with proper credentials. The Director should understand the system while being able to integrate effective practices to the Academy. He or she should be professionals who can relate well with the children, schools, and parents as well. Teacher Job Descriptions The teacher should have a minimum of a Diploma on Early Childhood Education. He or she should be very affectionate towards the children with a minimum experience of two years. The teacher spends most of the time with the children and therefore requires a lot of patience. He or she should equally learn to handle management and the parents too. Support Staff Job Descriptions The support staff should have certificates in their specialization. However, they should be accommodative of the children environment because they are the children’s role model. Therefore, they should have affection, and patience towards the children. Staff Professional Growth Plan Regarding the professional growth plan, the Academy will ensure it motivates its employees through bonuses, promotions, holiday packages, medical cover, and appraisals among others. Creating a good relationship between the employees and management helps in professional growth. In addition, the Academy will provide training courses to enhance the employees’ skills, and this will help in retaining employees. Occasionally, the Academy will invite guests and motivational speakers to enhance equally the employees’ knowledge and skills. Academies discipline Policy I believe that a classroom full of respect for one another may not require rules. I also believe in a safe environment for my students where no student bullies the other through name-calling or any other bullying. I should have respect for my students, and they respect me and the other students. Considering my democratic personality, the Academy may allow drinking and chewing of gum as long as it does not interfere with learning. However, any misuse of privileges will have them suspended or withdrawn. Students will sometimes drift from expected good behavior hence the need for a classroom constitution. Creating a school constitution involves having all the students making their rules, while negotiating amongst themselves which rules to follow and which ones to discard. This discipline is because they stand higher chances of following the rules they have created instead of the ones imposed on them. Having successfully created the constitution, the Academy will have the students pin it on the classroom notice board. Every student will have a copy of the constitution, which he or she will take home to the parents for an endorsement. Communication In addition to creating a good classroom-learning environment, The Academy will ensure a very healthy student-teacher relationship through communication. This relationship may be more helpful in a diverse classroom with different students having different backgrounds. It will make sure that no student feels unfairly treated and that my classroom suffers from no prejudice. The school will not allow diversity to result to discrimination or isolation due to poor communication. In addition, it will ensure that no student bears a label based on his or her academic performance, class, race, religion, and culture among others. In order to create a successful classroom management plan, I should concentrate on interpersonal skills more instead of classroom management skills, and this is possible through weaving the curriculum in accordance to these students’ life experiences. This interaction means that they can easily relate their lives to the subject. There is a need to hold classroom discussions with the students in relation to these rules using an open forum whereby open discussions can help eliminate the unnecessary rules. This dialogue can assist in creating an autonomous environment that will help them feel in control during their learning. These discussions would include the whole school rules. Other issues in the discussion may include heavy homework, which continues to raise concern to students and parents. Policies and Procedures The Academy will have its own rules and regulations, and every child, employee, and parents will require following the procedures. The policies will follow the government guidelines. They will include the Academy operations, child and parent’s rights, and the employee rights among others. The Academy expects every stakeholder to follow these policies and procedures or else they will have to face the Academy’s Board of Governors for disciplinary action. Conclusion In Early Childhood Education, I believe that a class management plan plays a vital role in creating an environment conducive for students’ learning while feeling safe. I believe that creating a rapport between the students is better in improving school management in relation to discipline. The Academy will not only ensure a safe learning environment, but also encourage them in their positive practices, ensuring the teachers do not dwell more on the wrongdoing, but rather on encouraging my students. As earlier mentioned, I prefer being a democratic leader rather than an autocratic because research shows that the later hardly improves the students’ performances. The school will also set high expectations on them while engaging them in the curriculum. Every student will respect everyone around him or her, and the school will equally reciprocate. It is important for the students to set their classroom constitution, which after my approval will apply to every student. References BOSCH, K. A., & PLAZYK, J. (1999). Planning classroom management for change. Arlington Heights, Ill: SkyLight Professional Development CAMPBELL, D. (2012). Discipline without anger: A new style of classroom management. Lanham, Md: R & L Education. CANTER, L., & CANTER, M. (2001). Assertive discipline: Positive behavior management for today's classroom Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree CIPANI, E. (2008). Classroom management for all teachers: Plans for evidence-based practice. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Merrill/Prentice Hall. DEINER, P. L. (2013). Inclusive early childhood education: development, resources, practice. Belmont, CA, Wadsworth Cengage Learning. ERTEL, P. A. K., & KAPPA DELTA PI (Honor society). (2005). The ABC's of classroom management: An A-Z sampler for designing your learning community. Indianapolis, Ind: Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education HAYNES, N. M. (2013). Behavior management: Traditional and expanded approaches. Lanham: University Press of America. IN TAYLOR, G. R. (2004). Practical application of classroom management theories into strategies. Lanham, Md: University Press of America. MANNING, B. H. (1991). Cognitive self-instruction for classroom processes. Albany, N.Y: State University of New York Press. MARTINEZ, J., & TEACHER CREATED MATERIALS, INC. (2000). Teacher's template collection for Microsoft Works Westminister, Calif: Teacher Created Materials, Inc. MORGAN, H. (2011). Early childhood education: history, theory, and practice. Lanham, Md, Rowman & Littlefield. NEW, R. S., & COCHRAN, M. (2007). Early childhood education: an international encyclopedia. Westport, Conn, Praeger Publishers. SHINDLER, J. (2010). Transformative classroom management: Positive strategies to engage all students and promote a psychology of success San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. TILESTON, D. W. (2004). What every teacher should know: The 10 book collection. Thousand Oaks Calif: Corwin WHITE, C. S., COLEMAN, M., & DAVIS, A. C. (2000). Early childhood education: building a philosophy for teaching. Upper Saddle River, N.J, Merrill. http://www.designshare.com/Research/Tarr/Aesthetic_Codes_3.htm Read More