Over the years how we educate young children has changed and improved.

Each year

teachers discover more efficient and successful approaches to education so that they may do their

best to help young children learn and develop successfully. I believe young children learn best

when they can explore, ask questions, and create. Learning by playing should be an integral part

of any early childhood classroom. Learning through play can teach children social, cognitive,

physical, emotional, language skills. It helps them to gain self-confidence and develop their

creativity. I also believe that an Emergent curriculum should be used when working with young

children. Emergent curriculum focuses on children’s interests, needs, and can be used when

working with children of all ages. The adult’s role in young children’s learning should be to

support them and design developmentally appropriate activities based on a child’s interests and

strengths. Adults can encourage children to learn by using new language, encouraging new

experiences, and asking questions. It's important that adults observe and intervene if needed but

not to direct children when they are playing or completing other activities.

It's important for teachers to create a learning environment that is safe and supports

children's learning and development. This learning environment should include a play space with

developmentally appropriate materials and toys which should be changed out periodically. All

materials should be accessible to the children. The learning environment should be outside and

inside because it is important that young children are outside as much as possible. It's important

for the learning environment to be safe and nurturing and promote children's engagement. The

learning environment should include books and materials that display diversity and cultural

awareness. It's important that your learning environment makes everyone feel welcome and

accepted. The learning environment should have an art area filled with accessible materials that

allow young children to use their creativity. Materials that should be available to children include
blocks, puzzles, nature materials such as rocks and sticks, science materials, books that display

culture and diversity, sensory activities, such as a sensory table that is changed out to a new

activity. There should be math materials such as counting and sorting activities, outdoor

materials such as balls, bikes, and other outdoor toys. There should be music and art materials

such as instruments, paints, pencils, paper, clay, markers, scissors, glue, and music playing

around the classroom. Dramatic play materials should be supplied and changed out when the

children's interests have changed. I also believe that all materials should be accessible to the

children in the classroom at all times.

In all ECE classrooms culture should be an important part of young children's learning.

It's important for teachers to make culture a part of their everyday learning and not take the

tourist approach. Have books and materials that show different culture, watch videos, listen to

music, and invite guests in to instruct children about their culture. It’s important that the

children’s families be involved in their children’s education and for teachers to develop a

professional relationship with the families they work with. All families should feel accepted and

welcome in the classroom. It's important for teachers to have excellent communication with

families and inform them of their child's strengths and areas that need improvement. Parents

should encourage and support their child’s learning inside and outside of the classroom. An

effective early childhood teacher builds relationships with each individual, learning their

interests and planning their activities based on those interests. They are kind and respectful and

make everyone in their classroom feel welcome and included whether that's children, families, or

co-workers.They are organized and can develop routines that benefit the whole classroom. They

are effective communicators and always inform the children's families on their accomplishments.

An effective teacher supports a child’s explorations and creativity by encouraging children to

learn through play. They support culture awareness and diversity and teach children that

everyone is unique and should be proud about what makes them different from others. As ECE

teachers it is our job to learn and discover the best ways to educate young children so that they

may be successful and to prepare them for later in life.