NAEYC provides many links to
the latest and newest information on the world of early childhood programs and
practices. Some of the links on the website are for the NAEYC’s take on
professional ethics, technology in the early childhood classroom, tips for safe
playing and the findings on DAP. The website also provides many ways to keep up
on public policies, current topics in the field and professional development.
I selected the portion
of the website that explored professional development to see what other tools I
can use to better myself to help my own program. NAEYC offers online programs
to explore “must-know” topics, training-of-trainers sessions, training DVDs and
an annual conference for workshops and networking. Many of the development
programs that they offer are ways to better suite yourself to make a good
impact on the children you are working with.
For this week’s topic on awareness,
accessibility and responsiveness for early childhood programs, the organization
is all about helping EC programs become more known and be able to provide
proper care for every child. The aim of this organization is to make these inequities
and barriers a thing of the past. They offer books on the topic and what is
happening in the government to change these inequities.
While exploring the NAEYC website
further this week I learned more about developmentally appropriate practices
(DAP). DAP is an approach to teaching that uses both research based knowledge
and what is known about effective early education. This method has teachers
meeting young children where they are as individuals and as part of a group and
help them meet achievable and challenging learning goals. Developmentally
appropriate practices are the basis to all of NAEYC’s work in the early
childhood field.
References:
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteStephanie,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are finding the NAEYC website helpful. There is a plethora of support materials for training teachers in a wide variety of topics.
DAP is what I am most familiar with in my teaching. Since the center where I am the director is NAEYC accredited, we follow DAP closely. I am not sure where you work, but what teaching practices do you have in place?
Message in a Backpack is a fabulous resource for bridging home-school relationships. I use it often to enhance my family newsletter. I think you will find it to be another wonderful resource.
http://www.naeyc.org/tyc/backpack
Hi Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteNAEYC's site is great for finding resources. My center is new so we have not been able to begin the accreditation process just yet, but I remained a member of NAEYC and I subscribe to both of their publications - Teaching Young Children and Young Child. If you do not receive these, I highly recommend them both. Teaching Young Children gives great classrooms and curriculum ideas and Young Child focuses on specific topics each month and covers many issues and policies in the field. I am sure if you do get these publications you find them as valuable as I do! I have saved every copy since I began getting those years ago. They are great tools!
Developmentally appropriate practices are such a huge thing for child care professionals to learn more about. This is a term that we hear so often, but have to make sure that we are offering our students the best things for their development. When we design our classrooms to work with the age groups that we have it works well with them doing the activities we have for the children. I think that it's great that NAEYC offers such great information on their website.
ReplyDelete