John Dewey and early childhood education Essay

“Education is not preparation for lifetime.

Education is usually life on its own. ” – John Dewey (1859-1952) (Ministry of Education, Singapore, 2003) The group of Desired Outcomes of Pre-school Education that the Ministry of Education(MOE) acquired put together in 2003 outlined the significant significance of pre-school education being the platform for long term learning. It’s intention had been far over and above preparation of those children only for Primary School programs (Wong, 2000). Very much as well to Ruben Dewey (Dewey)’s quote, MOE’s take on pre-school education exists similar framework.

I felt that it difficulties the perceived notion that education is only about receiving the necessary requirements or securing a good work. However , with an open head, education the truth is occurs through life. This kind of brings about a couple of educational guidelines of Dewey which experienced influenced myself in my workings with children in a pre-school setting.

My spouse and i felt which the central idea of Dewey’s perspective of education was that there ought to be greater emphasis on allowing children develop problem solver skills, important thinking abilities, and to be able to make decisions on their own, instead of simply within the memorization of lessons. Through real life experience, instead of merely being around the receiving end of old information, children were able to develop the required abilities effectively (Seefeldt and Barbour, 1998). Active learning continues to be widely recommended in my child care centre.

I actually often integrate and encourage it too. Let’s claim I will be teaching on the concept of the occupation and doctors would be the topic of the week. Pertaining to the younger age bracket like pre-nursery and baby room, I would give real components like a doctor play collection.

Children would be encouraged to learn these components at their particular pace and interests. They would be able to encounter how it feels like being a doctor and thereafter get an insight of what a doctor’s work opportunity is about. Concurrently, they would be exposed to the musical instruments that a doctor uses.

I would also inquire children wide open ended concerns like “What does a doctor do? Which will tool do you consider a doctor uses to hear your heartbeat? A high level00 doctor, just how would you listen to my pulse? “. We believe that these kinds of open concluded question motivates children to construct their own comprehension of concepts. I would personally also drop hints and attempt to encourage their fascination when kids become apathetic and appear clueless. Together with these actions, for the kindergarten classes, I would expose a “Doctor of the day” where the child would, together with the educator, assist in the daily temperature taking of children.

This way they might understand the notion of what is taken up be ill and precisely what is not, and in addition who should they visit when they land sick. We would also liaise with a near by clinic and bring the children on a trip, getting the doctor to help in giving the children a short demonstration of any regular consultation in the center. The children will not only be able to see how a center setting is similar to, they will also have the ability to pose questions to the doctor to learn more.

Following which in turn, I would arrange for a center role perform where youngsters are free to share their own presentation and concepts of a as being a doctor. In tie with Dewey’s avocation of energetic learning, this concept of learning has been strongly supported by the local context as well. In the Code of Ethics, professionals happen to be obliged to market and inspire children to become actively involved regardless of capacity (Association pertaining to Early Childhood Educators, Singapore, 2005). Dewey also strongly suggested that the school is a interpersonal institution (Flanagan, 1994). This individual believed that through social interaction with adults and peers, learning would be further reinforced (Henniger, 2002).

Connection with colleagues or adults allows kids to think, procedure their thoughts into spoken words and for that reason encourages and stimulates a child’s pondering. Interactive learning is also vital to sociable development. To be able to develop a confident and gratifying relationship with peers and adults is essential for successful social interaction and is normally a focus of pre-school programs (Early Childhood Teachers’ Association, 2003). In my workings with kids, I have recognized the important function social discussion plays within a child’s creation. Children throughout all pre-school levels delight in talking and interacting with one another over their thoughts, opinions and experiences.

One way I encourage this is by planning problem solving in group discussions. For instance, the kindergarten kids would be granted a problem at the start of the day: “What are the top features of an bug? ” They would then end up being divided into groups to explore the issue by entering the various learning centres I use set up toacquire the information. This is often followed up by bringing the children on a field trip to the Botanical Back garden where youngsters are able check out on the theme and produce drawings and notes prove observations as a group. At the end of the day, they would discuss of the gatherings once again in organizations, and then present their results.

Other than understanding how to function as a part of a group, kids would end up being able to find out cooperative abilities and resolve conflicts through the activity. Besides peer interaction, mature interaction plays an essential role. In the Assessment of Licensing Specifications in nursery centre, ecuries are to motivate interaction with children to ensure children in order to understand personal and others (Ministry of Community Development and Sports, 2003). In the pre-nursery and nursery classes, I take time to hear, make eye contact and respond to kids. This makes children feel comfortable and it motivates them to communicate more with adults.

We would also policy for activities like money play and painting about large paperwork where youngsters are able to continue with the activity together. Through such activities, they could discuss, review and communicate with each other too. I would also inquire abuout like, “What do you think Clarisse has cast? Does it look like a sandwich? ” which allows intended for creative thoughts to be expressed and interaction to take place. Dewey’s philosophy perceived a teacher’s role as being a guide and observer, rather than an instructor or maybe a disciplinarian.

The teacher is always to provide and prepare the planet and programs to allow children to advantage and learn successfully from that. Teachers were expected to observe children and come up with activities designed to assist in optimal learning (Feeney, Christensen and Moravcik, 2006). Pertaining to the pre-nursery and setting classes, We would provide a a large scale materials wherever children would be given the choice to choose based upon their choice. I would not really interfere within their choice activity as long as it conforms protection standards. I might also cover activities in which children could explore and exercise learning from mistakes.

For instance in the dough making session, they might be able to check out how much water is needed to attain the texture of dough they would like, and what needs to be added when the dough turns into too very soft. However , I might be helping children every time they are caught or confronted with much problems. I would as well put up children’s work like their art work at a prominent corner of the class to make all of them feel that their particular work is definitely valued.

For the kindergarten classes, I would plan the lesson together with the children and come up with activities that could touch on their curiosity. For instance, speaking about with kids about which occupations they are passionate about the most simply by showing these people a variety of it. After the children have made their choices, I would plan actions catered to their interest.

Over the lesson, I would make observational notes regarding each kid and provide activities or elements catered to individual’s fascination. For example if the child displays immense affinity for the occupation teacher, We would plan for the kid to have a move at instructing his fellow classmates a song. Or perhaps if a kid is interested in being a policeman, he can patrol the corridors before nap time to ensure that children are not concealing in the lavatories or about mischief.

In the same way, under the Framework for Kindergarten Curriculum, MOE recommend placing their guidelines into practice in a few techniques. These includes, preparing the learning environment by encouraging learning at their particular pace and choice, organizing meaningful activities based on children’s interest and abilities, permitting resources and materials being easily and readily available and observing and monitoring children’s development. (Ministry of Education, Singapore, 2003) Through Dewey, I discover various methods and principles which takes on a vital role in children’s pre-school learning. Even though there were as well controversies in Dewey’s idea, I believe that every philosopher has their own virtues and Dewey was one which struck myself the most.

References Association to get Early Child years Educators, Singapore (2005). Code of values. Retrieved Mar 23, 2010 from http://www. aeces. org/code_of_ethics Early The child years Teachers’ Connection (2003).

Educating young children. Log of early childhood teachers’ association incorporation and school of early childhood university or college of technology, 9(1) Feeney, S. Christensen, D. Moravcik, E. (2006). Who am I in the lives of children?: an introduction to early childhood education (7th ed). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

Pearson Education. Flanagan, Farreneheit. M. (1994). John Dewey. Retrieved 03 24, 2010 from http://www. admin. mfu. edu/ctlf/Ed%20Psych%20Readings/dewey. pdf format Henniger, Meters.

L. (2002) Teaching children: An introduction (2nd ed). Top Saddle River, New Jersey. Pearson Education.