Posted: April 18th, 2023

Influential Pedagogical Approaches in ECE

Introduction
This week we will focus our study on particular ECE programs. It is important to understand that early childhood programs originated from particular understanding of theories and philosophies about the purpose of education, images of children, and beliefs about how children learn (for example, see the theories that we have reviewed in this course). Learning about ECE programs (or ECE in practice) helps us further reflect on how theory and practice are related. This week you will be introduced through readings and web links to six influential approaches to early childhood education: The Montessori Method, High/Scope, Reggio Emilia, Bank Street Model, Waldorf and the Project Approach (the latter is not a model per se but rather a way of developing a curriculum for young children). You will be asked to read two articles and browse a number of websites to gain knowledge and information about these ECE programs.
Influential Pedagogical Approaches in ECE
A number of ECE programs have become recognized world-wide for their pedagogical approaches. As the readings for this week will illuminate each one of these programs has its roots in a particular historical, cultural, and political contexts. Of the six ECE programs that we will review, Montessori is by far the “oldest” approach. The Montessori Method originated from the work of Maria Montessori in Italy in the early 1900s. Interestingly, her method was not popular in North America until the late 1950s, and thus, despite the fact the the Montessori Method is over 100 years old, it is still considered a contemporary approach to ECE. In contrast with ECE programs that were designed and conceived by an individual/theorist, such as the Montessori and The Waldorf approaches, High/Scope and the Bank Street Models incorporated in the 1960s developmental and learning theories that were developed by researchers such as Jean Piaget and others, in order to create an original approach to ECE curriculum and practice. The Reggio Emilia approach to ECE is a unique example of how an ECE pedagogical approach grew as a grassroots/community based movement after WW2 with the hope of creating a more just society.
The Project Approach
The project approach is not a model but an approach – a way of thinking about learning, knowledge, understanding and teaching. There is no single way to incorporate it into curriculum. A project is an in depth study of a particular topic, phenomenon, or concept, usually undertaken by either a whole class (working in small groups on subtopics), a group of children, or an individual child. The project is an investigation – a piece of research – where children find answers to questions they posed by themselves or in collaboration with their teacher. The goal is to expand one’s understanding about the complexity of the topic rather than to seek right answers to questions posed by the teacher. Projects can extend over days, weeks, or even months.
This approach originated with John Dewey and his student Kilpatrick in the progressive education movement of the 1920s. The project approach was rrediscovered in the late 1960s, and revived by Lilian Katz and Sylvia Chard who wrote “Engaging Children’s Minds: The Project Approach” (First edition in 1989). Katz and Chard argue that the project approach allows children to:
• learn that their curiosity and interests are valued and encouraged
• observe carefully, make comparisons, draw conclusions, ask questions (use research “tools”)
• work collaboratively
• make choices and take responsibility
• understand that there are different ways to “search” and represent knowledge – there are many answers, as opposed to a “right” answer
The goal of the project approach is to cultivate the life of children’s minds (fosters inquisitive attitudes). It offers children opportunities to deepen their understanding of the environment and strengthen their confidence in their ability to contribute to knowledge construction. It emphasizes teacher’s responsiveness to children and it relies on children’s active participation in learning. Class/school is experienced as a community of learners. The project approach provides meaningful ways of incorporating literacy, science, math, art, technology, community knowledge and expertise.
Project Approach: Five Structural Features
• Assignment help – Discussions (encourage questions)
• Field Work (collecting data, field trips, library visit)
• Investigation (materials, tools, and books)
• Representation (many ways to represent understandings; make books, models, paintings, drawings, graphs…)
• Display and sharing of learning in multiple ways! (as a way to summarize the experience)
Adapted from Katz, Lilian G., & Chard, Sylvia. (2000). Engaging children’s minds: The project approach (2nd ed.). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.)
Required Readings
• Chard, S. C. (1999). From themes to projects. Early Childhood Research and Practice, 1(1), pp. 1-6. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED428893.pdf HYPERLINK “https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED428893.pdf%20HYPERLINK%20%22https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED428893.pdf%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.” HYPERLINK “https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED428893.pdf” HYPERLINK “https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED428893.pdf%20HYPERLINK%20%22https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED428893.pdf%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.”Links to an external site.
• Klein, A.S. (2012). Different approaches to teaching: Comparing three preschool programs. http://www.bbinternationalpreschool.org/Parent%20Library/Different%20Approaches.pdf HYPERLINK “http://www.bbinternationalpreschool.org/Parent%20Library/Different%20Approaches.pdf%20HYPERLINK%20%22http://www.bbinternationalpreschool.org/Parent%20Library/Different%20Approaches.pdf%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.” HYPERLINK “http://www.bbinternationalpreschool.org/Parent%20Library/Different%20Approaches.pdf” HYPERLINK “http://www.bbinternationalpreschool.org/Parent%20Library/Different%20Approaches.pdf%20HYPERLINK%20%22http://www.bbinternationalpreschool.org/Parent%20Library/Different%20Approaches.pdf%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.”Links to an external site.
• Or
• Edwards, C. P. (2002). Three approaches from Europe: Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia. Early Childhood Research and Practice, 4(1). https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001 HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=famconfacpub” HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001 HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=famconfacpub”& HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=famconfacpub”context=famconfacpub” HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=famconfacpub”& HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=famconfacpub” HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001 HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=famconfacpub”& HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=famconfacpub”context=famconfacpub” HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=famconfacpub”context=famconfacpub HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=famconfacpub” HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001 HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=famconfacpub”& HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=famconfacpub”context=famconfacpub” HYPERLINK “https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=famconfacpub”Links to an external site.

As well, choose some of the following websites to further study the Project Approach, High/Scope Curriculum, Bank Street Model, Waldorf, Montessori, and the Reggio Emilia Approach.
Further Learning about the Montessori Method
• The Montessori Method HYPERLINK “http://www.amshq.org/” HYPERLINK “http://www.amshq.org/” HYPERLINK “http://www.amshq.org/”Links to an external site.
• The Montessori Method (translated from Italian) http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/montessori/method/method.html HYPERLINK “http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/montessori/method/method.html%20HYPERLINK%20%22http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/montessori/method/method.html%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.” HYPERLINK “http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/montessori/method/method.html” HYPERLINK “http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/montessori/method/method.html%20HYPERLINK%20%22http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/montessori/method/method.html%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.”Links to an external site.
Further Learning about Waldorf, High/Scope Curriculum and the Bank Street Model
• Waldorf HYPERLINK “http://www.waldorf.ca/” HYPERLINK “http://www.waldorf.ca/” HYPERLINK “http://www.waldorf.ca/”Links to an external site.
• The High-Scope Curriculum HYPERLINK “https://highscope.org/” HYPERLINK “https://highscope.org/” HYPERLINK “https://highscope.org/”Links to an external site.
• Bank Street Model: https://www.bankstreet.edu/about-bank-street/our-approach/ HYPERLINK “https://www.bankstreet.edu/about-bank-street/our-approach/%20HYPERLINK%20%22https://www.bankstreet.edu/about-bank-street/our-approach/%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.%20HYPERLINK%20%22http://www.bnkst.edu/school-children/%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.” HYPERLINK “https://www.bankstreet.edu/about-bank-street/our-approach/” HYPERLINK “https://www.bankstreet.edu/about-bank-street/our-approach/%20HYPERLINK%20%22https://www.bankstreet.edu/about-bank-street/our-approach/%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.%20HYPERLINK%20%22http://www.bnkst.edu/school-children/%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.”Links to an external site. HYPERLINK “https://www.bankstreet.edu/about-bank-street/our-approach/%20HYPERLINK%20%22https://www.bankstreet.edu/about-bank-street/our-approach/%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.%20HYPERLINK%20%22http://www.bnkst.edu/school-children/%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.” HYPERLINK “http://www.bnkst.edu/school-children/” HYPERLINK “https://www.bankstreet.edu/about-bank-street/our-approach/%20HYPERLINK%20%22https://www.bankstreet.edu/about-bank-street/our-approach/%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.%20HYPERLINK%20%22http://www.bnkst.edu/school-children/%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.”Links to an external site.
Further Learning about the Reggio Emilia Approach
• https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/reggio-emilia-approach/ HYPERLINK “https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/reggio-emilia-approach/%20HYPERLINK%20%22https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/reggio-emilia-approach/%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.” HYPERLINK “https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/reggio-emilia-approach/” HYPERLINK “https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/reggio-emilia-approach/%20HYPERLINK%20%22https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/reggio-emilia-approach/%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.”Links to an external site.
Further Learning about the Project Approach
• Examples of projects: Larvae, ladies and learning: The project approach (Whitham and Killoran) HYPERLINK “https://canvas.ubc.ca/courses/102044/files/22732351?wrap=1” HYPERLINK “https://canvas.ubc.ca/courses/102044/files/22732351/download?download_frd=1” HYPERLINK “https://canvas.ubc.ca/courses/102044/files/22732351?wrap=1″Download Larvae, ladies and learning: The project approach (Whitham and Killoran)
• The Project Approach as a Way of Making Life Meaningful in the Classroom (Eunju Yun) https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED470896.pdf HYPERLINK “https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED470896.pdf%20HYPERLINK%20%22https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED470896.pdf%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.” HYPERLINK “https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED470896.pdf” HYPERLINK “https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED470896.pdf%20HYPERLINK%20%22https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED470896.pdf%22Links%20to%20an%20external%20site.”Links to an external site.
• Changing Classroom Practice to Include the Project Approach (Ann-Marie Clark) https://ecrp.illinois.edu/v8n2/clark.html

After reading the articles and websites, reflect on the similarities and differences between childhood philosophies and respond to the following question: What struck you as unique and meaningful while reading about the various early childhood models and approaches? Choose one approach that you found particularly interesting and explain why it resonated with you.

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