Select one of the contemporary educational approaches mentioned in the text. Write a paragraph about the distinguishing features of this educational model

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The five contemporary educational approaches mentioned in the text are High/Scope, Bank Street/DIA, Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia. Students may select one and elaborate on distinguishing features.
High/Scope
- Curriculum is based on key experiences related to acquiring math concepts.
- Materials and what happens in learning centers defines the curriculum.
- Environment is designed to enable children to actively manipulate and experiment with objects, and then represent their knowledge.
- Children engage in a three-step "plan-do-review" process.
- The role of the teacher is to carefully design the environment and support children in exploring and learning from it.
Bank Street/ Developmental Interaction Approach
- Young children learn through direct experiences studying the community; trips into the community are frequent and valued learning experiences.
- Wooden unit blocks are standard equipment in the classroom.
- The classroom is viewed as reflection of the society, and teachers stress the importance of children learning to problem solve and cooperate.
- Play in centers is a central part of the curriculum, especially blocks and dramatic play.
- Independent choice time is an important part of the daily routine.
-Teachers are trained to be sensitive interpreters and facilitators who respond to each child's needs and interests.
- The focus is not on "what" or "how" to teach, but on why decisions are made.
Waldorf Approach
- Stresses the development of the child's body, mind, and spirit. Features an ungraded setting for 3 to 6 year olds. Curriculum consists of storytelling, puppetry, artistic activities, imaginative play, and practical work. The environments are characterized by homelike features and natural materials and a lot of attention is given to aesthetics. Teachers stay with a group of children for 3 years.
Montessori Approach
- Features child-sized learning environments with carefully designed and sequenced didactic learning materials that are provided in sequence according to graded level of difficulty.
- Mixed age and ability groupings.
- Activities are primarily organized for individual work rather than group interaction.
- Materials to support practical life skills such as buttoning, gardening, and dish washing.
- Purposeful activity is central to the classroom.
- The role of the teacher is to observe and direct children's learning rather than to provide instruction.
Reggio Emilia Approach
- Education of young children is based on relationships and interrelationships between teachers, children, and parents.
- The environment is viewed as a third teacher.
- Curriculum emerges from children's curiosity, social interactions, and interests.
- Intellectual development of children is promoted through a systematic focus on symbolic representation through various modes of expression or "The Hundred
Languages of Children."
- In-depth work on projects.
- Design of the environment includes an art studio or atelier; a large central gathering area or piazza; and the idea of transparency seen in floor to ceiling windows, mirrors, and the abundance of natural light.
- High-quality art supplies are beautifully arranged, and artwork is facilitated by
special art teacher or atelierista.
- Teachers collect and document children's work for a variety of purposes.