Developmentally Appropriate Practice In Research

The Seven Basic Beliefs about Guidance help teacher’s to establish effective guidance practices by identifying effective guidance strategies that are developmentally and culturally appropriate, based on respectful and supportive relationship with children. The three dimensions Positive Climate, Teacher Sensitivity and Regard for Student Perspective of the Emotional Support Domain relate to The Seven Basic Beliefs about Guidance because they both support teachers by providing specific teaching practices to help children develop warm, supportive relationships, experience enjoyment and excitement about learning” (Pianta et al., 2008. p.2). In the chart below I will discuss the correlation between The Seven Basic Beliefs about Guidance and the Emotional Support Domain.

2.2 Key to promoting appropriate positive behaviour and the respect for others in the teaching environment is for the teacher to establish and agree ground rule. To support the rules the teacher must pro-actively lead by example, challenging inappropriate behaviour when it occurs.

A supportive learning environment should be purposeful and task orientated, where the tutor emphasises the need to progress steadily. This can be done by starting lessons promptly, creating a smooth flow to the lesson, involving pupils and monitoring their progression and organisation. A positive effort should be made to ensure pupils have or build on self-respect and esteem by setting realistic opportunities for success and helpful support and encouragement whenever difficulties arise.

What are the key principles of developmentally-appropriate practices? Explain the importance of NAEYC and share some of its goals.

In order to respond this question, we must first review the history of Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) and Early Childhood Education (ECE). Although ECE has been around since the creation of kindergarten in the 1800’s, the decade of the 1980’s was an important period for ECE. “By the 1980’s, meta-analysis of the well-designed US projects offered compelling evidence on the positive outcomes of [early childhood education and intervention]” (Woodhead, 2007). Therefore, there was much pressure to improve the state of education, including ECE. “The decade of the 1980’s saw numerous calls for widespread school reform, with changes recommended in teacher education, graduation requirements, school structure, and accountability measures” (S. Bredekamp, R.A. Knuth, L.G. Kunesh, and D.D. Shulman, 1992). At this time, there was an increasing concern about the quality of early childhood education for the influx number of families that needed it. This led the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) to “begin planning a national voluntary accreditation system for early childhood programs”(NAEYC, 2014). With this planning came a need for a more specific description with regards to accreditation guidelines. Therefore, NAEYC issued a formal statement defining DAP.

1. A developmentally appropriate practice to help and 18 month old to understand be safe rule is presenting a puppet show. For example I would present 3 puppets, One teacher puppet and two toddler puppets. One of the toddler puppets would demonstrate running back and forth in the classroom. The teacher puppet would then explain to the two children the basic ground rules of being safe. Teacher puppet would also mention to the toddler puppets that running in the classroom can give us ouchies. And now the toddler puppets would have a better understanding of being safe.

This assignment will look at supporting positive behaviour. I will begin by looking at why consistency is important when dealing with behaviour and applying boundaries and rules. I will include some examples of these rules and boundaries in accordance with school policy and procedure

Several issues are discussed in the NAEYC position statement about Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP). The section points out three main areas that policymakers have addressed because they realize how important these areas are to an early elementary child.

DAP stands for developmentally appropriate practices (Kostelnik). This means that the activities exposed to the children in the classroom are not overwhelming, or too difficult, for their skill level, but they are achievable, interesting, meaningful, and worth knowing for each individual child (Olsen). The resources I will use will be relevant to the children and appropriate according to the different families they come from and the community they live in (Olsen). My future DAP classroom will be safe for all children, look desirable, and have a stimulating atmosphere (Kostelnik). I seek to build wholesome relationships with the children and their families, so they are able to feel cared for and comfortable in the classroom, helping them progress as best they can (Olsen). The children will learn through self-directed play, centers, hands-on involvement, large/small groups, and routine (Olsen). Different activities are provided for the children on a daily basis where they can make choices, use their creativity, and have opportunities that help them understand the world around them (Olsen). It is my job as the teacher to provide diverse activities, strategies and teaching layouts that focus on the development of the whole child to help each individual learn in a plethora of ways (Olsen).

There is a plethora of child development theories that have a degree of influence over current practice. Each of which both have criticism and contrasting theories.

Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP), was designed to ensure that youngsters are provided optimal development and learning. This is done by teachers working with young children wherever a child is developmentally and working with them in both a group setting and as individuals. When working with children, the teacher needs to make sure that all children are meeting achievable and challenging goals. The NAEYC developed twelve principles of ensure that children are being provided DAP (“Developmentally Appropriate Practice,” 2009).

More importantly, creating positive student-teacher relationships can prevent discipline issues from arising. By establishing a persistent tone of mutual respect, students will participate in class activities with confidence that they and their opinions are valued. Students also should be taught how to appreciate the unique contributions each student brings to the class, as well as how to effectively resolve issues that may arise. I believe that demonstrating genuine respect to students and showing interest in their concerns will allow the effective use of instructional time, positive relationships to prevail, and minimal discipline problems to avail.

Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP) is a method of teaching that is based on the research about how young children grow and learn and includes standards for high quality care and education for young children. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) established these guidelines more than 20 years ago. Authors Gordon and Browne state, “The DAP approach stresses the need for activity-based learning environments and is based on what we know about children through years of child development research and what we observe of their interests, abilities, and needs” (40). The three core components of DAP are: 1) what is known about child development and learning, 2) what is known about each child, and 3) what is known about social and cultural contexts in which children learn. A DAP classroom is a busy classroom where students are engaged and interacting physically with objects and persons. This classroom is full of materials, activities, and direct interactions that lead the student into active learning. The observations for this report were conducted at the Laredo Community College Camilo Prada Early Child Development Center in the blue classroom.

A positive learning environment requires consistency within the classroom and by the teacher. Rules need to be established in the classroom. Students and teachers need to understand and agree upon the rules and procedures of the classroom.

There is really a need to look into the welfare of pupils so that they could achieve to the fullest. It is a fact that when a pupil has emotional or personal problems, he cannot make use of his potentialities. Guidance is a process of helping the individual to understand himself and his world so he can utilize his potentialities. Guidance is a process of helping the individual to understand himself and his world so he can utilize his potentialities (Shertzer and Stone, 2013). It is a process of helping individuals develop to the maximum of his capacity in the direction most beneficial to himself and his society Guidance is helping a person to see through himself in order that he may see himself through (Hamrin as cited by NSGMED, 2014).