'This book will be an invaluable resource for pre-service early childhood educators as they prepare not only for their placements but also their future careers. The examples, activities and reflection points are realistically representative of events and contexts across the birth to 8 years age range. These features effectively scaffold the pre-service teacher's preparation and thinking for socially just early childhood teaching.' - Associate Professor Susan Krieg, Early Childhood Program Coordinator, Flinders University
Making the transition from pre-service teacher to professional can be challenging. From field experience placements, or 'pracs', to the early years in the classroom, this text provides a comprehensive and practical guide to help every early childhood student develop their professional expertise and confidence.
The authors prompt students to bring together theories learned at university with ways of working with real children in real settings, framed by the principles of recognising equity and diversity. There is clear guidance on how to be successful 'on prac', including understanding the many roles pre-service teachers will be expected to take on, and the important relationships they need to build. Lesson planning, understanding curriculum documents and fail-safe strategies for teaching in a wide range of situations and with children from wide-ranging backgrounds are all covered in depth. Suggestions for tutorial activities and further reading accompany each chapter, prompting students to engage in critical reflection and self-evaluation, while the 'On track on prac' feature will help pre-service teachers monitor and review their progress. Readers are also provided with insights from 'real world' pre-service students and professional teachers who have mentored many different students on prac.
This is an essential text for all students undertaking practicums and preparing for the first years of their professional careers.
By:
Felicity McArdle,
Lyn Zollo,
Lyn Zollo
Imprint: Allen & Unwin
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions:
Height: 176mm,
Width: 230mm,
Spine: 13mm
Weight: 384g
ISBN: 9781760111182
ISBN 10: 176011118X
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 29 July 2015
Recommended Age: From
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
College/higher education
,
Undergraduate
,
Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
List of figures and tables Introduction: How to use this book 1. Becoming, being, belonging: So you want to be an early childhood teacher? 2. What is prac? Preparing for success across different settings 3. Think like a teacher: Pedagogies, values and ethics 4. Act like a teacher: Being professional 5. Work like a teacher: Understanding curriculum documents, documentation, leadership and mentoring 6. Stepping up, stepping out: Your employability 7. Young children, different settings: Managing and connecting across contexts 8. Your teaching toolkit: Never-fail strategies, tips and reminders References Index
FELICITY MCARDLE teaches undergraduate and postgraduate education students at Queensland University of Technology. She publishes nationally and internationally, and is co-author of The Trouble with Play. Felicity taught in primary schools and preschool settings in Queensland for over fourteen years before coming to QUT. MEGAN GIBSON is a lecturer in early childhood education with extensive experience managing childcare facilities and primary teaching before she joined QUT eight years ago. LYN ZOLLO is a lecturer in early childhood education at QUT. She has worked at a teacher in various primary schools in Queensland and Victoria.
Reviews for Being an Early Childhood Educator: Bringing theory and practice together
'This book will be an invaluable resource for pre-service early childhood educators as they prepare not only for their placements but also their future careers. The examples, activities and reflection points are realistically representative of events and contexts across the birth to 8 years age range. These features effectively scaffold the pre-service teacher's preparation and thinking for socially just early childhood teaching.' - Associate Professor Susan Krieg, Early Childhood Program Coordinator, Flinders University.
