Exploring Your Role in Early Childhood Education, 4th edition

Early childhood education today is more standards-based than ever before (Hyson & Biggar, 2006). This text addresses not only the 2009 NAEYC standards for early childhood preparation programs serving children from birth through age eight, but also the standards of Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support (INTASC). The first learning outcome of each chapter matches that chapter’s content to the three sets of standards (NAEYC, ACEI, INTASC) and the grid on the inside front cover shows how the chapter content is aligned with both sets of program evaluation criteria.

Meet the Teachers

Readers will “Meet the Teachers” through case material that describes one infant/toddler caregiver, one preschool teacher, and one kindergarten or primary grade teacher. In this way, the text provides a balance of all three age groups every early childhood teacher needs to know—infants/toddlers (0–2), preschoolers (3–5), and children in the primary grades (6–8).

Learning Outcomes

Every chapter includes a list of outcomes for the student, linked to the professional standards. This shift away from behavioral objectives to outcomes statements is consistent with current program accreditation requirements.

Did You Know?

Each chapter begins with 4-5 recent facts or research findings related to the topic/professional role of the chapter.  Instructors will find this material useful when introducing the chapter because much of this information is not what students might expect, based on their personal experience.

Collaborating with Families

Families figure prominently in any successful childhood program. Collaborating with Families illustrates specific ways that skillful practitioners convey information on a variety of topics to the significant adults in each child’s life.

Assessment Activities

Each chapter concludes with two assessment activities that provide application-level practice with the chapter’s content.  Assessment Activity 1 is a case study followed by discussion questions that analyze the situation from different perspectives. Assessment Activity 2 is designed as a mini workshop and is an application activity of the chapter content. 

Ask the Expert

The fourth edition of Exploring Your Role in Early Childhood Education has been completely updated, both in the content and presentation. This major revision included condensing the text, reorganizing the content, adding two new chapters and completely revising a third, expanding the visual material in every chapter, incorporating the latest research, and the current professional standards. The substantive changes include: 

• More accessible and useable learning aids.  Each chapter begins with easy to understand learning outcomes that are aligned with the chapter headings, the chapter summary, and three sets of national standards. Each chapter concludes with two different end-of-chapter assessments that offer an opportunity to apply what readers have learned from reading each chapter. Updated features such as “Did You Know?”, “Ask the Expert,” and “Meet the Teachers” portray the types of work, challenges, and joys of today’s early childhood professional.
  
• New Chapters on History and Ethics and Early Childhood Programs and Curriculum Models. The new chapter on history and ethics examines the time honored precepts of the field, the code of ethical conduct, and looks at influential leaders from ancient to modern times.  The new chapter on program and curriculum models elaborates on the general indicators of high-quality programs and describes various career paths for early childhood educators.
• Completely new chapter on diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence.   Although the third edition included a chapter on diversity, this chapter is completely new. This chapter integrates the topics of anti-bias education, ethical reasoning, NAEYC’s Code of Ethical Conduct, and includes more practical suggestions on ways to integrate diversity across the curriculum.
  
• Updated coverage of content, standards, accountability, and assessment.  The text features expanded coverage of brain-based learning, the latest version of developmentally appropriate practice, intentional teaching, the importance of healthy social and emotional development, evidence-based practices, and learning standards, to name a few.
• The Glossary is a new addition to the book. It is designed to aid the reader in expanding her or his professional vocabulary and focuses on the key terminology introduced in each chapter.
  
• Online resources are included in every chapter. A list of 4-6 authoritative sources that complement the chapter content is supplied as a resource. In addition, each website is annotated so that readers will know what is available there.
• Eight new appendices of resources and materials help student teachers and beginning teachers locate and organize materials and resources for their curriculum.

Each of these changes addresses current issues in early childhood education and implementation.  Their inclusion should better prepare readers to face the realities of teaching young children on a day to day basis.