Writing in an article in The Atlantic, Erika Christakis cautions against recent pressures to bring an over-emphasis on "direct instruction" to programs for young children. She describes characteristics of preschool programs that are most beneficial for children:
"According to experts such as the Yale professor Edward Zigler, a leader in child-development and early-education policy for half a century, the best preschool programs share several features:
-They provide ample opportunities for young children to use and hear complex, interactive language;
-Their curriculum supports a wide range of school-readiness goals that include social and emotional skills and active learning;
-They encourage meaningful family involvement; and
-They have knowledgeable and well-qualified teachers."
Source: "The New Preschool is Crushing Kids," by Erika Christakis, The Atlantic, December 17, 2015
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Comments (1)
Displaying 1 CommentCSBC
Denver, CO, United States
As usual, the central piece of a quality preschool program is missing: well compensated teachers and caregivers! When will we as a field understand that the core of a quality program is teachers and caregivers who are well trained, receive continual training, and are well compensated (salaries and benefits)?
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