The Importance of Listening

11/21/2008

If we cannot disconnect, we cannot lead. Creating the culture of burnout is opposite to creating a culture of sustainable creativity.
Arianna Huffington, co-founder of the Huffington Post

In their book, We Are All Explorers: Learning and Teaching with Reggio Principles in Urban Settings (Teachers College Press), authors Daniel Scheinfeld, Karen Haigh, and Sandra Scheinfeld observe...

"When teachers are listening and responding, children become animated and involved, their cognitive and creative processes are energized, and their belief in themselves is deepened. Something similar happens when children listen to one another.

"There is a particular image of a child associated with a teachers listening, observing, and responding: namely, teachers seeing that young children are natural inquirers. They have motivations to explore the world through direct interaction with it and through constructing some kind of understanding of what they are encountering. Further, they have a strong motive to communicate the results of their explorations and to receive reflections from adults and other children for their discoveries. Their communication can take many forms: talking, drawing, gesturing, role-playing, and so on. All of these contribute to their ongoing dialogues with teachers and peers. The more avenues of communication that are offered, the better.

"The most significant kind of interaction with the world for children of preschool age is in exploring their relationships with it. They explore their relationships with family, teachers, and friends. They explore sensory relationships with animate and inanimate objects. They explore the way objects, animals, and all facets of nature respond to their physical actions. They are explorers and researchers."

Providing Appropriate Experiences for Young Children

Beginnings Workshop Books provide hands-on staff development resources with a wealth of practical ideas on specific curriculum topics from leading authorities in the field of early care and education. Now you can purchase all eight of the Beginnings Workshop Books listed below for a discounted price of $153, or you can purchase them individually at $24 apiece.

Literacy — Topics: Building Literacy, Talking, Multi-Language Programs, Bilingual Education, and Storytelling
Behavior — Topics: When Children are Difficult, Positive Behavior Strategies, Conflict Resolution, Power Struggles, Anger, and Parent Perspectives on Discipline
Child Development I — Topics: Meeting Children's Needs, Brain Research, Building Self Image, Children's Mental Health, Resiliency in Children, and Building Character
Curriculum — Topics: Applying Brain Research, Math and Numbers, Science and the Outdoors, and Young Children and Technology
Curriculum II — Topics: Art, Art Experiences, Music and Movement, Gross Motor Development, and Creative Dramatics
Play — Topics: The Spirit of Play, Value of Play, Block Play, Make-Believe Play, and Play and Culture
Child Development II — Topics: Fitness and Health, Nurturing Optimism, Nutrition, Imagination, and Humor
Professionalism — Topics: Being Teachers, Professionalism, Caregiver Health and Safety, Mentoring, Observing Children, Collaboration, and Child Care in Unique Environments

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For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.