Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/working-cross-culturally-learning-about-being-a-guest.-a-conversation-with-sandra-floyd/5024722/
We live in a time of such juxtapositions. For instance, in the early childhood field we have a wealth of convincing research and easy to access resources on:
- brain development in the early years,
- the value of play for emotional and cognitive intelligence,
- the role of formative assessment in shaping children’s identities,
- how bias develops in young children,
- skills needed for the 21st century.
And yet, teaching practices are being hijacked in a manner that undermines this very compelling knowledge. Why? I wonder why, when you know the research, you would limit physical activity in the classroom or outside recess time when there is strong evidence of children’s need to be physically active for their brains to develop? Knowing play is a child’s primary engine for learning, why would you fill their days with limited time for this learning? Why would teachers use a memorize and drill approach with children, knowing the 21st century digital age requires critical analysis, problem solving and imaginative thinking to successfully address the ever-growing crises we face on this planet?
With these contradictions between what research suggests we should be doing and the direction educational systems have chosen, how does an educator get his or ...