Valuing Diversity in Early Childhood Education

Description

Part I: Foundations and Frameworks

Chapter 1. The What, Why, and How of Exploring Diversity

Chapter 2. The Development of Cultural Identity

Chapter 3. The Spectrum of Responses to Diversity

Part II: Facets of Human Diversity

Chapter 4. Race and Ethnicity

Chapter 5. Language and Nationality

Chapter 6. Socioeconomic Factors

Chapter 7.Religion

Chapter 8. Families

Chapter 9. Abilities

Part III: Bringing It All Together

Chapter 10. Supporting Individual Learners

Chapter 11. Teaching in a Diverse World

First-hand stories from the field relate classroom experiences and family perspectives to give students a vivid, authentic picture of current practice and diversity among families.

• • In My Family features provide individual stories about diverse family contexts.
  • Classroom Story Corner stories relate actual classroom experiences.
• Broad coverage of the foundational concepts and definitions, coupled with six chapters on specific characteristics and facets of diversity provide the necessary background knowledge and sample teaching strategies students can take into the classroom.
  • The six areas covered include: race (Ch. 4), language (Ch. 5), socioeconomics (Ch. 6), religion (Ch. 7), families (Ch. 8), and abilities (Ch. 9).
• An original outline of a spectrum of responses to diversity enables readers to clearly see a continuum of practices, attitudes, and behaviours related to living and working within diverse groups.
  • Prompts encourage readers to make personal connections to their own attitudes and behaviour.
  • Included are clear suggestions for moving practices to the most positive side of the spectrum (Ch. 3).
• A practical, applied perspective throughout the text supports readers in applying the best practices to value and include each child and family in equitable ways.
  • Each chapter includes robust practical strategies for applying instructional practices that are culturally relevant and validating both in the classroom— Classroom Connections—and in partnership with families— Family Partnerships.
• Graphic organisers integrated throughout the chapters aid comprehension and provide opportunities and prompts for readers to synthesise material.
• Chapter culminating activities guide readers to examine their personal ideas and background in the context of the richly diverse world in which we live and work.
  • Included are critical thinking discussion prompts and activities to promote self-reflection and interactive perspective taking.

Note: This is the bound book only and does not include access to the Enhanced Pearson eText. To order the Enhanced Pearson eText packaged with a bound book, use ISBN 0133831507.

Valuing Diversity in Early Childhood presents a social justice perspective on developing early childhood professionals’ cultural competence and ability to engage children in exploring and appreciating diversity. It couples essential foundational knowledge and definitions about diversity with clear applications for engaging in culturally responsive practices with children, families, and colleagues. New and experienced early childhood educators embark on a reflective journey to explore personal attitudes and values related to human diversity and culturally competent teaching, while learning to identify, explain, and use effective strategies for supporting and celebrating diverse children and families. The Enhanced Pearson eText features embedded video and internet resources.

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In this comprehensive text, new and experienced early childhood educators learn to develop an awareness and appreciation of differences and the confidence to apply culturally competent teaching practices to ensure optimal development for each child and family. Using a social justice perspective on developing early childhood professionals’ cultural competence and the ability to engage children in exploring and appreciating diversity, the book couples essential foundational knowledge and definitions about diversity with clear applications for engaging in culturally responsive practices with children, families, and colleagues. Educators embark on a reflective journey to explore personal attitudes and values related to human diversity and culturally competent teaching, while learning to identify, explain, and use effective strategies for supporting and celebrating diverse children and families.

Invigorate learning with the Enhanced Pearson eText
The Enhanced Pearson eText provides a rich, interactive learning environment designed to improve student mastery of content with the following multimedia features:

• Embedded video links in the eText provide concrete examples of text concepts and show children and early child educators in action.
• Internet resources. Weblinks to further explore content related to the chapter.

New and experienced early childhood educators learn to develop an awareness and appreciation of differences and the confidence to apply culturally competent teaching practices to ensure optimal development for each child and family.

This text presents a social justice perspective on developing early childhood professionals’ cultural competence and ability to engage children in exploring and appreciating diversity. It couples essential foundational knowledge and definitions about diversity with clear applications for engaging in culturally responsive practices with children, families, and colleagues. New and experienced early childhood educators embark on a reflective journey to explore personal attitudes and values related to human diversity and culturally competent teaching, while learning to identify, explain, and use effective strategies for supporting and celebrating diverse children and families.

Three overarching themes run throughout the text–self, others, and group–and reflective activities prompt readers to understand their own biases, background experiences, and values. Interactive experiences prompt readers to explore others’ similarities and differences. Also included are instructional strategies that promote belonging and partnership among groups of children, professionals, and families in various early childhood settings.

An ideal blend of theory and practice gives new and experienced early childhood teachers the tools they need to meet the challenges of diversity in today’s classrooms head on.

Invigorate learning with the Enhanced Pearson eText
The Enhanced Pearson eText provides a rich, interactive learning environment designed to improve student mastery of content with embedded video and internet resources. The Enhanced Pearson eText is also available with a loose-leaf version or without a print version.

Instructors, visit pearsonhighered.com/etextbooks to register for your digital examination copy. Students, register for or purchase your eText at pearsonhighered.com/etextbooks.

Lissanna Follari has been a faculty in early childhood teacher education programs for 13 years and is currently Director for the Bachelors of Innovation in Inclusive Early Childhood Education with the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. She has written two textbooks with Pearson, Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education, 3^rd edition, and Valuing Diversity in Early Childhood, 1^st edition, both published in 2014. She began her career as a passionate educator for young children and families two decades ago and has taught toddlers through elementary school children. Along the way, Dr. Follari also served in child care and lab school administration roles, always promoting play-based, whole-child centered learning environments filled with wonder and beauty for children and teachers alike. She presents trainings and workshops at several regional and national conferences annually in addition to teaching and writing. Above all else, Dr. Follari is a dedicated advocate for joy and excellence in early childhood care and education; passions that are fueled by her most important role as a mother.