Download PDFThese days, young children are expected to wonder, create, and discover in the classroom. Sometimes, teachers use provocations if they use the Reggio Emilia approach. These opportunities allow children to expand their minds, not just answer questions with right or wrong answers. At American Jewish University, we teach educators who are on their way to completing their bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and believe that there is more than one way to do things. Our program emphasizes discussion, listening, and sharing.
This semester, I’m leading the course titled Collaboration and Adaptations for Special Needs in Early Childhood. At the start of the semester, I engaged students in the following provocation: "How can we help preschoolers understand that others might have special needs and differences?" The importance of teaching diversity is paramount today, and when it is done consistently throughout a child’s education, they will have a better chance of becoming accepting, empathic adults. How do I teach this process to educators? I’ve asked my students to research and learn about a special need or difference that they will then teach about in their early childhood classes. Some students are writing and illustrating a book, while others are working on creating lesson plans that captivate every child. Through this collaboration, my students’ efforts will be available for every educator in our program to use in their early childhood classes.
Students are responding well to this collaborative approach and everyone at the School for Jewish Education and Leadership looks forward to seeing their expanding knowledge and creativity in addressing the needs of students with special or differing needs.
If you or someone you know is passionate about early childhood education, our program is currently accepting applicants. Please visit aju.edu/education for more information.