Masters of Education in
Early Childhood Development
Moreland University
What I've Learned
Be Prepared
One of the greatest takeaways from this program is to be a well equipped, prepared teacher. I have gained training and access to many useful resources that make me a more prepared and equipped teacher.
Know Your Students
A theme weaved within every module has been the importance of knowing your students. When we know our students and their family and their culture, we can serve them better and ensure they learn and grow in the best ways possible.
Keep learning
Just as important as being prepared is to be flexible and open to change. We as teachers should never stay fixed in our ways, but be always open to learn from our own students, our classroom experiences, our colleagues, latest research, as well as through our own reflections.
Application
Each module has impacted my teaching in unique ways.
Here is a breakdown of the subjects covered in the masters program as well as samples of the projects conducted in each section, which give an example of how it has impacted my teaching.
MODULE 17: Philosophical Inquiry and Contemporary Issues in Early
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Early Education Theories
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Issues and Strategies in Multicultural Education (see overcoming bias Infographic)
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Home, School, and Community Relationships
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Analyzing the Impact of Parental Support in Early Childhood Education (see parent handout)
MODULE 18: Creating Positive Learning
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Elements in the Learning Environment (see my blog post on moral development in the classroom )
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Issues of Culture in Classroom and Curriculum
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Fostering Positive Attitudes toward Learning - education tools and supporting families (see communication matrix)
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Educating Students with Challenging Behaviors (see blog post on fostering independence)
MODULE 19: Learner Differences and
Commonalities in Early Childhood Education
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Content Area Instruction for Students with Varying Abilities
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Ethical Considerations in Early Childhood Education (see pin-up of response to aggressive behavior)
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Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Education
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Differentiation and Scaffolding in Early Childhood Education
MODULE 20: Curriculum and Instruction in Early Childhood
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Considerations in Designing an Early Childhood Curriculum
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Early Childhood Curriculum Development (see my blog post on using themes)
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Infusing Diversity and Culture into the Early Childhood Curriculum
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From Curriculum to Instruction: Best Practices in Early Childhood Education
Proffesional Development
Curriculum and Lesson Planning
My ability to lesson plan and choose curriculum that meets the diverse needs of my students has developed positively through this program.
DAP
I have gained a greater understanding and wider variety of practice in creating developmentally appropriate lessons as well as developmentally appropriate classroom design.
Learning through Play
I have gained many more ideas of how to use play in my teaching to help kids learn and grow in a fun, creative, appropriate way. This is really important for Kindergarteners!
Management
Through the modules as well as in collaboration with my fellow cohort members, I have gained more ideas how to positively manage challenging behavior or challenging situations in the classroom.