Rethinking Early Childhood Education

by Ann Pelo

Rethinking Early Childhood Education is alive with the conviction that teaching young children involves values and vision. This anthology collects inspiring stories about social justice teaching with young children. Included here is outstanding writing from childcare teachers, early-grade public school teachers, scholars, and parents. Early childhood is when we develop our core dispositions the habits of thinking that shape how we live. This book shows how educators can nurture empathy, an ecological consciousness, curiosity, collaboration, and activism in young children. It invites readers to rethink early childhood education, reminding them that it is inseparable from social justice and ecological education.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Parenting, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a must read for anyone in early childhood education. It is unashamedly political, but looks at the rights of children, parents, families, and educators all together as well as the benefit to society of seeing education that way. I had only a few gripes with it.

I was very American-centric, almost exclusively based in the USA situation. Which is possibly useful if you are an educator in that country but I oould have benefited more from a wider view (I did enjoy the NZ article for example but firther into the book it got less diverse).

The quotes were great for lifting out. Much of it was the thoughts of educators and I guess I would love to see academics and theorists go through and do the literature review or research to back up the claims (much as I agreed or partially agreed with a lot of it). The examples of how actual teachers have addressed these situations were great (though not in all cases well written- especially as far as relevancy goes)

I thought the educators were courageous, inspirational, humble, honest and in some cases too self-critical (but lovable with it).

I will probably buy and read more rethinking education anthologies if they put in ones with good early childhood articles, for me this was a good beginning but we need MORE.

I will try over the next few years to be a good enough educator to have something to say to them and put in a submission myself (aim high)

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent essays but a strong bias that might turn some off.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!

[Kim Westheimer]

Very accessible book with examples by educators who bring a social-justice framework to their schools.