Service Learning as Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education: Theory, Research, and Practice

✍ Scribed by Kelly L. Heider (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer International Publishing
• Year: 2017
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 238
• Series: Educating the Young Child 11
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book presents the most recent theory, research, and practice on service learning as it relates to early childhood education. It describes several service learning programs, many of which were developed to better prepare pre-service teachers for the challenges they face in today’s early childhood classrooms, including class size, ever-changing technology, diversity, high-stakes testing, parental involvement (or the lack thereof), and shrinking budgets. The book shares stories of positive outcomes from pre-service teachers who, having participated in service-learning programs, report a shift in their attitudes and beliefs including an increased empathy for others, a heightened sensitivity to student differences, more democratic values, and a greater commitment to teaching. In addition, the book examines the effects of service learning and positive outcomes for children and teacher educators as well.

Schools today face an increasing number of language learners, the mainstreaming of special population students, and working with a standards-driven curriculum. All of these present new challenges for teachers as they attempt to meet their students’ educational needs. As a result of this new classroom environment, and the educational needs they present, teacher educators must now seek different approaches to prepare prospective teachers to meet these needs because the traditional approaches to teacher preparation, such as coursework independent of fieldwork, are no longer effective in equipping teachers to address these issues. This book examines in detail the new approach of service learning.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages i-x
Integrating Service Learning into Early Childhood Teacher Education: A Theoretical Perspective....Pages 1-14
Redefining Early Childhood Epistemology: Exploring Service-Learning Pedagogy in an Early Childhood Context....Pages 15-31
Preschool Teacher Education in Sweden and Australia: The Importance of Reflection for Understanding Context....Pages 33-45
Academic Service Learning and Cultural Competence in Teacher Education....Pages 47-57
Shaping Service-Learning Spaces for Preservice Teachers to Experience and Learn to Teach for Diversity....Pages 59-80
HBCUs to the Rescue: Utilizing Service-Learning Pedagogy to Improve Teacher Preparation in Early Childhood Education....Pages 81-92
Open Doors Field Trips: Making Connections with Minority Students Through the Creation of Vision Boards....Pages 93-109
Interdisciplinary Service Learning: From Teacher Education Programs to Early Childhood Facilities....Pages 111-126
Service Learning in the Sullivan Literacy Center....Pages 127-149
Service Learning Through a Literacy Tutoring Program....Pages 151-168
Service Learning as the New Lab School: Engaging Pre-service Art Educators Within Local Communities of Art and Knowledge....Pages 169-177
Tackling Science Instruction Through “Science Talks” and Service Learning....Pages 179-191
“If I’m in the Grass and These Boots Overflow, I Could Water the Plants”: Exploring the Natural World as Service Learning with Young Children....Pages 193-211
Problem-Solution Projects with Young Children....Pages 213-231
Back Matter....Pages 233-236

✦ Subjects

Early Childhood Education;Teaching and Teacher Education;Learning & Instruction;International and Comparative Education