Investing in early childhood: Creating a community of care for children and families
(2004) Investing in early childhood: Creating a community of care for children and families , in McWilliam, Erica and Danby, Susan and Knight, John, Eds. Performing Educational Research:Theories, Methods and Practices, chapter 22, pages pp. 319-330. Post Pressed.
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Abstract
Investing in early childhood care and education services contributes to the lifetime well-being of children and families. Early childhood teachers work at the frontline of this investment, supporting families and dealing with day-to-day issues that impact on the lives and learning of young children. These teachers work within prevailing social and political structures yet they are also co-constructors of service provisions as they are experienced by families with young children. Nine teachers with work experience in a range of early childhood services engaged in conversations about key issues and contextual challenges facing their work as early childhood professionals. Three challenges raised by these teachers are examined to draw attention to the reality that creating a community of care for children and families requires re-thinking the role of the early childhood professional in service provision. This paper contributes to knowing about what it means to teach in contemporary early childhood contexts and to understanding how and why teachers find it difficult but necessary to actively promote connectedness and a sense of community across local services for children.
| Item Type: | Book Chapter |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Place of Publication: | Flaxton, Qld. |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Keywords: | early childhood, teachers, teachers' work, early childhood services, supporting families, curriculum decisions, |
| Subjects: | 370000 Studies in Human Society > 370100 Sociology > 370107 Social Change 330000 Education > 330200 Curriculum Studies > 330206 Curriculum Theory and Development 330000 Education > 330300 Professional Development of Teachers > 330301 Teacher Education - Early Childhood 320000 Medical and Health Sciences > 321200 Public Health and Health Services > 321209 Family Care |
| ID Code: | 1340 |
| Deposited By: | Black, Alison (Ali) Lizette |
| Deposited On: | 19 May 2005 |
| Alternative Locations: | http://www.postpressed.com.au/ |
| Copyright Owner: | Copyright 2004 Post Pressed |
| Additional Information: | This is the author’s manuscript version of the work. It is posted here with permission of the copyright owner for your personal use only. No further distribution is permitted. For more information about this book please refer to the publisher's website (see link). |