Bethany Blount January, 20th 2014

Chapter Three: Understanding and Applying Developmentally Appropriate Practice In Chapter three Brendakamp (2010), addressed the importance of developing an appropriate learning environment and teaching practices. As stated it is very important how teachers make decisions and carefully asses and evaluate student performance as well as implementing teaching strategies. Each student is unique and it is important for the educator to take each factor into consideration when making curriculum and decisions that will affect the childs ability to learn. Offering the right balance in instruction that provides clear achievements, yet still possess a challenge to the students to further learn and develop is critical. Many areas of questioning were addressed in this chapter about how curriculums are structured and some concerns on changes to expectations have developed in the field. Brendakamp (2010), note that it is vital to take the perspective of the child into mind when planning an effective classroom layout and on how a child processes information. Asking questions that foster students to ponder on the past and create new and further developed thought are a great way to enhance their learning environment. (Brendakamp, 2010). Thinking about how culture plays a role in learning and forming a positive relationship between parents, teachers and students is of extreme importance. Chapter Nine: Teaching to Enhance Learning and Development Brendakamp (2010), address the techniques that are best effective in student learning and development. Brendakamp (2010), explains that teachers should anchor on students prior knowledge when teaching and should construct fully assist students retention of material by using strategies such as scaffolding, questioning, modeling and giving positive feedback. The

Bethany Blount January, 20th 2014

text states that teachers have to take on many roles in order to be effective. The teacher needs not only to be an educator but additionally has to be submerged in the activity, such as in an onstage performance to keep the students engaged (Brendakamp, 2010). Teachers must vary the students interactions between one on one time, whole class time and small group time to build social skills. Most importantly, teachers must always be innovative and creative in teaching methods and constantly ready to try new things and teaching strategies and methods to keep childrens learning optimal. Investigating rocks and sand: Addressing multiple learning styles through an inquirybased approach. In this article, Ogu and Schmidt (2009), discusses the importance of letting the students make their own discoveries and thoughts on activities and evaluations. It is important for children to be able to examine and come to own conclusions of why things may happen. Teachers should provide opportunities for students to be presented with interesting items and activities to formulate ideas about. With helping questioning techniques, teachers can guide and scaffold childs learning.(Ogu & Schmidt, 2009) I think this is an extremely important topic in teaching and developing students awareness.