Full Description
Making the transition from pre-service teacher to professional can be challenging. From field experience placements, or 'pracs', to the early years in the classroom, this text provides a comprehensive and practical guide to help every early childhood student develop their professional expertise and confidence.
The authors prompt students to bring together theories learned at university with ways of working with real children in real settings, framed by the principles of recognising equity and diversity. There is clear guidance on how to be successful 'on prac', including understanding the many roles pre-service teachers will be expected to take on, and the important relationships they need to build. Lesson planning, understanding curriculum documents and fail-safe strategies for teaching in a wide range of situations and with children from wide-ranging backgrounds are all covered in depth. Suggestions for tutorial activities and further reading accompany each chapter, prompting students to engage in critical reflection and self-evaluation, while the 'On track on prac' feature will help pre-service teachers monitor and review their progress. Readers are also provided with insights from 'real world' pre-service students and professional teachers who have mentored many different students on prac.
This is an essential text for all students undertaking practicums and preparing for the first years of their professional careers.
Contents
List of figures and tables
Introduction: How to use this book
1. Becoming, being, belonging: So you want to be an early childhood teacher?
2. What is prac? Preparing for success across different settings
3. Think like a teacher: Pedagogies, values and ethics
4. Act like a teacher: Being professional
5. Work like a teacher: Understanding curriculum documents, documentation, leadership and mentoring
6. Stepping up, stepping out: Your employability
7. Young children, different settings: Managing and connecting across contexts
8. Your teaching toolkit: Never-fail strategies, tips and reminders
References
Index
