Curriculum Models and Early Childhood Education: Appraising the Relationship [Paperback]

Stacie G. Goffin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1994 | ISBN-10: 0675211549 | ISBN-13: 978-0675211543

This thoroughly up-to-date and completely accessible book uses a socio-historical perspective to examine the major curriculum models of early childhood education. It examines the approaches of Montessori, Developmental-Interaction, Direct Instruction, Kamii-DeVries, High-Scope, and Reggio Emilia curriculum. Comprehensive coverage looks at each model in terms of purpose and function, impact on early childhood education, theoretical underpinnings, and current evaluations. For parents and teachers interested in early childhood education and curriculum.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This new text provides an in-depth examination, from an analytical perspective, of five curriculum models that have shaped current early childhood education practice. Here is a comprehensive, socio-historical examination of five enduring curriculum models--Montessori, Developmental-Interaction, Direct Instruction, Kamii-DeVries, and High-Scope--along with thoughtful analysis of the purpose and function of curriculum models, and their impact upon the field of early childhood education. A careful, complete exploration of each curriculum model, with a strong emphasis on theoretical underpinnings, helps educators fully understand similarities and differences and relate these to curriculum and teaching. Compelling discussion covers each model's unique socio-historical context, and final chapters examine current evaluations of curriculum models, the theoretical and curricular basis of model development, and current issues in early childhood education as they relate to present-day demands for high-quality programs for young children.

From the Back Cover

This thoroughly up-to-date and completely accessible book uses a socio-historical perspective to examine the major curriculum models of early childhood education. It examines the approaches of Montessori, Developmental-Interaction, Direct Instruction, Kamii-DeVries, High-Scope, and Reggio Emilia curriculum. Comprehensive coverage looks at each model in terms of purpose and function, impact on early childhood education, theoretical underpinnings, and current evaluations. For parents and teachers interested in early childhood education and curriculum. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Merrill Pub Co (January 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0675211549
• ISBN-13: 978-0675211543
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,694,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All The Curriculums That You Know And Some You Don't, December 22, 2006

By 

Reginald Williams (Orangeburg, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Curriculum Models and Early Childhood Education: Appraising the Relationship (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

We know plenty about High/Scope, Montessori, Head Start, and Reggio Emilia,...

...but how much do we really know about Bank Street or DISTAR or Kamii/Devrie's curriculum or the project approach? We can claim some understanding, but this book fleshes out these curriculum like I never seen before. Not only do we see the practical side, but also we see the historical and pedagogical side.

A microminor drawback is the lack of many pictures. This book is so wonderful, though, that it still requires a 5.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Oddly challenging, October 20, 2007

By 

M. Schuster (Cincinnati, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Curriculum Models and Early Childhood Education: Appraising the Relationship (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This was a required text for my Master's level class. I am used to some pretty complex reading, but for some reason found this text very hard to get a handle on. This was indeed very thorough information, but I had a lot of trouble grasping the big picture of what these curriculum models looked like, especially Developmental-Interaction Approach and Direct Instruction. I can't be more helpful than that because I'm still trying to figure out why this text in particular was so difficult. For the approaches I was already familiar with, like Reggio and Montessori, it was helpful to get the history and details. If you have a firm grasp of curriculum models and are interested in the history, background, philosophy and justification this will probably be fine.