Developmentally appropriate practice today and the encouraging
classroom.
a. Observe a small-group/learning center activity that you
believe to be developmentally appropriate. Record as objectively as possible
verbal and nonverbal responses that characterize one child’s responses.
Hypothesize what that child may be gaining from the activity in each of these
developmental domains: physical, cognitive, language, social/cultural, and
emotional. Through comparing your observations with the text, discuss your
learning about developmentally appropriate practice.
b. Interview a teacher who uses developmentally appropriate
practice. Ask how the teacher engages reluctant children in learning activities
so that they can experience success. How does the teacher assess the child’s
progress in relation to outcomes or standards that might be required in the
program or school. What difficulties and successes has the teacher experienced
in using DAP? Compare your findings to text material on developmentally
appropriate practice.
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