Great Beginnings!

I will write a few posts about my internship experience a little later but first I have some reflections to write for my Early Childhood Education class.  We are examining the PreKindergarten standards book “Better Beginnings, Better Futures” by the Ministry of Education.  It’s hard to write a meaningful reflection when you agree so wholeheartedly with a document.  We were only supposed to read half of it for this first reflection but I’ll admit I read the whole thing just because it was an easy and engaging read. Many of the ideas put forth in this publication are not groundbreaking or difficult to implement.  They are however well grounded in solid pedagogical research and written up in an accessible way.  It is very insightful of the ministry to provide teachers with such a useful and forward thinking guide book to planning a prekindergarten program.  

I have a particular interest in preKindergarten and part of the reason I am at the University of Regina is because they offer an Early Childhood Education degree option.  Knowing that I may not be working in a setting where a formal preKindergarten program exists or where their may not be clear guidelines makes this document invaluable to me.  It gives me something I can put in my professional toolbox that can guide me in establishing a preKindergarten program even if I am in a context without outside supports.  

I also appreciated that there was such a complete bibliography which will help me further my research and professional development.  Having a reading list to keep developing my pedagogy will be important once I am out in the field and away from the academic setting of the university.  I know from my internship that time is at a premium while teaching it is still important to keep up with some professional reading and development.  Part of being a good teacher is being a reflective teacher that can read new ideas and look for ways to improve my practice.  Also knowing where to go for deeper understandings of the reasons behind proven pedagogical practices and to help me refine and perfect those practices.