We speak with Michele Washington, longtime early childhood lecturer at Lehman College, about expertise at the preschool level. Head Start, pre-K, and 3-K teachers can support children and families in myriad ways once parents or guardians trust them. Cultural humility is essential; teachers need to understand and respect their children’s families and communities.
Overview
00:00-00:57 Intros
00:57-02:26 Why are early childhood educators undervalued?
02:26-03:10 Major crises in early childhood
03:10-03:57 UPK and 3-K (NYC)
03:57-05:01 Losing teachers to Department of Education schools
05:01-05:59 Teachers’ relationships with families
05:59-08:08 Knowing students’ communities
08:08-10:20 A deficit lens and overcoming it
10:20-12:04 Transition from working with 3- and 4-year olds to infants and toddlers
12:04-16:16 Early childhood as “women’s work”
16:16-18:30 Culturally responsive education
18:30-20:13 Graduate schools and culturally responsive education
20:13-22:47 Ethical decision-making for early childhood educators
22:47-25:25 Being a second home
25:25-27:43 Responding when there is a serious disagreement between a teacher and a parent or guardian
27:43-29:01 Outro
Transcript
Click here to see the full transcript of this episode.
Soundtrack by Podington Bear
We talk with Adán Vásquez, executive and artistic director of the Association of Dominican Classical Artists and the Washington Heights Community Conservatory of Fine...
We speak with Dr. Anne Smith, longtime music teacher in Northern Virginia, about accommodating cultural differences. Dr. Smith created an alternate curriculum for students...
We talk with Shirley Edwards about EBC High School for Public Service and the creation of an intentional educational community of students, teachers, parents,...
