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 speak with the New Jersey School of Conservation’s Kerry Kirk Pflugh and Tanya Sulikowski, and Garwood, NJ middle school teacher, K.C. Bree about...
In light of the pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted BIPOC, and BLM uprisings, we’re revisiting Jon’s interview with Jason Warwin of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol....
We talk with Dr. Ann Ishimaru of the University of Washington about correcting the power imbalance between schools and low-income families and families of...
