Gordon Biddle, Early Childhood Education: Becoming a Professional Instructor Resource
Chapter 3: Types of Programs and Services
In the field of early childhood education, there are many types of programs that focus on
the ages of infancy through age eight. Some of these programs are Montessori, Reggio Emilia,
High/Scope, Bank Street, Waldorf, Childcare Centers and Nursery Schools, Head Start, Parent
Cooperatives, University- or College-affiliated, and Home-based care. Some of these programs
are for-profit and some are non-profit. These programs are all different in some way, but what
they do have in common is providing quality care for children. The type of program that the
teacher chooses will depend on their agreement with the philosophy, mission, and environment.
The early childhood teacher should do research on the types of programs and visit them to
determine which ones coincide with their teaching philosophy.
I. What are the Different Types of Early Childhood Programs?
A. Montessori Programs
1. Philosophy and mission
2. Role of the teacher
3. The environment
2) Reasoning mind (6 to 12 years)
4) Specialist mind (18 to 24 years)
B. Reggio Emilia Programs
1. Philosophy and mission
a. Emergent curriculum
2. Role of the teacher
a. Co-explore with the children
b. Stimulate idea, solve problems, and solve conflicts
Gordon Biddle, Early Childhood Education: Becoming a Professional Instructor Resource
i. Connection between home, school, and community
C. High/Scope Curriculum
1. Philosophy and mission
2. Role of the teacher
a. Teachers as active learners
3. The environment
a. Organization
b. Interest areas
c. Small and large groups
D. Bank Street Model
1. Philosophy and mission
2) Responsible for learning
2. Role of the teacher
3. The environment
a. Experimentation
b. Attractive furniture and materials
c. Group work
E. Waldorf Model
1. Philosophy and mission
1) Head
3) Hands
2. Role of the teacher
3. The environment
a. Pleasing and harmonious
b. Physical body
c. Sensory experiences
F. Programs Based on a Behaviorist Perspective
1. Philosophy and mission
a. Behavior that is positively reinforced will reoccur; intermittent
2. Learning
a. Strengths
1) Lesson plan works well when there is a clear goal
b. Limitations
2) Not able to explain learning that occurs on its own without
reinforcement
3. Motivation
4. Role of the teacher
a. Establish classroom situations that reinforce desired behavior
b. Present skills in sequential manner
c. Skill and drill exercise
d. question and answer
G. Skinner’s Operant Conditioning
2. Negative reinforcement
4. Punishment
H. Childcare Centers and Nursery Schools
2. Teach the whole child: social, physical, emotional, and intellectual
development
4. Nurturance
5. Learn observational skills through senses
I. Head Start
Benefits
a. High quality
b. A comprehensive approach
c. Parent involvement
II. How are Early Childhood Programs Financed?
A. For-profit: produce profit for their owners
B. Non-profit: do not make a profit from their businesses
1. Parent cooperatives
2. University and college-affiliated programs
a. Laboratories or training programs
b. Many combine both research and a field work component
c. Affiliated to a campus department
III. What are Home-based and Center-based Childcare Settings?
A. Home-based Care
1. Advantages
a. Low ratio
2. Disadvantages
a. Not all are licensed
b. Not required to have background experience
B. Center-based Care
1. Advantages
a. Caregivers may be better education and trained
2. Disadvantages
a. Often feels and looks like an institution
b. May not meet the needs with parents differing schedules
c. Larger group sizes and instability in staff
IV. Why do Child Care Centers Need to be Licensed?
A. Licensing Requirements
` 2. Minimum acceptable standards
4. Only a few states inspect all family childcare homes
B. NAEYC’s 10 Principles for Applying an Effective System of Early Childhood Care
and Education Services
1. Any program providing car and education to children from two or more
unrelated families should be regulated
3. States should establish complementary processes for professional licensing of
individuals
5. Regulation should be enforced
7. Regulatory processes should be coordinated and streamlined
9. Consumer and public education should inform all of the importance of a child’s
first years