Theories & Theorists

There are many important early childhood education philosophers that have influenced my teaching practices. Along with a progressivism and social constructivism approach, these philosophies and ideas are inspired by the work of a number of theorists.

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• John Dewey:

  • John Dewey believed in the importance of educators getting to know the child and their interests and believed that they were to shape lessons and activities around those interests and that practical life skills should be taught in schools (Dewey, 1929).

• Lev Vygotsky:

  • Lev Vygotsky believed that children construct knowledge through experiences and interactions with the environment and others (Dodd-Nufrio, 2011).

• Maria Montessori:

  • Maria Montessori, another well-known theorist in Early Childhood Education, believed in the uniqueness of each child, the importance of observation, and the set-up of the learning environment (Giardiello, 2014).

  • She also believed that children learn best through inquiry, exploration, and creating (Films Media Group, 2011).

  • Montessori’s work also inspired the use of invitations, loose parts, and natural materials.

• Friedrich Froebel:

  •  Frobel coined the German term, “Kindergarten” which means “garden of children” and viewed children as competent and capable. He believed children would learn how to read, write, and do arithmetic through observation, exploration, and play (Giardiello, 2014).

• Loris Malaguzzi:

  • Malaguzzi's Reggio Emelia approach is by far the most influential in my teaching philosophy.

  • “The Reggio Emeilia approach is an educational philosophy that centers around using a supportive and enriching environment to inspire children to guide their own learning experiences. Loris Malaguzzi developed this approach to learning that focuses heavily on the environment, which is often referred to as the “third teacher" (Hanscom, 2016).

  • He believed that children learn best through hands-on experience and held a positive image of the child (Dodd-Nufrio, 2011).

  • Malaguzzi’s pedagogy focused on the children and adults working together to construct knowledge through scaffolding and he placed an importance on the family, community, and documentation of learning, which is strongly reflected in my teaching philosophy (Moss, 2016).