Now and Then

At a recent Reflective Practice Group meeting, we brainstormed about what teaching young children has looked like for the past 50 years, and how it is changing now based on current research:

Then

·         Lots of planning themes

·         Lots of teacher directed activities

·         Group art projects where they all look much the same

·         Group story times

·         “Teaching” children information

 

 

Now

·         Planning is individualized to each child

·         Following children’s lead

·         Individualized art – open art center for creativity

·         Stories more often with 1 child or small groups

·         Asking questions to get children to think for themselves

 

I wonder if we need a new term to represent the new approaches we see  in early learning.  The term “Teacher” still represents the “Then” approaches to many.  It signifies “instructions” rather than helping children learn to think for themselves.

What could that new term be?

Thinking and language facilitator? 
Reasoning coach?
Free play mentor?
Critical thinking specialist?

What do you think might represent the early learning “teacher” now?