Author(s): Jeannette G. Stone

General References

Based on the view that fostering positive values and a sense of community in children is the heart of the early childhood teacher's role, this booklet offers suggestions for instilling respect, responsibility, and compassion in young children in early childhood settings. The booklet presents a philosophy and a set of practices by which preschool classrooms may become communities that work for everyone. The booklet begins with an observation of a preschool classroom and notes that the process of developing a classroom of children into a community whose members regard each other with growing respect, trust, and compassion depends on the teacher or leader. The booklet maintains that teachers build a community on four components of leadership: (1) acceptance of the leadership role; (2) knowledge of child development and learning; (3) knowledge of early childhood curriculum and practice; and (4) a commitment to communicating respect by caring for the classroom environment and modeling respect. Each of these leadership components is examined in turn, focusing on the responsibility of the preschool teacher and providing suggestions for ways each component can be implemented in the early childhood classroom to teach values of compassion and responsibility. The booklet notes that for some children, safety and order take priority over sowing seeds of compassion and responsibility and makes suggestions for teaching children with behavior problems. The booklet concludes by asserting that although leadership demands a great deal from good teachers, administrators, and other staff, the efforts to achieve excellence in teaching are worthwhile. (Contains 21 references.) (KB)