It matters that children gain, through teacher guidance, the social-emotional skills they need to succeed in and participate civilly in modern, democratic society. It matters to them--and to all of us.
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Today's early childhood educators are looking for education models for the twenty-first century--models that tap into each child's full learning potential and educate all children toward active participation in democracy. Tracing the historical roots of progressive education, and using anecdotes and case studies, Dan Gartrell argues that best practices in early childhood education, which include family-teacher partnerships, developmentally appropriate curriculum and assessment, and guidance, provide the framework for what the new education model for all levels of schooling should be: educating children for civil participation in society.
Through the use of guidance, Gartrell explains, teachers empower children to progress toward the five democratic life skills. These skills give young children the tools they need to function intelligently and ethically amidst the complexity and diversity of modern human life--and to ensure and sustain civil society into the next century.
About the Author: Dan Gartrell started his career in education as a teacher at an inner-city elementary school in Ohio and later taught in the Head Start program of the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota. He holds a doctorate in teacher education/early childhood and is Professor Emeritus of Early Childhood and Foundations Education at Bemidji State University in Minnesota. As former director of Bemidji's Child Development Training Program, a CDA trainer, and a student teaching supervisor, he has helped scores of students start their journey to becoming excellent educators.
Once introduced at a conference as "the guidance guy," Dan has spoken extensively on using guidance with young children and related topics. He writes the Guidance Matters column in NAEYC's journal, Young Children, and has contributed several additional articles to the journal. The sixth edition of his textbook on guidance, A Guidance Approach for the Encouraging Classroom, will be forthcoming in 2013. Dan has also written The Power of Guidance: Teaching Social-Emotional Skills to Young Children and What the Kids Said Today. Dan and his wife, Dr. Julie Jochum, live in Minnesota. The 11 grandchildren in their blended family know Dan as the grandpa who tells friendly jokes and makes pretty good "papadanpancakes" (the secret is strawberry yogurt in the batter). He enjoys nature photography and being outdoors in the north woods and on the lake near Bemidji, Minnesota.
