The Great Disconnect in Early Childhood Education: What We Know vs. What We Do

So disappointed after reading this book. I don’t know if I have ever given a 1-star rating. It begins hopefully enough, talking about how poor and at risk students are exposed to exponentially less language than their well-to-do counterparts and how we must find a way to close this gap through EC intervention. This is not new information. But then the author spends chapters 2-6 basically berating EC staff for carrying out instruction in a way that breaks standards down into objectives in order for them to best teach and measure student progress. The author uses sarcasm throughout and almost seems to have a personal vendetta against early childhood staff and EC programs. I kept reading in hopes that there would be ideas, strategies, or program changes recommended just to find that providing students more language was the fix as well as assessing the student environment. When I reached the very end and the author recommended a specific assessment, I felt I had just finished a giant infomercial. My experience with early childhood staff is that they are some of the most talented, experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated people I know. They provide students with the highest quality learning experiences based on student interest and need. The learning environment is always rich in language and presented in the most natural ways possible. Does the educational system require us to be creative in how we must provide instruction because of the expectation of standards and how they must be measured for accountability? Yes, but EC staff are incredibly creative and always have student success at the center of everything they do. If the author truly wants to see change in the system, then address the system. Don’t beat down the very staff who work hard to help children every day.

The best part of this book is the latter half where the author describes a classroom wherein the faults of our current ECE system are fixed. I've read a lot of books on this subject but few of them offer up so complete a solution. There is a lot to unpack in the description of the more ideal pre-k setting, and a lot of it can even be used by parents at home. This is a book that should be read by educators, caregivers and parents.

Excellent book. It's an easy read and thought provoking examples of current preschools and what "objectives" should look like instead. I think the examples are very heavily weighted toward "head start" or similarly funded programs. It is not at all applicable to what Montessori programs look like.

Pre-school and many Early Childhood settings are loosing the children and damaging their development, not helping their full education. This is the book everyone must read to understand how and why and discuss what we need to be doing!

This book confirms exactly what most early childhood educators have been thinking and feeling for years!!! Finally a voice has been given and a place to start to make change so that kids come first!

Excellent book, very true...wish I could have a classroom like this! Hard to teach a balance to college students between standards (politics) and developmentally appropriate. We need more professionals who understand good teaching in Appalachia, this book really lays it out for you. more supervisors and legislatures need to read this book.

This book is easy to read and understand. It should be read by anyone connected to the ECE field. Particularly parents of young children.

This is such an important read for anyone who has a young child or teaches children. Highly recommend it!

I would recommend this book to all those who work in, or make legislation for, early childhood programs. It will open doors to great discussion and should cause all of us to examine how we work with children.