Being an Early Childhood Educator

'This book will be an invaluable resource for pre-service early childhood educators as they prepare not only for their placements but also their future careers. The examples, activities and reflection points are realistically representative of events and contexts across the birth to 8 years age range. These features effectively scaffold the pre-service teacher's preparation and thinking for socially just early childhood teaching.' - Associate Professor Susan Krieg, Early Childhood Program Coordinator, Flinders University

Making the transition from pre-service teacher to professional can be challenging. From field experience placements, or 'pracs', to the early years in the classroom, this text provides a comprehensive and practical guide to help every early childhood student develop their professional expertise and confidence.

The authors prompt students to bring together theories learned at university with ways of working with real children in real settings, framed by the principles of recognising equity and diversity. There is clear guidance on how to be successful 'on prac', including understanding the many roles pre-service teachers will be expected to take on, and the important relationships they need to build. Lesson planning, understanding curriculum documents and fail-safe strategies for teaching in a wide range of situations and with children from wide-ranging backgrounds are all covered in depth. Suggestions for tutorial activities and further reading accompany each chapter, prompting students to engage in critical reflection and self-evaluation, while the 'On track on prac' feature will help pre-service teachers monitor and review their progress. Readers are also provided with insights from 'real world' pre-service students and professional teachers who have mentored many different students on prac.

This is an essential text for all students undertaking practicums and preparing for the first years of their professional careers.

About the Authors

FELICITY MCARDLE teaches undergraduate and postgraduate education students at Queensland University of Technology and Charles Sturt University. She publishes nationally and internationally, and is co-author of The Trouble with Play. She has led the design and implementation of programs of study for pre-service teachers, and regularly conducts professional learning programs for in-service teachers.

MEGAN GIBSON is a lecturer in the School of Early Childhood, QUT. Her key areas of interest for research and teaching include teacher professionalism, leadership and management, and policy and sustainability. She currently works with pre-service teachers and leads professional learning programs with practicing educators in the early childhood field.

LYN ZOLLO is a lecturer in early childhood education at QUT. She has extensive experience teaching in a diverse range of early childhood settings both in Australia and internationally. Her particular interest with pre-service teachers is preparing them to create and enable quality learning and teaching in the early years.