Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Contextually appropriate practice

    Posted 10-17-2019 03:03 PM

    I've been reading research related to early childhood programs in Ghana and was just introduced to the term "contextually appropriate practice". In the same section I read this quote " "no community wants their children to be misfits in their own backgrounds and culture. This is why the school is expected to ensure that children who go through the school do not become people who cannot fit into the very community from which they went to school" (Tobin, J. (2005). Quality in early childhood education: An anthropologist's perspective. Early Childhood & Development, 16(4), 421-434.)

    What does it mean to provide education in a way that allows children to continue to be warmly nested in their own communities?  And what does it mean to provide education that allows children to fit into their own communities and still embrace folks from other communities.  How can that happen in the US?



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    [Meg] [Thomas]
    [Early childhood consultant
    Co-facilitator for Diversity and Equity Interest Forum
    [St Paul ] [MN]
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  • 2.  RE: Contextually appropriate practice

    Posted 10-19-2019 08:36 AM
    I love how you phrased the question about how we keep children warmly nested in their own communities. In my work with children and families experiencing homelessness connections and relationships in the community are key to helping a family be resilient. I think your question speaks to the importance of the sense of welcome people experience and how we approach creating opportunities for children, families, and community to know and care about each other.

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    Stacy Parsons
    Education Stability/Housing Partnership Coordinator


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  • 3.  RE: Contextually appropriate practice

    Posted 10-25-2019 01:38 PM
    Stacy it's so good to be thinking about relationships.  When I think about what you are saying here, what I hear is that if we have good, respectful relationships with families then we will respect the way they do things, and negotiate the relationship in such a way that children are not getting the impression that the way we do things at school is better than the way they are done at home.

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    [Meg] [Thomas]
    [Early childhood consultant
    Co-facilitator for Diversity and Equity Interest Forum
    [St Paul ] [MN]
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