Developmentally appropriate practice today and the encouraging classroom.

a. Observe a small-group/learning center activity that you believe to be developmentally appropriate. Record as objectively as possible verbal and nonverbal responses that characterize one child’s responses. Hypothesize what that child may be gaining from the activity in each of these developmental domains: physical, cognitive, language, social/cultural, and emotional. Through comparing your observations with the text, discuss your learning about developmentally appropriate practice.

b. Interview a teacher who uses developmentally appropriate practice. Ask how the teacher engages reluctant children in learning activities so that they can experience success. How does the teacher assess the child’s progress in relation to outcomes or standards that might be required in the program or school. What difficulties and successes has the teacher experienced in using DAP? Compare your findings to text material on developmentally appropriate practice.