Shaping Early Childhood. Learners, Curriculum and Contexts. By Glenda MacNaughton. (Open University Press, ISBN 0 335 21106 2, 19.99, 01628 770 224)
Reviewed by Marian Whitehead, language and early years consultant
This should be essential reading for anyone involved in the training and professional development of early years practitioners.
The distinguished Australia-based author makes it clear that the book is not a set of guides or recipes for implementing a specific early childhood curriculum. It is far more interesting and challenging than that! It is an impressive analysis of the historical and contemporary 'big ideas' that have influenced societies' and practitioners' views of children as learners and the nature of the curriculum.
The approach aims to help us all to become reflective practitioners who make informed professional judgements. There are powerful sections on parents and communities and throughout there is a profound concern for the implications of differing perspectives on learners, curriculum and contexts.
The book features clear definitions, summary charts, case studies, reading lists and exercises. I particularly liked the stimulating 'ideas galleries'
with their statements from researchers, policy-makers and practitioners around the world.
