Macquarie University

The Early Childhood Environment in ATSI Contexts - ABEP230

This unit focuses on early childhood settings for children from birth to five years in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contexts. Students will explore their changing role as they develop as a teacher and will assume more responsibility for communicating with children, parents and staff, linking to the National Quality Standard Quality Areas and The Early Years Learning Framework. Students are encouraged to explore theories of early childhood pedagogy, as well as develop an awareness of the importance of teachers as co-constructors working with children to facilitate learning and become intentional in their teaching practices. The unit content will assist students to develop and refine observation and planning skills from ABEP130 or previous study with links to socio-cultural theories of learning. A key issue explored is sensitivity and competence in working with children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. In particular this unit is planned to assist students’ awareness of these issues when planning for young children in ATSI contexts. Students will explore and implement strategies for guidance on ways to work with young children, developing teaching techniques that facilitate children’s learning, and strategies of understanding and guiding children’s behaviour in all early childhood settings.