Early Head Start and Sociocultural Teacher Preparation...
Each spring, the University of New Hampshire Department of Education offers graduate students studying early childhood education a class on socio-cultural perspectives on teaching and learning. Students participate in 50 hours of field experience enhancing their abilities to support diverse families. The course expands students' knowledge base by considering culture, community and family. Personal reflections and exploration of several socio-cultural perspectives on development are applied during 25 hours of field experience at a local Early Head Start. Students engage with parents, infants and toddlers, and home visitors to build their professional capacities through field-based research. Currently, 8 students are paired with Early Head Start home visitors in Rochester and Dover, New Hampshire from February through May. Each student is participating in parent meetings, play time, meals and home visits. Charna Aversa is the Early Head Start/Community Collaboration partnership ma