Culturally Responsive Teaching for Infants and Toddlers

Marie L. Masterson is the manager of early childhood education competence and practice for the Council for Professional Recognition. She is a licensed teacher, a national speaker, an award-winning author, and a former higher education faculty teacher trainer, director of quality assessment for Illinois ExceleRate, and early childhood specialist for the Virginia Department of Education.

• Introduction  11.  Exploring Child Development Through the Lens of Culture  5Exploring the Impact of Culture  5Refocusing Ideas About Teaching  7Reframing Child Development  9Honoring Family Life Structures  11Examining Approaches to Caring  12Setting Goals for Socialization  14Understanding Expectations for Behavior  15Investigating Ideas About Health and Wellness  16Guiding Play  17Embracing Abilities as Strengths  20Overcoming Practical Challenges: Staying Current With Children’s Emerging Skills  21Supporting Development With an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)  22Culturally Appropriate Screening  24Q&As From the Field: Aligning Practices  25For Your Information: Serving Children With Disabilities  26Reflection Questions  282.  Building Trust Through Meaningful Communication With Families  29Listening to Family Voices  29Removing Barriers to Family Engagement  31Ensuring Cultural Safety  35Developing Cultural Humility  37Overcoming Practical Challenges: Eliminating Power Imbalances  39Focusing on Relationship-Based Teaching  40Using Culturally Responsive Communication  41Developing a Strengths-Based Mindset  44Inviting Family Engagement  45Getting Organized and Keeping Records  47Asking Families to Demonstrate and Explain What They Do  49Q&As From the Field: Navigating Difficult Conversations  52For Your Information: Resources for Additional Exploration  53Reflection Questions  533.  Facilitating Play-Based Teaching  55Promoting Joyful Learning  55Exploring the Benefits of Play-Based Learning  57Understanding the Ways Children Play  58Exploring Play Types: What Children Are Doing  59Play Facilitation: What the Teacher Is Doing  61Investigating Cultural Influences on Play  63Overcoming Practical Challenges: Implications of Play Values and Beliefs  65Learning About Children Through Observation, Documentation, and Assessment  66Daily Observation Checklist  68Applying Family Communication to Lesson Planning  72Creating Individualized Lesson Plans  74Creating Individualized Play Plans  77Providing Supervision for Play  79Q&As From the Field: Getting Organized and Staying Flexible  81For Your Information: Resources for Social–Emotional and Regulation Skills  82Reflection Questions  824.  Creating Consistent Routines and Transitions  83Making Meaning Through Routines and Rituals  83Teaching Children About Themselves  85Anchoring Routines With Predictability  87Facilitating Arrival and Departure Rituals  90Creating Continuity in Feeding Routines  91Promoting Autonomy, Choice, and Self-Agency  93Overcoming Practical Challenges: Cautions and Information About Food Safety  95Interacting During Diapering and Toileting  96Providing Consistency for Sleeping Routines  100Planning the Daily Schedule  102Communicating With Colleagues  104Q&As From the Field: Coordinating With Colleagues  105For Your Information: Resources for Licensing Regulations  105Reflection Questions  1065.  Nurturing Identity Through Creativity and Self-Expression  107Enhancing Teaching With Creative Thinking  107Overcoming Practical Challenges: Fostering Creativity as a High-Impact Skill  109Creativity, Wonder, and Identity—Experiences That Connect the Self  111Expressing Family and Cultural Traditions  113Building Skills Through Creative Interactions  117Enjoying Music and Movement  120Planning Ahead: Using a Song and Finger Play Guide  124Incorporating the Visual Arts  126Q&As From the Field: Expanding Opportunities for Creativity  128For Your Information: Resources for Arts Exploration  129Reflection Questions  1296.  Building Competence Through Skill-Affirming Behavior Guidance  131Defining Positive Guidance  131Setting Goals for Guidance  133Preparing Spaces to Minimize Frustration  136Identifying Cultural Priorities  137Ensuring Bias-Free Behavior Guidance  139Teaching Through Emotion Coaching  141Understanding and Mediating Stress  143Setting the Foundation for Positive Guidance  147Practicing Self-Reflection  152Q&As From the Field: Managing Challenging Behavior  155For Your Information: Tending to Children’s Well-Being  156Reflection Questions  1567.  Setting Priorities for High-Quality Teaching  159Supporting Language and Communication  159Encouraging Multilingual Learning  163For Your Information: Resources for Multilingual Teaching  165Inviting Engagement in Shared Book Reading  165Focusing on Social–Emotional Learning  166Enhancing Cognitive Development and Fine Motor Skills  168Introducing Inquiry Through STEAM  170For Your Information: Infant and Toddler Resources for STEAM  172Strengthening Physical Development  172Promoting Outdoor Play  174Q&As From the Field: Expanding Your Impact  175Resources for Outdoor Play  176Reflection Questions  1768.  Setting Priorities for Professional Growth  179Learning Through Reflective Practice  179Reflective Practice in Action  180Engaging in Continuous Learning  182Setting Goals for Your Professional Journey  185Aiming for Advocacy  187Q&As From the Field: Growing as a Professional  188For Your Information: Resources for Advocacy  189Reflection Questions  189References  191Index  215About the Author  226