Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Do you know what makes me want to scream? When someone steps into a classroom and says, “It’s not developmentally appropriate to ________ “ but then doesn’t elaborate on what that means or what changes could be made.
In those situations, the person is practicing gotcha instead of growth. Instead of making it a teaching moment, they are making the point to “catch” a teacher doing something wrong. Feedback is a tool for growth. If what you want to say isn’t going to help someone grow, then don’t say it.
If you are a program leader, mentor teacher, or observer, please take the time to learn how to provide growth-oriented feedback:
If you observe circle time in a toddler classroom and the teacher keeps stopping the story they are reading to tell the children to sit still, you need to consider what feedback the teacher needs to grow. You might share that when we create the optimal environment for learning and development, we need to remember that toddlers need to move their bodies. Suggest incorporating puppets or fun movements to create a developmentally appropriate circle time.
In this feedback example, we state the goals of DAP and provide suggestions that the teacher can immediately apply to their teaching practices.
If you are a classroom teacher who is being observed during circle time and the observer states that your circle time is not DAP, I want you to ask some clarifying questions:
Can you tell me what parts of circle time were developmentally appropriate and which parts I need to work on?
Can you give me a few examples of things I could do during circle time that would benefit my age group?
Can you lead a circle time so I can observe you and gain a better understanding of DAP?
These clarifying questions will help you better understand DAP and show that you are open to suggestions.
If you are an infant or toddler teacher looking to learn more about DAP, check out the self-paced workshop below:
Developmentally Appropriate Practice for Infants and Toddlers
(2 hours - $18 USD)
What does it mean for your school to use developmentally appropriate practices with infants and toddlers? This workshop will help participants understand developmentally appropriate practice (DAP), learn how to differentiate learning experiences, and illustrate how to scaffold children’s learning.
