Philosophy in the Early Years

Description

Philosophizing with young children calls on their imagination and reasoning to explore values, assumptions and baffling concepts through a classroom forum where adults and children search for meaning together. It is thought to promote literacy, speaking and listening and is praised for its effects on emotional awareness and thinking skills. This project is designed to help you to develop teaching strategies to elicit conversations, foster deeper thinking and develop good reasoning abilities in children. Developing a philosophical community of inquiry encourages you and them to support each other, work cooperatively and collaboratively, and feel safe to share their views and construct new knowledge.

Teachers will learn the features a philosophical approach with young children and consider a range of hands-on teaching strategies. Central to this project is the use of quality children's literature. Further, supporting teachers to create spaces where children can play with ideas and develop the skills of reflection and reasoned judgement is an expected outcome.

Teachers will be encouraged to share their classroom experiences and resources with others as a result of this project.