Skip to main content
Log in

Authenticity and “Standing Out:” Situating the Project Approach in Contemporary Early Schooling

  • Published:
Early Childhood Education Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this multi-case study, we describe early childhood teachers’ experiences implementing project work in contemporary, standards-based classrooms. Focus is given to understanding how teachers interpreted work in context; that is, how they were responsive to both expanding professional knowledge about the project approach and to the existing practices valued in their particular school contexts. We present description of project work in action in three classrooms in order to illustrate key themes from each of the three single cases. This is followed by an interpretive discussion that brings together the three cases. In conclusion, we suggest that the teachers’ experiences implementing the project approach carry implications for understanding teacher learning and professional development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Clark, A. (2006). Changing classroom practice to include the project approach. Early Childhood Research & Practice, 8(2). Retrieved from http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v8n2/clark.html.

  • Connelly, F. M., & Clandinin, D. J. (Eds.). (1999). Shaping a professional identity: Stories of educational practice. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Copple, C., & Bredekamp, S. (Eds.). (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewey, J. (1938/1998). Experience and education: The 60th anniversary edition. West Lafayette, IN: Kappa Delta Pi.

  • Eisner, E. (2002). From episteme to phronesis to artistry in the study and improvement of teaching. Teaching and Teacher Education, 18(4), 375–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goffin, S. G., & Wilson, C. W. (2001). Curriculum models and early childhood education: Appraising the relationship. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, L. S. (2007). Beyond the DAP versus standards dilemma: Examining the unforgiving complexity of kindergarten teaching in the United States. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 22, 39–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helm, J., & Katz, L. (2010). Young investigators: The project approach in the early years (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, B. D. & Egley, R. J. (2004). Voices from the frontlines: Teachers’ perceptions of high-stakes testing. Educational Policy Analysis Archives, 12(39). Retrieved from http://epaa.asu.edu/ojs/article/view/194.

  • Katz, L. G. (2007). Standards of experience. Young Children, 62(3), 94–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, L. (2009). Where I stand on standardization. Educational Researcher, 38(1), 52–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, L. G., & Chard, S. C. (2000). Engaging children’s minds: The project approach (2nd ed.). Stanford, CT: Ablex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilpatrick, W. H. (1918). The project method. Teachers College Record, 19(4), 319–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knoll, M. (1997). The project method: Its vocational education origin and international development. Journal of Industrial Teacher Education, 34, 59–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohn, A. (1999). The schools our children deserve. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lubeck, S. (1998). Is developmentally appropriate practice for everyone? Childhood Education, 74(5), 299–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marcon, R. (1992). Differential effects of three preschool models on inner-city four year olds. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 7(4), 517–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, S., Foulger, T. S., Wetzel, K., & Rathkey, C. (2009). The negotiated project approach: Project-based learning without leaving standards behind. Early Childhood Education Journal, 36(4), 339–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Narey, M. (2009). Making meaning: Constructing multimodal perspectives of language, literacy, and learning through arts-based early childhood education. New York, NY: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien, L. M. (1996). Turning my world upside down: How I learned to question developmentally appropriate practice. Childhood Education, 73(2), 100–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schön, D. (1983). The reflective practitioner. How professionals think in action. New York, NY: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stake, R. E. (2006). Multiple case study analysis. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stake, R. E. (2010). Qualitative research: Studying how things work. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber, E. (1969). The kindergarten: Its encounter with educational thought in America. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jolyn Blank.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Blank, J., Damjanovic, V., Peixoto da Silva, A.P. et al. Authenticity and “Standing Out:” Situating the Project Approach in Contemporary Early Schooling. Early Childhood Educ J 42, 19–27 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-012-0549-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-012-0549-2

Keywords

Navigation