1. Educational Theorists
And Their Theories

2. Child Development Theory
Explains how children develop:
Morally, socially, cognitively, physically, emotionally
And provides ways to apply this theory to practice

3. Erikson – 8 Stages of Man
Individuals pass through different crisis at different ages.
Infant Trust vs Mistrust Toddler Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt Preschooler Initiative vs Guilt School-Age Child Industry vs Inferiority Adolescent Identity vs Role Confusion Young Adult Intimacy vs Isolation Middle-Age Adult Generativity vs Stagnation Older Adult Integrity vs Despair
Dealing with each crisis in a positive way results in normal development. Parents & Caregivers must be sensitive to each child’s needs at each stage.

4. Freud, Sigmund
Personality develops through a series of stages. Emotional experiences in childhood profoundly effect adulthood.

5. Kohlberg, Lawrence Level I Pre-conventional Morality
Stage 1 Punishment orientation - Rules are obeyed to avoid punishment
Stage 2 Instrumental orientation or personal gain - Rules are obeyed for personal gain
Level II Conventional Morality
Stage 3 “Good Boy” or “Good Girl” orientation - Rules are obeyed for approval
Stage 4 Maintenance of the social order – Rules are obeyed to maintain the social order
Level III Post-conventional Morality
Stage 5 Morality of contract and individual rights – Rules are obeyed if they are impartial; democratic rules are challenged if they infringe on the rights of others
Stage 6 Morality of conscience – The individual establishes his or her own rules in accordance with a personal set of ethical principals

6. Maslow – Hierarchy of Needs
Humans naturally strive to satisfy needs. There are 5 levels of needs. Each must be satisfied before moving on to the next.

7. Piaget, Jean
Piaget’s developmental stages of a child: 0-2 years sensorimotor – motor development 3 -7 years pre-operation – intuitive 4-11 years concrete operational – logical, no abstractions years formal operations – abstract thinking Children should be given learning tasks suitable for their age of thinking.

8. Piaget – Genetic Epistemology

9. Skinner – Learned Conditioning (Behaviorism)
Learning results in changes in behavior.
If an action repeatedly brings a positive result, it will be repeated.
If an action repeatedly brings a negative result, it will stop.
Rewards & punishments may be used to influence behavior.

10. Montessori – Maria Montessori
Children learn by using their senses. They learn best when pursuing their own interests.
Children need to touch and manipulate.

11. Gesell, Arnold
Children master various skills in order; Gesell determined the typical order.

12. Bandura, Albert
Children learn by modeling. Environment shapes behavior AND behavior affects environment. Parents & Caregivers must provide good examples.

13. Children learn by example.
Coles, Robert
Parents and Caregivers are role models for moral development.
Children learn by example.

14. Vygotsky - ZPD
Biological development and cultural experience influence a child’s ability to think and learn. Social contact is essential for intellectual development.