From Luther to Today: Basic Concepts Essential to Good Education Practices

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As They Relate to Children

• Everyone needs to learn how to read and write.
• Children learn best when they use all their senses.
• All children are capable of being educated.
• All children should be educated to the fullest extent of their abilities.
• Education should begin early in life. Today especially there is an increased emphasis on beginning education at birth.
• Children should be appropriately taught what they are ready to learn when they are ready to learn it and should be prepared for the next stage of learning.
• Learning activities should be interesting and meaningful.
• Social interactions with teachers and peers are a necessary part of development and learning.
• All children have many ways of knowing, learning, and relating to the world.

As They Relate to Teachers

• Teachers should love and respect all children, have high expectations for them, and teach them to their highest capacities.
• Teachers should be dedicated to the teaching profession.
• Good teaching is based on a theory, a philosophy, goals, and objectives.
• Children’s learning is enhanced through the use of concrete materials.
• Teaching should move from the concrete to the abstract.
• Observation is a key way to determine children’s needs.
• Teaching should be a planned, systematic process.
• Teaching should be centered on children rather than adults or subjects.
• Teaching should be based on children’s interests.
• Teaching should collaborate with children as a means of promoting development.
• Teachers should plan so they incorporate all types of intelligence in their planning and activities.

As They Relate to Parents

• The family is the most important institution in children’s education and development. The family lays the foundation for all future education and learning.
• Parents are their children’s primary educators; they are their children’s first teachers. However, parents need help, education, and support to achieve this goal.
• Parents must guide and direct young children’s learning.
• Parents should be involved in every educational program their children are involved in.
• Everyone should have knowledge of and training for child rearing.
• Parents and other family members are collaborators in children’s learning.
• Parents must encourage and support their children’s many interests and their unique ways of learning.