Understanding The Danish Forest School Approach

Understanding the Danish Forest School Approach is a much needed source of information for those wishing to extend and consolidate their understanding of the Forest School Approach in Denmark and how it is used in the teaching and learning of young children. It will enable the reader to analyse the essential elements of this Approach to early childhood and its relationship to quality early years practice. Exploring all areas of the curriculum including the social and political background to using nature pedagogy, the organisation of early years settings, the learning environment and risk management, this book: describes the key principles of the Forest School approach to early childhood supported with examples and case studies; provides students and practitioners with the relevant information about a key pedagogical influence on high quality early years practice in the United Kingdom; highlights the key ideas that practitioners should consider when reviewing and reflecting on their own practice; can be used as the basis for continuing professional development Written to support the work of all those in the field of early years education and childcare, this is a vital text for students, early years and childcare practitioners, teachers, early years professionals, children’s centre professionals, lecturers, advisory teachers, head teachers and setting managers.

This fully revised edition of Understanding the Danish Forest School Approach is a much needed source of information for those wishing to extend and consolidate their understanding of the Danish Forest School Approach. It enables analysis of the essential elements of this particular approach to early childhood teaching and the relationship it holds with quality early years practice. Describing the key principles of the Forest School Approach to early childhood, and heavily supported with practical examples and case studies, each chapter ends with highlighted key points, followed by reflections on practice to aid discussion and reflection on own practice. Including a new chapter on the curriculum, this text explores all aspects of the approach including: The geographical, historical, social and cultural influences that have shaped the philosophy and pedagogy of the early years setting in Denmark. The people and theories that have influenced and supported the practices of using the outdoors with children. An analysis of the learning environments, their risks and challenges and what a learning environment is made up of. The Danish early years curriculum; the areas of learning and the way pedagogues facilitate the learning processes. Parental, political and research perspectives on the approach and the sustainability of its future. Understanding the Danish Forest School Approach highlights the key ideas that practitioners should consider when reviewing and reflecting on their own practice, and outlines the national appraisals and evaluations of the curriculum. Providing students and practitioners with key information about a major pedagogical influence on early years practice, this is a vital text for students, early years and childcare practitioners, teachers, early years professionals, children’s centre professionals, lecturers, advisory teachers and setting managers.

Seminar paper from the year 2020 in the subject Pedagogy - School Pedagogics, grade: 1,0, University of Münster, language: English, abstract: This essay tries to give an insight into the way Forest Schools work and wants to highlight the value of outdoor learning. The Foundation of Forest Schools is added upfront to get a first impression on the origin of Forest Schools. Then I state the development and the key principles of Forest Schools. Furthermore, I take a closer look at the learning environment to give an understanding of the structures and the resulting risks and challenges of a Forest School session. To connect the given theory with a practical example the fourth chapter deals with two exemplary sessions. To conclude, the last chapter revolves around different perspectives on Forest Schools and what impact they have on society. In the end, I summarize the main points and give an outlook. All in all, this paper assists the reader to open up to new possibilities of teaching and learning with less focus on a strict curriculum.

Learning beyond Cognition goes beyond a merely cognitive understanding of learning. The concept denotes the ideological and mental formation of the individual as well as the individual's own shaping of an identity. Learning beyond Cognition expands on the notion of 'Building' and the current debate about citizenship education. The book outlines contemporary educational policies and practices in Europe and other Western countries. The authors analyse dominating discourses and learning practices to identify their social and cultural 'grounding' and potentials. The authors are experienced international scholars. This book is aimed to become an essential resource for researchers, teachers, students and policy-makers who address the current challenges to learning.

This is not a treatise to get children into the outdoors ? that is acknowledged as read. This is a book which considers the following: (i) Different approaches educators can take to working with children in outdoor environments (ii) The benefits of each approach, favouring those which are more child-led. (iii) The book will examine how practice in the woodland can influence educators and how they can support children's learning outdoors and indoors. The book will bring new understandings to practice in the nursery garden or school grounds, and will include an evaluation of how practice at Reflections Nursery has changed and developed in this context.

Helps demonstrate how to run Forest School sessions with a wide range of different age groups and in many different settings.

Forest School's innovative outdoor approach offers specific benefits to learners with autism, including increased social skills, raised self-esteem and improved sensory function. This guide raises autism awareness amongst practitioners by providing practical and easy-to-follow advice for adapting Forest School activities for those with autism. For those coming from a mainstream Forest School background, the author offers an introduction to autism and shows what Forest School can offer people with autism - both children and adults - with first-person accounts that highlight its success with this group. The guide gives advice on the social and sensory benefits, offers practical advice on safety and on how to set up a Forest School and finally presents specific activities to be incorporated into practitioners' routines.

This forward-thinking text challenges educators to think about and question the purpose of education and explores international understandings of the role played by early years professionals in promoting participatory, ethical and reflexive practice which benefits children as independent decision-makers. By exploring the different perspectives, concepts and practices adopted in early childhood settings in Denmark, Finland, Aotearoa, New Zealand and Sweden, Empowering Early Childhood Educators demonstrates the potential of participatory and democratic approaches in day-to-day practice. Illustrating how pedagogical approaches such as Te Whāriki, Reggio Emilia and the Montessori method may be understood and interpreted to maximise children’s engagement in their socio-cultural context, chapters empower educators to question their professional experience, knowledge and initiative to find a balance between directives and ethical practice. A rich combination of case studies, commentaries, interviews and conversations, the text offers critical insight into the daily practices and challenges of early years educators around the world and inspires critical reflection on practices which empower them. A powerful revaluation of the purposes and value of early childhood education, Empowering Early Childhood Educators will be of interest to early years practitioners, students and researchers.