Learning to Belong

This fascinating book draws on a diversity of disciplines exploring the importance of participatory approaches to children's early education and shows how fostering a sense of identity is essential to early learning.

Caroline Bath lives with her partner in West Yorkshire, near her son and grandchildren. She has a teaching and research background in early childhood education, and also writes poetry. The Life We Make is her first novel.

Introduction 1. Planning the project: Theory and practice in the classroom The schools The aims and questions The approaches: i. participatory action research ii. Ethnography The methods Participatory techniques with children Summary 2. What does it mean to belong: Belonging in English education Critical pedagogy in the early years The problem with 'participation' Theories of democracy Democracy, participation and education Summary 3. Participation in early childhood education: The early years classroom as a site for participation Listening to children and beyond Participation in recent early childhood policy Participation and early childhood curriculum Summary 4. Participatory work at the start of school: Studying young children The role of the researcher The role of the teacher The role of the child Children's Perspectives Summary 5. What am I good at?: Introduction Competence Mastery You mean working as a team? Summary 6. Who's my friend?: Loyalty and love The importance of care Playing at playing together Summary 7. Who's in charge?: Doing as you're told? Making Decisions You're not coming to my party Summary 8. What am I allowed to do?: Routines and rituals Bending and unbending the rules The pattern of narrative Summary 9. How to plan for participation: Introduction Participatory methods Participatory practices Participatory projects Planning for participation Conclusion References