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From November 1521 until May 1522 Martin Luther translated the Bible into the Vernacular. By doing this, he was encouraging literacy among the people, and especially the idea of teaching young children how to read. He also ecouraged the establishment of more schools.
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Believed that children were like a blank slate. It was the job of the elders and other adults to shape the children and mold them into the citizens of tomorrow. He was one of the first advocates for beginning a child's educaiton when they are still young
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Johann Pestalozzi belived that instead of burdening children with too many words and pointles activites, he advised that children learn by doing hands on activities. It was he who laid the groundwork for "discovery learning." His ideas stemmed off those of Rousseau.
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Robert Owen publishes, "The First Essay on the Principle of the Formation of Character." Mr. Owen was intent on presenting the message that the society in which a child grows up is what develops their character. Thus, if a child is brought up in a pleasant and well-formed society then he/she will likewise be pleasant and well-formed. The best way to do this, is to teach them good moral values at very young ages.
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In 1837 Friedrich Forebel created the "Play and Activity Institute" which he later renamed Kindergarten. Forebel believed that children learn best through creative play and encouraged such play in the early years of a child's education. He compared children to a garden; they need to be nurtured and encouraged to grow.
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Maria Montessori opened the first Montessori School. This school focused on teaching children using methonds that would meet their sensory needs. If a child experiences something, they are more likely to remember that topic/lesson.
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Jean Piaget introduced to the world his theory that children are not less competent then adults, but rather they learn differently based on their brains' development. He believed that both mental and physical activiteis contributed to the proper development of a child's brain. It was because of his theory that educators now coorelate their curriculum to the stage of development of the children.
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Urie Brogenbrenner graduates from the Univeristy of Michigan with a doctorate in developmental psychology. The basis of Bronfenbrenner's theory is that the environment of a child greatly influences the way they learn. Thus, both teachers and families try to create positive environments that will influences the student/child's ability to learn.
