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Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau recommended that a child's early education should be natural. He continuously went off of the idea of nature. Even the understanding that children grasp this idea better than most adults. He believed our surroundings keep us alive and teach us more than any book could. Rousseau was a believer that if kids had a synchronized way of learning that they would not only be educated but also self-reliant.
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Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi added on to the idea of natural learning by introducing informal learning in strategies including reading. Pestalozzi firmly believed that society could be changed by education and fully advocated for it.
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Friedrich Wilhelm August Froebel also agreed with the ideas of Rousseau and Pestalozzi but wanted to be sure to include the important aspect of play in learning. Froebel believed the teacher was a designer of playful activities that facilitated learning. He utilized the use of music to incorporate learning objectives for younger students.
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Maria Montessori had a different idea on how to approach children's learning. She believed in early, orderly, and systematic approaches rather than a more fluid, fun approach that was previously used. The five senses became part of the "materials" for the students.
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The philosophy of John Dewey led to the concept of what was known as the child-centered curriculum. Dewey gave a new perspective in education where curriculum should be based around the students' interests and also believed in real-life settings rather than just a classroom. To this day because of Dewey's efforts, classrooms shy away from simply recitation and note memorization and involve more discussion and problem solving situations.
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Jean Piaget focused more on the cognitive development and how it effects the intellectual capabilities of children. He broke them up into groups, 0-2 years of age, 2-7 years of age, 7-11 years of age, and 11-adult. He believed that a student/child gains knowledge by interacting with the world, not just within a classroom.
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Lev S. Vygotsky had a simpler understanding of education. He believed that children simply learn through new concepts. These new concepts are believed by Vygotsky to be acquired as children interact with others who provide feedback.