Advocating for learning

Abstract

Teachers need to be powerful advocates for the children in their programs. Advocacy is an important dimension of the professional role of the teacher as it can produce significant positive effects on children's learning and development. Advocacy can also be complex work - it may involve not only children but also children's families, teacher colleagues, other professionals and potentially other organisations, such as agencies concerned with health and well-being issues, governments and unions. This chapter considered the nature of advocacy, and the way collective action can be a helpful tool for improving the lives of young children and their families, especially in settings where behaviour ..