About the Author
Jason Surian, PhD, is an assistant professor of education at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. He has spent over 25 years in education as an early childhood teacher, school administrator, and college professor.
References
Aryal, M. 2024.“ Reflective Teaching and Practices in the Classroom.” Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Advancements 2( 1): 26 – 31. doi. org / 10.3126 / jomra. v2i1.66635.
Bredekamp, S., & B. Willer. 2022.“ Intentional Teaching: Complex Decision Making and the Core Considerations.” In Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth Through Age 8. 4th ed. NAEYC.
Grieshaber, S., S. Krieg, F. McArdle, & J. Sumsion. 2021.“ Intentional Teaching in Early Childhood Education: A Scoping Review.” Review of Education 9( 3): e3309. doi. org / 10.1002 / rev3.3309.
Guerrero, A. L., & M. Camargo-Abello. 2023. Teachers’ Agency in the Implementation of an Early Childhood Education Policy Program in Schools in Bogotá, Colombia. International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy 17: 2. doi. org / 10.1186 / s40723-023- 00104-9.
Masterson, M. L., & M. M. Mazzocco. 2025.“ Approaches to Learning.” In The Intentional Teacher: Choosing the Best Strategies for Young Children’ s Learning. 3rd ed. NAEYC.
NAEYC. 2020.“ Developmentally Appropriate Practice.” Position statement. NAEYC. naeyc. org / resources / position-statements / dap / contents.
Razak, A., & J. Jackson. 2022.“ Intentional Teaching Leads to Purposeful Play-Based Learning.” Every Child Magazine 28( 3). edresearch. edu. au / other / articles / intentional-teaching-leadspurposeful-play-based-learning.
Schmidtke, A. 2025a.“ Introducing Intentional Teaching.” In The Intentional Teacher: Choosing the Best Strategies for Young Children’ s Learning. 3rd ed. NAEYC.
Schmidtke, A., ed. 2025b. The Intentional Teacher: Choosing the Best Strategies for Young Children’ s Learning. 3rd ed. NAEYC.
Schmidtke, A., T. Jolley, & K. Telford. 2025.“ Effective Practices for Intentional Teaching.” In The Intentional Teacher: Choosing the Best Strategies for Young Children’ s Learning. 3rd ed. NAEYC.
Photographs: © Getty Images Copyright © 2026 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. See permissions and reprints online at NAEYC. org / resources / permissions.
Summer 2026 Young Children 43