Resources and Tools for Early Childhood Teachers (2023)

FAQs

What are the key features of an effective play-based learning environment? ›

A good plan for play-based learning will include all the following information: the topic theme; a specific learning intention; organisation details (this should set out where the activity will take place, along with suggested group sizes, i.e. a table-top activity, 3 children per table);

Coloring books and worksheet books are excellent resources. These are great because you can make copies of the content and use the resource books over and over. Globes, maps, and posters are essential resources common in most classrooms, as well.

Play improves the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and young people. Through play, children learn about the world and themselves. They also learn skills they need for study, work and relationships such as: confidence.

Research tells us preschool-age children learn best in environments where they can have secure relationships with caring and responsive adults, where they feel safe, and where they feel free to explore and learn. A well-arranged environment can help you meet preschool-age children's needs during play and routines.

Get to know some personal things about each student. Conduct a values analysis discussion about some current event or topic. Provide positive comments when appropriate. Be positive and enthusiastic when teaching.

The three discrete components of a well-designed early childhood environment—the temporal, social, and physical environments—really do not stand alone.

The use of classroom resources is important for both children and teachers to maintain an organised environment whilst helping children get the very most out of their learning experience. For example, PowerPoints, worksheets and anything else in between is a crucial foundation for a child's learning journey.

Why are teaching resources important? ›

Learning resources are crucial for both teachers and students. It is a part of the teaching-learning strategy and provides teachers with valuable information on various topics. It keeps them updated with relevant information and helps in their professional development.

Children play to practice skills, try out possibilities, revise hypotheses and discover new challenges, leading to deeper learning. Play allows children to communicate ideas, to understand others through social interaction, paving the way to build deeper understanding and more powerful relationships.

Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them.

In meaningful play, children are active participants. For example, instead of passively taking in a lesson, children take on roles alongside their peers and respond to the other children according to the rules of play that they've created.

Lack of materials and resources may hinder a child's development to become motivated. Inconsistent or non-existent emotional support or comfort can lead to the child becoming withdrawn and acting out as the child would not know how to control their own emotions.

What is Effective Practice? Effective Practice is about ensuring that all children get optimum benefit from their experiences in the EYFS. This apparently simple outcome can only be achieved when adults work together to get to know the children so that they can support their play, development and learning.

Separate quiet and loud areas so that children can re- spect each other's play experiences. Create a soft, quiet area where a child can choose to be alone. Pull equipment away from the walls. Utilize your equip- ment to create “nooks” and to visually invite people to come all the way into the classroom.

What should an early childhood classroom look like? ›

A good preschool classroom includes a block area, a dramatic play area, a science area, a library, and an arts area. At the beginning of each day, during what's called free play time, children decide which area to play in.

Setting Up a Preschool Classroom - YouTube

Socialization: A Key Component to Early Childhood Education

Play is a critical component of learning the social skills necessary to take children through life.

This document identifies and articulates the characteristics of five Key Elements that are fundamental to achieving high-quality experiences and strong outcomes for preschool children: the learning environment, daily routine, adult-child relationships, teaching practices, and family engagement.

There are four types of learning environments, each with unique elements. Learning environments can be student- or learner-centered; knowledge-centered; assessment-centered; and community-centered.

As well as being sources of knowledge for teachers, learning resources can be used by teachers and teacher educators to co-construct knowledge as part of continuing professional development. For example, observation sheets, feedback forms and action plans can be used during classroom observation and mentoring.

Teaching-learning resources assist in and supports student learning. It helps students to understand and enjoy the lesson which the teacher teaches them. It helps students understand the object of the lesson the teacher is conveying.

Detailed Solution. The most important component of the teaching-learning process is Learner as all the activities and the whole process is centered and planned around him. Learning-centered education focuses on the learning process.

What are the importance of resources? ›

Resources are important for the development of any country. For example, to generate energy, one need fossil fuels; and for industrial development, we require mineral resources. 6. Irrational consumption and over utilisation of natural resources has led to socio-economic and environmental problems.

Material resources are materials found in nature that can be used for practical, human purposes that are considered to have value. You can sell houses, and you can sell glass windows, so both of these things certainly have a value in money. But as long as humans think an item has some value, it's a material resource.

Resources in Teaching and Learning is the term to ascribe to something such as (Written source, Audio-visual aids, e-learning/technology, Objects, Events, and People etc) that can be used to support or help Teaching and Learning.

Curiosity about the world, initiative and problem solving, and focused attention and persistence are just a few approaches to learning that children develop through play. In the early years, parents can help children develop the skills to be better students by playing with them.

Scaffolding allows children to solve a problem or carry out a task that is beyond their current abilities. It is a bridge teachers create to connect existing knowledge to new knowledge and understanding.

The benefit of meeting a child's individual needs means that each child will gain the most from each activity and therefore are more likely to learn and develop at a more efficient rate based upon their needs.

How can you support children's learning in the early years? ›

As young children explore, ask questions, and create, they improve their thinking skills. Reflecting on and using information lets your child understand the world around him. The way children approach learning is also an important part of their thinking skills.

A play-based approach involves both child-initiated and teacher-supported learning. The teacher encourages children's learning and inquiry through interactions that aim to stretch their thinking to higher levels.

Play-based learning is a type of early childhood education based on child-led and open-ended play. If you're picturing preschoolers finger painting or 'playing house', you're spot on. Play itself is a voluntary, enjoyable activity with no purpose or end goal.

Educators play a critical role in co-designing the learning spaces with children to ensure they are relevant, meaningful and reflect their interests, abilities and needs. Educators are integral in supporting and building children's knowledge and skills through quality interactions through play-based experiences.

Your child learns best by actively engaging with their environment. This includes: observing things, watching faces and responding to voices. listening to sounds, making sounds and singing.

WHYis curriculum important? It's important because it clearly describes what you want children to learn; what child outcomes you are aiming for. Curriculum describes the sequence - the “what comes next” for the child to learn and you to teach so that the child moves closer to your intended learning outcome.

When teachers understand how children develop, they'll know to separate the child from the behavior to prevent children from internalizing harmful messages. Looking at how children grow and what they need at different stages of development will also help teachers see a bigger picture of education.

How do children learn? ›

How children and teenagers learn. Children and teenagers learn by observing, listening, exploring, experimenting and asking questions. Being interested, motivated and engaged in learning is important for children once they start school. It can also help if they understand why they're learning something.

Educators Mary Hohmann and David Weikart defined active learning as learning in which the child, by acting on objects and interacting with people, ideas and events, constructs new understanding. No one else can have experiences for the child; children must do this for themselves.

Learning environments are nurturing spaces that support the development of all young children. They include classrooms, play spaces, areas for caregiving routines, and outdoor areas. Learning environments are well-organized and managed settings.