Day TwelveEarly experiences with the natural world have been positively linked to the sense of wonder. This way of knowing, if recognized and honored, can serve as a life-long source of joy and enrichment, as well as an impetus or motivation, for further learning. Do you remember spending long hours outdoors as a child? When I think back I can still feel the breeze on my face as I hop on rocks down bishop creek looking for water skippers. I can hear the babbling of the water and the feel ice coldness of the water as I squat down to observe and touch the fascinating bugs. I would not trade how I grew up for anything. It is those reflections on my childhood and the memories that I have that drives me to provide my students with some of those same experiences. Over the last decade researchers have been studying and documenting the importance of introducing children to the natural world. It is shows that in some communities children lack access to nature and the freedom to explore what nature provides. When it comes to connecting children with nature, it is not just about adding natural elements in classroom to create a visually appealing space. It is about using nature and natural materials to connect children to the natural world. It is about spending unstructured time outdoors in an outdoor classroom, where children can have the opportunities to discover and experience nature. In nature children will begin to understand the beautiful world that they live in. Time outdoors will provide children with opportunities to...
We need to learn to view outside time as more than just “recess” time. Outside time needs to be viewed as an invaluable part of each day’s learning activities. We need to build outdoor classroom time into our daily activity schedule. Areas to consider for the outdoor classroom Gross Motor Area Climbing and BalanceGardening Messy PlayNature ArtDramatic PlayMusicNature BuildingSand and WaterTask: Sketch outdoor space and map out centers that you could add to your outdoor classroom. Download Map below
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Today I will be taking a break from the 30 day challenge inviting learning, to join PreK Partner for a Blog Hop series on learning centers. Todays blog hop will be on setting up the block center and the importance of the block play in early childhood education. The building center in my classroom is by fare one of the busiest learning centers in my classroom. Children love blocks because they can be found in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. Children can use blocks to support their dramatic play, to build and create structures that they can then use with toys. So, why is the block center so important? Block play enhances children’s development across several different domains.
When I play with blocks I learn...
I like to have three different types of blocks out in the center.
Enhance the play experience in the block area by adding accessories. Accessories will expand the play by adding a different dimension to the play.
Loose parts play a big role in my classroom and the block center is a great place to add loose parts.
What Teachers Should Know about Block Play Children go through four different stages of block play.
Our role as the teacher is to thoughtfully listen to children as they are playing, to determine where their interest lie. This will help us to provide materials and props that will extend the play and build on their prior knowledge. A 360 degree look at my block center. Day Eleven“As I teach, I project the condition of my soul onto my students, my subject, and our way of being together.” In today’s world of education sometimes bringing ourselves to the learning process is hard, because we bring the pressure of accountability to our teaching. Are you bringing yourself to the teaching process? I use to feel like I was teaching in a fog and the storm could hit at any moment. At the end of the day I was not sure if I connected to those around me. I wondered would my students go home and tell their families what they did at school for the day. I knew that I had good parts, but after the storm of teaching, finding those golden nuggets was a hard thing to do. I knew that I needed to bring more of myself to the learning process so that I could connect with my students. I also knew that this was not going to happen overnight. I had to conquer one storm cloud at a time, by implementing teaching habits that would insure that I was bringing myself to the learning process. At the end of a long day do you feel like you have connected with your students? I brought myself to the learning process by creating a teacher habit checklist that will help me to stay in the moment and out of the storm. Did I…
When you stay mindful and act with your values and goals in mind, you become a powerful mediator of children’s learning. Task: Use the Mindful Teachers Checklist to see where you are with bringing yourself to the teaching process. Next pick one that you will start implementing in your classroom tomorrow.
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Welcome!I'm Tami Sanders creator of Learning and Teaching with Preschoolers, a blog to help teachers create magical moments for the young. Follow MeArchives
May 2024
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