October 11, 2011

The Shifthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjJg9NfTX

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What has changed? What is being reinforced?

Collecting evidence of children’s learning

Moving children along the continuum of learning

Extending their learning to an independent level

New Competencies: The world our students will enter into is a world we cannot imagine right now. The information they will need is information we do not even have. Therefore, importance shifts to:

• Learning how to learn

• Problem solving

• Teamwork

New Competencies: The world our students will enter into is a world we cannot imagine right now. The information they will need is information we do not even have. Therefore, importance shifts to:

• Learning how to learn

• Problem solving

• Teamwork

Where does learning begin?

The brain is developing at conception and the experiences that care givers provide, enriches the child to learn and gain meaning in the world we live.

Play and ExplorationThe vision in early childhood

programs are holistic, responsive, and developmentally appropriate.

Early childhood programs

are child-centered.Children & Their Learning

ExperienceChildren & Their RelationshipsChildren & Their Environment

What is play & exploration?

With the people around you, think about what play looks like. Write down some characteristics of play and exploration.

Principles of Early Learning

1. Children are Competent Learners2. Holistic Development and

Learning3. Strong Positive Relationships4. Stimulating and Dynamic

Environments

Play is essential to healthy development. Play enhances language, social skills, and problem solving.

High Quality Early Learning EnvironmentA high quality early learning environment

supports children’s learning through play. Adults contribute to the play by:

Modeling oral language and emergent literacyProviding props and resources to enrich the playObserving children’s play to assess social and

cognitive growthNegotiating with children where the play will

progress and what materials or props are needed for the next steps.

Video Clip: Going to a Wedding

How does the K-12 curriculum enhance those early learning principles?

Broad Areas of Learning (BAL)

Cross Curricular Competencies (CCC)

We call it …………………Inquiry

Inquiry builds on students’ inherent sense of curiosity and wonder

Draws on students’ diverse background and experiences

Provides opportunities for students to become active participants in a search for meaning

Building a Strong Foundation

If we can build a strong foundation of play & exploration we can continue to build life long learners, engaged citizens, and a sense of self and community in our youth.

Implications for Teaching and Learning in the Renewed Curriculum:

Focus on strategiesShift from what we are teaching to what

students are learningContinuous assessment and adjustmentHolding back on telling “the right answer”Willingness to say “I’m not sure”Starting with and returning to the big pictureOpen and probing questions

Inquiry and learning for deep understanding takes time.

What does this mean to me?That you will continue to move learners to a

level of independence in...

What can you do to enhance learning?1. Observe

2. Document

3. Facilitate

1. As an Observer

Take time to observe what children are doing and what they are saying?

We define observation as watching to learn. Observing provides the information you need to build relationships with individual children and enable them to be successful learners. We learn about children by carefully watching them, listening to them, and studying their work. Watching and listening to children helps us understand what they are feeling, learning, and thinking.

--The Power of Observation

2. As a Documenter

Document learning and social and personal development.

Documentation is the process of gathering evidence and artifacts of what happens in the classroom. Documentation is not only the process of gathering evidence and artifacts, but also a physical collection of evidence and artifacts, the reflection of that collection, or part of it, in a way that makes children’s learning visible to the children, to the teachers, to the other adults including families and visitors.

--Carlina Rinaldi (1994)

Types of DocumentationWritten ObservationsWritten Documentation of Children’s WordsAudio PhotosArtVideosSamples of Student Work

Capturing the Moment

Example Note:

20/09/10 During work time [when], Hannah [who] plays with the magnet board in the toy area [where]. First she lines up all the squares in order, from largest to smallest. She then lines up all the circles, directly under the squares, in the same manner [what she did].

Writing Anecdotal NotesDate your entriesWhen? Where? With Whom?Include specific detailsStick to the facts.Keep the entries short.Be realistic.

Blocks in the Mirror Video

Five year old Ria is building with blocks on amirror. Her teacher, Mary Beth, asks her aquestion to further her thinking.

What do I need?

Sticky notes and penClip boardCameraVideo cameraFolders

How do I know what to document?Prekindergarten – developmental - COR

K – 12 - learning processes – KNOW-DO-UNDERSTAND

Child Observation Record (COR)The Child Observation Record is an authentic assessment tool designed to measure individual and group progress in early childhood programs. It assesses children in their natural learning environment through observation in six categories.

Preschool COR Categories

I. InitiativeII. Social RelationsIII. Creative

RepresentationIV. Movement & MusicV. Language &

LiteracyVI. Mathematics &

Science

K- 12: What are these students learning?

NESD Curriculum Corner Unpacked outcomesRubricshttp://nesd.ca/~currcorner/

3. As a Facilitator or LearningThrough Powerful Interactions

What does a Powerful Interaction look like?Think of a time when you had genuine

conversation with a friend or family member. What did this look like? Reflect and write down characteristics of this powerful interaction.

Step 1: Being Present

When you are “present” you are in the moment and self-aware, and therefore you can be more open to the interesting and significant things that children do.

Step 2: Connect

You acknowledge and validate children by letting them know you see them, are interested in them, and want to spend time with them. Connecting in this way awakens the sense of trust and security that creates positive interactions and learning.

Step 3: Extend Learning

When you extend a child’s knowledge and understanding hand-in-hand with nurturing a positive relationship with that child, you create the optimal condition for you to teach and the child to learn.

Have genuine conversations with children. Your role as a facilitator changes from a “telling” role to that of “exchanger of knowledge and ideas”.

Conversations reveal and stimulate children’s thinking.

Recap21st Century Learners need to learn how to

learn, problem solve, and be a part of a team.Play is essential to healthy child development

and learning.Inquiry is a philosophy of allowing children to

think, ask questions, and investigate ways of knowing.

Observing, documenting, and facilitating learning are the key roles that enhances and validates learning.

ReflectionSo, as an education assistant within the NESD

and the Renewed Saskatchewan Curriculum, how will your role transform to serve the needs of the 21st century learner?