Teaching

Young
Children

OBJECTIVE 3.02
Understand selection and use of teaching methods.

Teaching Young Children

Part 1:
Selecting Teaching Methods

Ways Children Learn

The Role of Play Materials

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Selecting Teaching Methods

In order to select appropriate teaching
methods, you need to know about
The ways children learn
The role of play materials
Factors to consider when selecting toys and
play materials

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How do children learn?

From the
environment
From a teacher
From their
experiences

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Learning from the

environment
Variety of
manipulatives
Interactive
environment with
opportunities to
explore and
experiment

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Learning from a teacher

Provides positive
reinforcement
Is a good role model
for children to imitate
When a person shows
someone else how to do
something, this is called
modeling.
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Learning from experiences

Sensory
elements
Trial and error
Learn from
mistakes
Address all
areas of
development
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The Role of Play Materials

Play is the
business
of children.

Play =
Learning

Play plays a very important role in learning.

2 Types of Play Materials

1. Open-ended --- can be used in a
variety of ways, with no one correct
way to play with them
2. Closed-ended --- structured materials
meant to be used in one way, with one
intended outcome

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Can you think of examples

of each?
Open-ended

Closed-ended

Both types offer benefits for children.

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Benefits of Open-ended
Materials for Children
1.
2.
3.
4.

Develop independence
Learn to make decisions
Learn to solve problems
Use their imagination

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Benefits of Closed-ended
Materials for Children
1. Learn to follow
directions
2. Develop sensory
perception
3. Help develop motor
skills

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Factors to Consider When

Selecting Toys & Play Materials
Safety
Rounded,
smooth
edges
Nontoxic

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Factors to Consider When

Selecting Toys & Play Materials
Durability
Easy to clean
Appropriate for
different ages
Encourages
cooperative play, not
aggressive play
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Factors to Consider When

Selecting Toys & Play Materials
Number of children
who can use at one
time
Storage space
available

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Factors to Consider When

Selecting Toys & Play Materials
Multi-purpose
Encourages
active
involvement, not
passive
observation

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Factors to Consider When

Selecting Toys & Play Materials
Teaches
basic
concepts
Allows for
sensory
learning

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Factors to Consider When

Selecting Toys & Play Materials
Enjoyed by both
boys and girls
Fun to play with

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Teaching Young Children

Part 2: Using Teaching Methods

Planning
Lessons
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Using Teaching Methods

In order to use teaching methods
effectively, you need to know
about
Planning lessons
Teaching styles
Teaching techniques

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Lesson Plan
A detailed written
explanation of a
learning activity
Like an architect prepares a blueprint so that the builder will know
every detail about how the building should be built, and to
guarantee that the building is physically sound and aesthetically
pleasing; similarly, a teacher prepares a lesson plan with every
detail about how the lesson is to be taught, which better ensures
that the lesson will be effective and that children will participate
and learn. The only difference is that . . .

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The only
difference is
that the
teacher is
both the
architect
and the
builder.
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Purposes of Lesson Plans

Serves as an organizational tool
Forces teachers to think ahead
Enables teachers to think through
what they want to do
Provides time to gather needed
materials
Can be saved for future reference

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Results of Teaching
without Lesson Plans???
Lessons flounder
and fail
Time wasted
Children bored
Materials not ready
Things left out

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Components of Lesson
Plans
Lets look at

Target age group

Topic or theme
Purpose
Concepts to be learned
Skills to be developed
Materials needed
Procedures
Questions
Follow-up activities
Evaluation

each of these
more closely. . .

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Target Age Group

Age or level of
development of
children
Example:
Three-year-olds

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Purpose of Lesson

Stated as
objectives
Things to aim
for and reach
Targets

Example:
The learners will be able to
(TLWBAT)
recognize basic shapes.

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What could be an objective

for this learning activity?

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Concepts to Be Learned

Skills to Be Developed
List exactly the
concepts and skills
that will be
learned/developed.
Concept: Objects can be
counted one at a time.
Skill: Counting from 1 to 10

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Concepts to Be Learned

Skills to Be Developed
List exactly the
concepts and skills
that will be
learned/developed.
What concepts and skills can be developed from playing
dress-up?
Concept?
Skill?
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Materials Needed
List all materials
needed
State quantities
This serves as the
teachers checklist
for getting
prepared.

(Example)

Materials Needed
6 sets crayons
1 4-in. paper square per child
6 bottles white glue
Yarn, assorted lengths, colors

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Procedures
Outline steps for
leading the
(Example)
activity
Procedures:
1. Have children sit in a circle.
Put them in
2. Introduction: Ask children to close
their eyes and picture their most
correct
favorite food.
3. Tell children that they are going to
sequence
learn about foods that make their
bodies strong and healthy.
Be thorough
4. Read the first page of the book . . .
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Lessons usually include these

lesson functions:
Focus and review - an introduction to capture attention,
focus on the topic, review
Statement of objective to state what children will
learn
Teacher input to introduce new information
Student guided practice to give children a chance to
use the new information
Independent practice to see how well children can do
things on their own
Closure - to summarize, bring the activity to an end

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Questions

To focus
thinking
and
guide
learning

Example:
What happens if we
push just one button
at a time?

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Follow-up Activities
To reinforce what
was learned
To provide
additional help
for children who
need it

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Evaluation

Example:
Next time I will remember to
work with a smaller number of
children at a time . . .

To assess the
effectiveness of the
lesson
Number of children who
were successful
Adaptations needed for
different ability levels
Ways to improve
Would you use again?

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Transitions
Short activities
that guide
children
smoothly from
one activity to
another

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Transition signals may be

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Transition
Methods
Move a few children at a
time while others do
another activity
Sort children by colors of
clothing worn (or other
categories); move by
groups
Have children move as
though they were specific
animals

Move to Circle
Time like an
elephant walking
through the jungle.

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Transition Methods
To start an activity, use a
prop or something special
to capture interest
For clean-up transition,
use a job board or a job
jar
Use choice time to let
children decide the
activity they wish to do
next
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Teaching Young Children

Part 3: Using Teaching Methods

Teaching Styles
Teaching
Techniques
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Teaching
Styles
The
ways in
which
teachers
conduct
their
classes

Think about the ways

in which some of
YOUR teachers
conduct their
classes . . .

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Teaching style includes

The teachers expectations about behavior
The degree of structure in lessons
The degree of spontaneity in lessons

Whats
spontaneity
?

You know, spontaneous!

Spontaneity is when the
teacher follows her impulses,
lets things happen naturally.

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Factors Affecting Teaching

Styles
The teachers
personality
The teachers own
learning style
The teachers beliefs
about teaching and
learning

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Ways Children Respond

to Teaching Styles
One style is not
necessarily better
Children benefit from
many different styles
Sensitive teachers are
aware of their own
teaching styles
Effective teachers know
how to adapt their styles
as needed
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Teaching
Techniques

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Teaching Technique #1:

Arrange the environment

Provide adequate
space
Organize space so
activity can be done
safely and easily

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Teaching Technique #2:

Set the stage

Use an opener to catch their
attention
Let children know what to expect
Help children get into the right
frame of mind
Use a focus object an item related
to the activity that helps introduce it
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Teaching Technique #3:

Handle play activities

Serve as the facilitator,
not the controller
Help children get the
most out of play
Recognize teachable
moments --- unplanned
times when children are
ready to learn
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Teaching Technique #4:

Group children appropriately

Factors to consider
Number of children
Age range
Ability levels

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Methods of Grouping
Chronological grouping same age together
Developmental grouping same ability levels
together
Family grouping same age range together
Random grouping grouping with no pattern
in mind; each child has an equal chance to be
in any group
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Advantages/Disadvantages of
Grouping by Age or Ability
Advantage: Easier to plan lessons
Disadvantage: Children miss the
opportunity to relate to children of other
ages/abilities
Can you think of other advantages or
disadvantages?
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Advantages/Disadvantages
of Family Grouping
Advantage: Individual children have a greater
chance of learning
Advantage: Children have more opportunity to
learn to relate with children of other ages
Disadvantage: The range of developmental
needs is challenging for teachers
Can you think of other advantages or
disadvantages?
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Conditions under which

smaller groups are needed:
1. When much personal attention is
required
2. When learning new skills
3. When the activity is complex
4. With younger children
5. When children are prone to misbehave
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Teaching Technique #5:

Use concrete objects

Children understand
best when they can
see and touch
Descriptive words
sometimes have little
meaning for young
children

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Teaching Technique #6:

Use open-ended questions

Require more than a yes or no
answer
There is no right or wrong response
Encourage children to express
themselves
Stimulate creativity and language
development

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Teaching Technique #7:

Use other techniques effectively.

Visuals can reinforce
learning
Props can capture
attention and add
variety

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Thats all for now!

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