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Tag: Learning

Learning to Enhance Learning
STEAMMSUNDAY

Learning to Enhance Learning

by Lorna Norton 24/11/2018

This weeks #steammsunday isn’t an activity. For you parents it’s something to think about and perhaps begin to integrate into your week if you feel it’s right for you. The language and actions we present as parents. A lot comes down to you as a parent and how you guide your little one.

These are my top tips and hopefully little elements for you to add in;

Being conscious of how you speak to your little one. Giving them language which speaks about their actions rather than them as a person. Avoid using “good girl/boy” if possible, it tells them that them as a person is good/bad, rather than the action they’ve just done. By separating the child and the behaviour, you’re able to guide their actions without telling your child THEY are good/bad inherently.  

“You worked so hard building that tower, did you enjoy making it?”

“It’s such a shame your tower fell down when you pushed it, perhaps you could build it again?”

“I’m not sure George is ready to stop playing with the blocks yet, I can see you’re feeling frustrated. We can ask him to give them to you when he’s done perhaps?”

If they’re set on an activity and not ready to move on, guide their play by describing what you see. Imagine you’re picked up and dragged away from something you’re not quite finished with, rightly you’d be pretty grumpy too! Allow your little one the time to master the skill they’re working on, if they’re in a flow you’re in a great place to extend their learning.

“I see you’ve used the block there, is that a wall?”

“I wonder how your cup will fit under that tap, lets see”

“Look at the way your fingers grab the play dough, can you make it look like a hand?”

Or if it’s time to leave or finish a session try giving them a 5 minute warning to begin bringing their play to an end. They’ll gain a sense of control by ending the activity themself rather than being told to stop. Potentially avoiding meltdowns.

“Just to let you know the session is finishing in 5 minutes, where shall we go next?”

“Our class is due to finish in 5 minutes, is there anything else you’d like to play with before we leave today?”

Putting your child at the centre of their own learning journey. When a child has a say in what they want to explore, the likelihood is that they’re more likely to be engaged and ready to learn. HOWEVER this comes with a word of caution. You as a parent have a duty to your little one. Would they be happy watching TV eating ice cream all day? Probably, but are they going to be progressing in their life? I’m being overly dramatic of course, but the point still stands; children don’t know what they don’t know.

Presenting children with options and choices to guide their learning and interests gives you a great opportunity to broaden their world. Give them the options to choose from and let them feel some autonomy in their learning journey.

There’s so much to consider day to day when you’re a parent. Loving our children unconditionally will always be number 1. They’re incredible little souls, just waiting for each opportunity to grow. This week, pick one thing to try if it feels right for you. Let me know how you get on.

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Repetitive Movements
STEAMMSUNDAY

Repetitive Movements

by Lorna Norton 28/10/2018

Over the last term it’s been amazing to see each child get something different from the classes. The age range is very wide (and did you notice I’ve scrapped the different aged classes?) It’s been important to incorporate enough for each child and their stage of development. 

So how do you spot phases of learning and how do you allow your little one to get the most from their play? 

If you watch your little one at play do you notice they repeat movements over and over? 
These repetitions are learning schemas. Ways for children to master skills and concepts; the building blocks for life. 

Below are a few key schemas which are easy to spot, perhaps you can recognise a few from your own little one. There are many more schemas (between 9-12 depending on the source), with lots of overlapping. 

Connecting/disconnecting: Stacking and dismantling structures, joining trains and taking toys apart. 

Transporting: Collecting and putting things into boxes, bags or the like. Having full pockets or filling and emptying. 

Boundaries: Poking holes in things, or putting fingers in holes. Exploring gates and doors.

Positioning: Lining up toys, sorting and building patterns. Arranging books on a shelf or even straightening chairs in a row.

Dynamic Horizontal: Moving cars and building roads, running laps, full body left to right/right to left movements, clapping or racing games.

Jean Piaget (1896–1980), a renowned developmental psychologist, noted that as a child gets older the learning schemas get more elaborate and often cross paths with more than one simultaneously. It might not be obvious what phase of learning they’re in. 

Next time you’re watching your little one, take note of what and how they’re playing. Real engagement is what you’re looking out for. You’ll notice they have intent and purpose to their play.  Do you see the same pattern of play happening with different toys? Engage with them, ask them questions about what specifically they’re enjoying. 

In order to access higher level thinking when they’re older; including STEAM subjects, children must pass through these learning schema. Negotiating the world is tricky, so let them explore their way, mastering their own learning. 

Above all, give them time and patience. These stages of learning are vital and can’t be rushed. Embrace the phase and give them opportunity to explore more along their current path. 

NOTE: Our little Fern is fully into holes and putting blocks together. He’s not mastered building but loves to hold blocks together in his hands. And putting fingers in holes… belly buttons, plug sockets, squeezy yogurt tube holes, holes in toys, holes in chairs…. the list is huge!

 
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School in September
Education

School in September

by Lorna Norton 26/08/2018

As the summer holidays draw to a close, there may be mixed feelings about heading back to school, or even starting school for the first time. Understandably, children have had the holidays to unwind, relax, be kids, play, have fun and spend some time away from the formalities of schooling. For some children, school is…

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