Early Childhood Wisdom for the Ages

AVERTING DISASTER

EARLY CHILDHOOD WISDOM FOR THE AGES We asked several Early Childhood educators the following question:

What are simple things teachers can do to help students feel more at home in the classroom and inspired to learn?

Read on for their responses.

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AVERTING DISASTER

"Create an environment that is welcoming, homey, and calm."

"Help your students become citizens of the world by developing their sense of citizenship in the classroom. Consider it 'our' classroom - not yours or mine."

Your students should see themselves in the space you've created. Keep the focus on student worknot a poster from the Teacher Store.

Spend the first 6 weeks of school building that community and the rest of the year sustaining it together.

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AVERTING DISASTER "Design activities that promote a sense of wonder and invite questions."

"Recognize that family relationships are always important."

"Create experiences that allow students to interact with the learning process, hopefully in meaningful ways."

Investigate Project Based Learning or Genius Hour websites to promote student choice and voice.

As children get older, parent involvement should look different than it did in Pre K- but it has a place in your classroom.

Bring the Know/Want to Know/Learn charts and ask your students to fill in what they know, want to know, and eventually learn about the topic.

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"Help your students focus on the process.

This mindset shifts from one that is focused on outcomes (success and failure) to one focused on the journey."

Meet with your students often to ensure that their voices are a part of their journeys.

AVERTING DISASTER "Design homework that matches your students’ learning goals."

"Give your students opportunities to become life-long investigators and to think critically about the information they are learning and questions they have."

Make sure that the homework you assign will help your students interact with the material you are teaching.

Think about incorporating some of your students' interests into the units they are studying.

THE YU SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP

QUARTERLY UPDATE

AVERTINGÂ DISASTER

A FEW CLOSING TIPS: Design your own professional library of books, articles, web sites, and blogs to feed your own learning.

Become involved in a community of practice with other educators .

Celebrate learning and be actively engaged in it all day long.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTORS: ANITA BROWN- BATT EARLY CHILDHOOD DIRECTOR AKIVA HEBREW DAY SCHOOL SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN REBECCA GAUTIERI PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR MELVIN J. BERMAN HEBREW ACADEMY ROCKVILLE, MD ANNA HARTMAN DIRECTOR THE PARADIGM PROJECT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS SARAH KRAVITSKY EARLY CHILDHOOD DIRECTOR SILVERSTEIN HEBREW ACADEMY GREAT NECK, NY AMY MELTZER KINDERGARTEN TEACHER/ FAMILY EDUCATOR LANDER - GRINSPOON ACADEMY NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSSETS