How do we teach in a way that engages a child’s natural desire to learn?
Children are naturally curious. They explore, experiment, touch, ask questions, and are motivated to learn. For them, everything is play and they do not need adults to praise them for their efforts.
Wondering how you can help children succeed? Consider the following characteristics of how they learn to help you teach in ways that enhance your ability to make sense of new concepts.
1. Young children learn when subject areas are integrated
Offer children content-rich topic units and they will be interested and motivated, especially if you can bring real things to touch and explore that relate to the topic.
Literacy and math basics can be taught and reviewed as topic content is shared. A “winter” theme offers many opportunities to teach the letter W, to count and record the number of gloves on snowmen built in an art lesson, or to create patterns for paper scarves.
A child learning about the life cycle of a butterfly can act out it with creative movement and poetry, paint the process with a large piece of paper and paint, illustrate and label the stages of science and literacy lessons, and listen to related stories and songs. Avoid pursuing a topic if the children have lost interest. Ask yourself if you are presenting enough “real objects.” The new themes motivate and excite everyone.
2. Children learn in many different ways.
Visual learners watch closely as you demonstrate an activity and like to draw and play with shapes and puzzles. Auditory learners understand ideas and concepts because they remember information they have heard, follow spoken directions well, and recall songs with ease.
Although all children learn through touch, some learn best by combining touch and movement (tactile / kinetic learners). Some children like structure, while others learn more easily in an unstructured environment.
If you want busy, happy, and focused children, give them a variety of lessons that meet the needs of different learning styles.
3. Children often do not have the vocabulary to express themselves.
Inexperienced teachers sometimes misinterpret a child’s unwillingness to participate as stubbornness or misbehavior when, in reality, the child may lack the skills to explain himself. Use reflective listening to help children communicate why they are upset.
Children sometimes work well in groups, learning to share and develop ideas. At other times, they just need to be alone with enough time to figure things out on their own.
Don’t expect perfection. Relax and have fun with your students!
4. Children progress when concepts are taught in a structured, step-by-step way.
When concepts are presented in a structured step-by-step process and each step builds on prior knowledge, children learn with less effort.
For example, expecting a young child to understand the concept of the food chain without previous experiences and without vocabulary about chains and links is too much assumption.
5. Children’s abilities to observe and process information develop at variable rates.
Some four-year-olds have excellent small motor coordination and draw and cut beautifully, but have delayed speech patterns. Other children may be verbally eloquent, but be physically uncoordinated or in a scribbling stage in drawing.
Just as children develop physically at different rates, they also progress academically, socially, emotionally, and artistically at different rates. Effective teaching occurs when teachers remember that learning is developmental.
Offer open activities to meet developmental stages for all students. An open activity engages children at a wide range of developmental levels. Children are less frustrated working at their own level and do not have to compare their results against a set of identical worksheets.
6. Children learn best when they are given things, objects, and things to explore.
When teaching young children, always use concrete materials, as children need sensory experiences when learning new ideas and concepts.
Take advantage of the many educational learning materials available to teach geometry, number sense, pattern skills, symmetry, classification, and other math concepts.
Use science supplies such as magnets, light paddles, scales, weights, and bird nest collections, as well as book character toys and puppets to enhance literacy.
7. Children need instruction, practice, and time to learn new skills and concepts.
A child doesn’t learn to ride a bike just by looking at the bike and exploring its properties, they also need time for practice and guided instruction.
Concept and skill practice doesn’t have to be boring and repetitive. Don’t automatically think of a “worksheet” when you think of skill practice. There are many ways to practice skills using puzzles, games, diagrams, art, and more.
8. Children will not learn if they are too tired, hungry, upset, or worried.
Be flexible and supportive of young children. Check if the children are hungry. It is easier to let a child eat part of their lunch early than it is to try to get a hungry child to focus on a task.
Sometimes it is necessary to leave a child alone and creating a small retreat space in the classroom can help students who are too overwhelmed by home or other circumstances to cope with their peers or the teacher.
9. Motivated children pay attention
Young children are generally motivated to learn about everything. Unless they have often been mocked when researching or presenting their knowledge, they have a strong desire to discover and share information.
Reinforce thought processes instead of praising the child. Saying “That’s an interesting way you arranged your blocks. Tell me what you were thinking” instead of “Samuel is so smart” will focus children’s attention on exploring the blocks. Making too much fuss for a child can result in a competitive atmosphere.
10. Children learn by teaching others
When children have the opportunity to communicate their new knowledge to adults or other children, it helps to solidify concepts. Some children need more time to find the correct words to explain what they are thinking, so patience is needed.
To help children share their knowledge, use descriptive words while playing or working and they will copy your vocabulary.
11. Children need to be active
If children have been sitting still for a long time, they will tell you that it is time to move. Even the best, well-planned, and interesting lessons fail if kids need a break.
Take lots of breaks to move around, go for a walk around school, march around the classroom, or jump up and down! You will have more alert and focused students.
Summary
As children experience your love and acceptance and realize that you are willing to help them, they relax and learn. Maintain a sense of excitement, wonder, and curiosity about the world around you, and your students will mimic your behavior. Your classroom may be one of the few places where your opinions and ideas are valued.