January 31, 2020

Cognitive, Geometric Shapes, Memorization, Counting, and Colors

The teacher articulated the shapes, turned the erasable board around, and erased one of the geometric shapes.  As she turned it around, she asked the children "Which shape is missing?"  The same process was with the balloons.  She erased one without them seeing which one, and asked, "Which color is missing?"   These activities are not only fun, interactive, and educational, but they enable children to practice their thinking skills. 

Annabelle focused on the different color pom poms and the egg carton colors. She matched and articulated each color together with the teacher.

Blocks/Manipulative Toys

Manipulatives are smaller-sized pieces that children can easily manipulate. We used some in counting activities in the classroom. Each type offers opportunities for tactile and kinesthetic experiences. These types of experiences are the best kind for young children because they can utilize their body’s natural need to move — the many benefits of manipulatives parallel blocks and building materials. Manipulatives often require grasping, twisting pieces together, and pulling pieces apart.

For this reason, they aide in the development of hand-eye coordination and hand strength. But the benefits don’t stop there. Manipulative toys also encourage self-talk, discussion, and language development.

Ophelia selected and overlapped four Lego Blocks as she connected them. She articulated her structure, "Stairs!" Ophelia placed three ducks on each side and expressed, "Duck going up the stairs!" Ophelia did not articulate where the ducks were going but continued putting them into precise adjustment. Size and shape are essential features that help children to decide how they want to build their structure. These blocks are stimulating, as they contribute to Ophelia's creativity and imagination as she explores.

Kieran selected only the square shapes and maintained connecting them straight.

Collaboration/Socialization

Kieran and Emily were at the manipulative center sharing the space. They were playing cooperatively, as they quietly interacted with the materials.  They each were taking turns placing a puzzle piece on the puzzle board. Socialization is an integral part of early childhood.  How children behave during play and how they respond to that behavior is essential to their social development. 

Helping children to develop positive social and emotional health enables them to learn to use words to express their feelings. For example, the children noticed that Teagan hurt her foot, and she was crying. Annabelle placed a towel on a blue colander and articulated, "Warm, warm, warm!" and to show empathy-she set the towel on Teagan's foot. "Teagan's foot is hurting!" she said.

Teacher: "I like the way you are trying to make her feel better. Teagan, how do you feel?"

Teagan: "Better!"

Displaying good manners, communicating effectively with others, being considerate of the feelings of others, and expressing personal needs are all essential components of social skills. Children learn to empathize and interact with others.

Dramatic Play/sOCIALIZATION/IMAGINATION/COMMUNICATION

Dramatic play is the everyday make-believe games children naturally enjoy.  The child might incorporate props or imagine simple scenarios. Dramatic play is vital to your child's development, supporting intellectual and verbal skills.

Teacher: "Where are you?"

Teagan: "Teagan House!"

Annabelle: "We having a party!"

Teacher: "Who is going to the party?"

Alexandra: "Me!"

Teacher: "Do you have food at the party?"

Teagan: "Yes, hot dog!"

Alexandra: "Cucumbers!"

Teagan pretended to turn on the music and began to sing. Teagan and Annabelle sang Jingle Bells.

The scene changed when two children moved the chairs, and the others followed; the chairs formed a line.

Teacher: "Where are you going?"

Children: "To the train!" Ophelia and Ericksen joined the other children.

The teacher gave each child a piece of paper, pretending to be a ticket for the train.

Annabelle: "We going to the party at Granpa Larry's house.

Science

The children are learning about objects that sink and float.

They noticed that something heavy would sink, and something light will float. However, the same shape of an object can float or sink; for example, a plastic spoon (floats) and a metal spoon (sinks). The children appeared eager, as they investigated different objects.