Professional Knowledge - Know students and how they learn

 

Understanding young students’ prior knowledge and experience is fundamental to curriculum planning and creating authentic learning experiences. Each young learner also has a unique background and perspective that they bring to the learning, be it cultural or religious. 

The age of young learners I teach ranges from 3 to 5 years old. Therefore, it is crucial for me to have an all-rounded and deep knowledge of these children to support a wide range of developmental and learning capabilities and help each young learner thrive in the learning environment and achieve their milestones.

 

Typically, I would use teaching strategies based on knowledge of children’s physical, social and intellectual development, and characteristics to improve child learning. For instance, as children at different developmental stages and have different learning needs, I design a range of activities, from group time watching the story to collaborative artwork creation, to introducing frog habitat to the classroom to ensure their participation and engagement in the learning. In addition to that, children’s artwork on exhibition in the classroom promotes children’s ownership of their artwork and their voices are heard and respected. 

Responding to children’s interest in frogs stemming from the Tiddalik Story, a frog habitat was created in the classroom for children to interact with the frogs and look after them. For several weeks, children have been observing the frogs with magnifying glasses and expressing their voices by using the “I see, I think, I wonder” thinking routine.