Page 9 - Demo

There are certain things that need to be accomplished in an early education classroom. Everyone understands that. If, for example, a child has gotten out all of the blocks and doesn%u2019t want to clean up when they are done, a teacher might help that child feel a sense of self-reliance by saying something like this: %u201cWould you like to pick up the short blocks or the long blocks first?%u201d As a caring teacher who understands children%u2019s basic need for self-reliance, allowing choice within expectations builds responsible character and ensures learning.Plan ahead so that children can direct their own learning. For example, think about what you need to make available so that children can set up the snack area for their classroom. Will they use a tablecloth? Where should the tablecloths be stored? What will be served for a snack? Is enough prep work required that the children will feel like they have made an important contribution? The role of a teacher is to create systems so that children can experience the joy of independence and develop into responsible, capable people.Children want to discover, so give them things that make discovery possible. Children want to create, so offer them paint to mix and create new colors. Children want to understand, so give them experiences that illuminate their questions. Children want to label things and represent what they are thinking, so make materials available to them so that they can express themselves using symbols and words.Ideas for nurturing to your classroom.SELF-RELIANCEIDEA19