A teacher and a counsellor provided some interesting facts and early learning projects to an interested board of trustees at the April 21 麻豆视频 East Cornerstone Public School Division board meeting.
Carnduff Grade 2 instructor Rhonda Wilmot - Stadnick was joined by response-to-intervention counsellor Tenille Nichols in making the presentation that laid out the educational path that young students could follow to achieve some impressive results.
It鈥檚 an introduction of children to the world of learning with teachers being the facilitators.
The youngsters are encouraged to take some risks in the learning adventures that include a home-like atmosphere within the school.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not always about desks and chairs in a typical classroom,鈥� said Wilmot - Stadnick.
Inclusion of all the children, is vital, they noted.
Earlier in the afternoon, Weyburn teacher Tammy Grieve, an instructor at Haig School, outlined some strategies she used to stimulate the young minds in a pre-kindergarten program.
Wilmot - Stadnick said it is her duty to create an exploratory environment for the youngsters in her care, allowing them to expand, dream, wonder and develop conversational skills and explore nature.
鈥淧lay is their work, for pre-kindergartens and early years. And it leads to outcomes,鈥� said Sandi Klatt, co-ordinator of early learning who introduced the educators and counsellor.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 always change the outside environment, but we can in the school, while raising the literacy rate of the children,鈥� said Wilmot - Stadnick.
Nichols noted how Wilmot - Stadnick had an in-class library with buckets of books that her young students dive into and latch on to reading materials. They also access the school鈥檚 main library, as well, for different levels of learning.
鈥淭hey take ownership of what they are reading. They know what they鈥檙e interested in and if a student decides to repeat the reading of a favourite book, they can do that because they are still advancing, learning as they go, and I know that because we interview them,鈥� said Nichols.
Some youngsters read in groups, or in pairs, or they may wish to read by themselves. They may read to one another on a regular basis while developing comprehension skills in the process and listening to someone read is also a learning experience, the two educators said.
Naturally, the reading leads to writing and Wilmot - Stadnick said that provided solid information for the teachers as they do some 鈥渉ands-on authentic learning鈥� in the classroom. The children pick up valuable life skills and problem-solving capabilities along the way and a deployment of a high-school student volunteer as a 鈥渄eveloper,鈥� only enhances the whole experience.
鈥淭he kids gain a sense of purpose, they can handle these short mini-lessons. I see less talk and more doing, from the kids, and yes, even the teacher,鈥� joked Nichols.
鈥淲hat we鈥檙e doing is creating independent learners and helping them learn to make choices on their own in a working environment,鈥� said Wilmot - Stadnick. 鈥淭he kids select their own seating arrangements. At first I thought that would be a nightmare, but they learned to solve the problem and if it鈥檚 not working, they all understand the teacher gets the last word,鈥� she added with a chuckle. 鈥淎s the year goes on, choices change according to needs. Reading spots change. Group reading might be good in one spot but not great for partner or individual reading. It鈥檚 not hard for them to figure it out after awhile.鈥�
The Grade 2 educator added that word family (group) spelling exercises come naturally to the children with beginning sounds and word blending which leads to sentence structure using compound words. The children select certain 鈥渃hallenge words,鈥� along their learning path, and that once again, gives them the opportunity to make choices in reading, writing, and learning new words and sentences.
The team-teaching environment in the school, said Wilmot-Stadnick is desirable. 鈥淭eam teaching, the collaboration with another teacher is a huge advantage,鈥� she said, in conclusion.
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Drop quote if needed:听 鈥淭he kids gain a sense of purpose, they can handle these short mini-lessons.鈥� Tenille Nichols
