TEACHING CHILDREN

Serena Whitby

CONTENTS

Introduction and background Importance of teaching children Who teaches children Studies Technology Conclusion

Who is important? Authority? Power? Those who teach adults?

Teaching adults is very important, but we should also understand the vital importance of teaching children

Children are the nations future and with a wealth of research in recent years revealing that children's experiences from birth to age five have a powerful effect on the rest of their lives, teaching children is very valuable and beneficial

WHO TEACHES CHILDREN

Historically, reading was taught at home rather than at school

Today the interest has focused on how parents and other caregivers in early childhood centres can develop appropriate involvement and support for future literacy instruction

FIVE SIGNIFICANT REASONS FOR A PRESCHOOL EDUCATION

Brain development is highest during the first four years of life

Structure Social skills Academics are being emphasised

more than in past years Space it gives a parent (Elle, R.

Oct.2009)

SOME PARENTS

Rarely become involved in their children’s learning

May have never read to or encouraged their children to read

Do not possess books or any kind of printed materials in the home

Do not share any literacy activities with their children

Playing and taking part in activities within small groups

Traditional direct-instruction methods like drill and practice, giving children homework, worksheets and group tests.

Outcomes rather than the process (Piotrkowski et al., 2000)

TECHNOLOGY

Data from a survey in 2005 showed that almost all of the children surveyed aged three or four were growing up in homes in which a range of technologies were in use

The study of children and technology in pre-school settings, identified three main areas of learning: Acquiring operational skills, Extending knowledge of the world, Developing dispositions to learn

(Plowman & Stephen,2007).

Children had learnt to switch items off and on, rewind, fast-forward and navigate websites.

Children were using technology to support the development of early literacy and numeracy or information gathering.

Dispositions to learn were enhanced through the opportunities for developing independence, sustaining attention, building confidence gained from accomplishment and learning to follow instructions.

JUST PICK IT UP

Three-quarters of the case study families used the expression ‘they just pick it up’ when discussing their child’s use of technologies

Families used limited explicit tutoring but they were also unknowingly demonstrating uses of technology on a day-to-day basis

CONCLUSION Important that parents and teachers are

aware of their roles in educating children

Children shouldn’t be overlooked when distributing resources

It is a parents responsibility to provide age appropriate guidance for their children into the world of technology

REFERENCES Playing to Learn Science: Exploring Contexts and Concepts Jennifer D. Adams

Brooklyn College School of Education David E. Kanter Sara Lee Schupf Family Center for Play, Science, and Technology Learning (SciPlay) New York Hall of Science

Piotrkowski, C., Botsko, M., & Matthews, E. (2000). Parent’s and teachers’ beliefs about children’s school readiness in a high-need community. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 15(4), 537–558.

Just picking it up? Young children learning with technology at home. Lydia Plowman, Joanna McPake and Christine Stephen. Cambridge Journal of Education. Vol. 38, No. 3, September 2008, 303–319

Teaching reading in the early years: exploring home and kindergarten relationships. Ibrahim A. Al-Momania, Fathi M. Ihmeidehb and Abdallah M. Abu Naba’hc. Early Child Development and Care. Vol. 180, No. 6, July 2010, 767–785

Why Preschool Education Is Important For Your Child. Elle, R. Oct 2009. Retrieved 7 April, 2012, from Hub Pages Web site: http://rebekahelle.hubpages.com/hub/Why-Preschool-Education-Is-Important-For-Your-Child