Learner-Centered learning environment first takes in consideration each students background knowledge, their interests, and their social and cultural values. This way the teacher can have a better understanding why the learner may answer in a certain way and the teacher may have the knowledge to direct them in the right way. We lean new material and base it on what we already know. In working with children at the age of 5-7 you must try to think how they would when teaching and giving instruction.
Once when I was in the classroom the children were to draw a picture of the Mayflower. When one boy brought his completed picture to the teacher she asked him to put water under his boat. I watched as the boy proceeded to the sink to " put water under the boat." We stopped him and explained what we meant and he then understood. Through experience you realize how to better explain exactly what you expect so that there is less confusion.
Learner-Centered Activity
At the beginning of the year a fun way to get to know your children is through an activity that not only gives you knowledge about them as a person it also shows listening skills and reviews shapes and colors. Give each child a piece of white paper, crayons and a pencil. Instruct the students that they will use their listening skills to create a pumpkin, starting with their orange crayon. (The rest will be drawn with a pencil until the end when they color)
1. If you have
One sibling draw a round pumpkin
No sibling draw a pumpkin with two bumps
More than one sibling draw a pumpkin with three bumps
(you may need to demonstrate the first one)
2. If you went
to this school last year draw triangle eyes
to a different school in Nc draw square eyes
to a different school out of state draw circle eyes
3. If you have
One pet draw a square nose
No pet draw a triangle nose
More than one pet draw a circle nose
4. If you share a bedroom draw a smile mouth
If you have your own bedroom draw a zig zag mouth
5. If you like spending time
Doing art color your eyes black
Playing sports color your eyes blue
Watching TV color your eyes green
6. Favorite desert
Cookie color your nose yellow
Cake color your nose orange
Ice cream color your nose red
7. If you liked this activity color your mouth purple
If it was just ok color your mouth white
It would be nice to already have made yours that way when everyone has completed you can all share.
The elements knowledge-centered instruction child first start out with a well thought out lesson of what will be taught. How will it be taught and how will it be put together. Through knowledge-centered instruction the goal is to not "teach to the test" and just have students to memorize but to help them to have an understanding of what has been taught. In a way that they can take that knowledge and apply it in different ways.Keeping the children in engaging activities will help them to develop a more in depth understanding. In this type learning the skills and activities need to be meaning full and to be connected in a way that is beneficial to the student.
Two types of assessment in assessment -centered instruction are Formative and Summative assessment. Bother are important and they work together to create a better learning environment. A Formative assessment encourages reflection and growth with in the student as well as the teacher. Through these type assessments students learn over time problem solving skills. It also benefits the instructor by showing ways they can improve their teaching. A summative assessment is finding out what the student has learned, usually through standardized testing.
Community centerdness is mopritant to student learning, it is the key to creating a great classroom environment. There are high expectations that are clear form the beginning. The students have an understanding that they are valued not only by their instructor but also by their peers. Through community-centered learning students are not afraid to ask questions and the floor is always open to constructive discussion.
In doing our writing assignment about winter with first graders, we first make a circle map on the SMART Board discussing what we already know about winter. Then we read a story about winter. After the story we then talk about what was the same and what was the new information, adding this to our circle map. Finally I demonstrate how to complete the writing assignment. I remind the children that they may use their dictionary or the word wall to help them spell. I also tell them to get out their sentence mechanics picture so they can fefer back to it when writing there sentences. This is a community-centered activity because we all share information, I demonstrate exactly what needs to be done and remind them of helpful tools that they may use. I also will encourage them to write like almost 2nd graders, letting them know that I have high standards for their writing assignment.
When i am in the classroom with the students I make sure they are clear on what they are to do. I make it a point to encourage them to go above and beyond what they have to do. The students are still working on becoming self-evaluative. I am guilty of not always taking the time that it requires in order to create children who are self learners. In the long run the more time that I take up front in focusing on community and knowledge learning the better results we will have in the end. it may take us longer to get to that point but we will finish off with a bang.
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