Teachers: Child Centered Curriculum?

From what I understand that means'The Child takes the Lead' in learning.

Can anyone give me direct examples of how they use it in their classroom?



Thanks

One example is within a cooperative setting. If you assign four kids to a group and each one gets a differnt role, that child must figure out how to work through his/her task alone and then teach it to the others.

Another example is through individual work such as reading and then giving a written response, without the prompts from a teacher. Worksheets are also ways to ensure that they are figuring it out correctly. HTH

Thanks....how do you think it would apply to preschool?


They sometimes call it 'on the spot planning'. That makes no sense to me. I am all about planning and I couldn't imagine teaching off the cuff like that.


I appreciate your help.

No problem. Umm, what do they learn in preschooll? lol I teach high school and can't even think about what those little ones learn? They get to enhance their motor skills, right?

This may be a toddler example, but I think it will help you think about what I mean. Do you know those little toys that they make for babies tha thave cut outs in all different shapes and then the pieces to fit into each of those holes? Well, the babies figure out which one goes where through trial and error. They increase their motor skills and learn themselves.....get it?

I usually thing of child centered to be more about what the children are doing, rather than what the teacher is saying. I don't teach pre school, but in elementary, we basically give the students everything they need to guide their discovery. They feel like they are running the show, (though really you are). It's very difficult, but absolutely great!

I think Montessori is an example of a child centered approach for pre school. Also Reggio Emelia - that one's super amazing.

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Posted by Rejjie

I usually thing of child centered to be more about what the children are doing, rather than what the teacher is saying. I don't teach pre school, but in elementary, we basically give the students everything they need to guide their discovery. They feel like they are running the show, (though really you are). It's very difficult, but absolutely great!

I think Montessori is an example of a child centered approach for pre school. Also Reggio Emelia - that one's super amazing.

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Thank you..can you give me a typical day????
I understand the idea of it, but not sure what role I play in all of it. I am used to a lesson plan book with activites set for the week.

I appreciate your help.

Thanks

You still have a plan book and activities - but it's more providing opportunities for discovery and exploration - asking children what they think. So maybe if you're studying The Body or something - you have them draw or represent what they think is inside the body. Then they explain it to you and you label it according to what they say (even if it's wrong)...then you show them pictures, read them stories, give them manipulatives of the body. As they discover about the body, you give them new ways to represent what they know. Maybe they use tinker toys one day, maybe clay another. Maybe they use cotton balls - or maybe they use them all at once. Maybe that's not a good example.

Read this:
Reggio

An example of a constructivist, student centered lesson that I do with my 4th graders is I give them a light bulb, a wire, and a battery and say simply, 'Make the light bulb light up.' It takes them a while to do this, then once they figure it out, they can already tell me a lot about how electricity works. After they have discovered it, I tell them, 'Oh, you know - scientists have a name for what you just told me - it's 'circuit' - good for you for discovering how to make a simple circuit. Now can you make two light bulbs light up?' And so on. It's basically letting them discover and then giving them the language for what they already know from experience.

It actually takes MORE planning because you have to have backup plans in case things go awry. Or say my kids figured out how to light the bulb in 20 seconds (they don't, but they could)....then what? You always have to have something up your sleeve!

I teach upper grades, but I could put you in touch with some of my K friends who really put Reggio into practice. Let me know if you want me to have them email you or something.

Are you changing to pre school? Fun!