Dear families, welcome to our Week 1 learning reflection.
Learning Intention 1:
To support each child in their social development, particularly in building their confidence to contribute their thoughts and ideas.
Educators have noticed and reflected on children’s participation during group time. So, we are focusing on an Inclusive environment to ensure that all children are represented and that their voice is heard. Supporting children in building their confidence to share their ideas in group settings, in communicating, expressing their needs and emotions. Ensuring all children have the opportunity to contribute their ideas.
It also helps us to deepen our understanding regarding their existing knowledge and capabilities and to nurture children’s engagement in everyday experiences, enabling them to be active participants in routines and interactions.
Children develop a sense of belonging to groups and communities and an understanding of the reciprocal rights and responsibilities necessary for active community participation. They learn to express an opinion in matters that affect them.(Learning outcome 2)
Construction materials provide opportunities for children to be engaged in small group experiences. They investigate and share ideas, learn from each other to participate and contribute to group play and project. Opportunities to both construct and take apart materials is a strategy for learning.
C
Open ended opportunities support children to use their creativity and imagination. It also supports children’s engagement.
Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical well being. They demonstrate spatial awareness and orient themselves, moving around and through their environments confidently and safely. They show enthusiasm for participating in physical play and negotiate play spaces to ensure the safety and well being of themselves and others. We discussed health and safety issues with children during group time which included personal space, common space and taking turns to make appropriate decisions regarding participation.
In Holy Family Early Years, we plan learning environments with appropriate levels of challenge where children are encouraged to explore, experiment and take appropriate risks in their learning.
Children are curious and enthusiastic participants in their learning. They never miss to express wonder and interest in their environment. They use play to investigate, imagine and explore ideas.
Home corner is the best place to have a great time with friends. Children like to prepare their pretend meals, offer and share with each others and talk about their activity. They initiate and contribute to play experiences emerging from their own ideas.
Playing doctor!
Children develop knowledgeable and confident self identities. They like to explore different identities and points of view in dramatic play.
Community walk is always a favourite experience for all our children. They love to walk to the school yard, see the orange trees, visit the vegetable garden, touch, feel and smell the herbs, and flowers.
Attending the assembly provide experiences that involve children in the broader community and environment beyond the early childhood setting.
Learning Intention 2:
To continue working towards our goal of embedding consistent daily routines and rituals across our team and learning environment.
Some children from LDC -1 transitioned to LDC-2 room. So, educators are trying to ensure the consistency in our learning environment which supports children through the provision of a more predictable and secure daily rhythm, communication strategies and predictable educator responses.
Some of the practices we seek to embed across Long Day Care room also relate specifically to the National Quality Standards. Daily routines provide opportunities to socialise and collaborate. Supporting children to establish and continue the current routine and to develop their social skills.
Children begin to learn how to interact with others through observation and support. We believe it is important that children are given the opportunities and resources to enter play scenarios with their peers to develop an understanding on how to interact with others respectfully.
Children transfer and adapt what they have learned from one context to another. They make connections between experiences, concepts and process.
Our regular group time experiences are one of the most important time of the day.
Extension of learning:
- Embedding community walks as a part of our everyday routines.
- Introducing a visual schedule to support children’s participation.
- Discussions around safe environment, personal space, and shared space.