COURSE: Early Childhood Education I UNIT A Personal and Professional Preparation

8% Understand observation and teaching methods

COMPETENCY: 3.00 B2
used in early childhood education.
Understand how to select and use teaching
OBJECTIVE: 3.02 B2 4%
methods.
Essential Question: What should be considered when selecting and using teaching methods in
early childhood settings?
UNPACKED CONTENT
Selecting Teaching Methods
How do children learn?
From the environment
Using manipulative objects
Interacting with the environment

From the teacher

Responding to positive reinforcement
Imitating a good role model
Repeating modeled behaviors

From the experience

Exploring sensory elements
Using trial and error
Learning from mistakes
Participating in activities that address all areas of development

What is the role of play materials?

Play has a major role in learning and development.
Play materials may be one of two types of learning tools:
1. Open-ended materials --- no one correct way to play with them
Benefits:
a. Children develop independence
b. Learn to make decisions
c. Learn to solve problems
d. Use their imagination
2. Closed-ended materials --- meant to be used in one way
Benefits:
a. Children learn to follow directions
b. Help develop sensory perception
c. Help develop motor skills
 Understand how to select and use teaching
OBJECTIVE: 3.02 B2 4%
methods.
UNPACKED CONTENT

What should be considered when selecting toys and play materials?

Safety
Durability
Ease of cleaning, sanitizing
Appropriateness for children of different ages and genders
Encourages desirable behaviors
Number of children who can use it at one time
Storage space available
Purpose (multi-purpose, teaches basic concepts, provides sensory learning)
Fun to play with

Using Teaching Methods

Lesson plans
What are the purposes of a lesson plan?
Serves as an organizational tool
Forces teachers to think ahead
Enables teachers to think through what they want to do
Provides time to gather needed materials
Can be saved for future reference
What would be the results of teaching without a lesson plan?
Lesson would flounder
Time would be wasted
Children would be bored
Materials would not be on hand when needed
Things would be left out or out of logical order
What are the components of a lesson plan?
Target age group
Topic or theme
 Purpose --- stated as objective(s)
Concepts to be learned and skills to be developed
Materials needed, including quantities
Procedures
1. Introduction --- focus and review
2. Statement of objective
3. Teacher input
4. Student guided practice
5. Independent practice
6. Closure, often with transition to the next activity
Questions to guide learning
Possible follow-up activities
Evaluation