PoLT Online Professional Learning Resource – Principle 1

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Vignettes: Early Years - Our class

Back to Principle 1 - Vignettes: Early Years

Example

Our class

In Andrea’s class, there is a high focus on each child as an individual. Andrea establishes this culture within the classroom from the beginning of the year. Prior to the start of the year, Andrea writes each child a letter welcoming him/her to the class, and she lets each child know what the class will be learning when they return to school. In the letter she invites each child to bring something special or personal to do with the holidays, or of interest to them, as a focus for circle time during the first week of school.

As each child talks during circle time, Andrea notes down every child’s interests so that she will be able to build on this over the next few weeks. As the week progresses, she asks the children to think about how they would like their classroom to be. Andrea places particular emphasis on displaying all children’s work around the room. In the first week she also makes a collage of children’s photos which she displays at the entrance to the classroom. A birthday chart is also made. Andrea also includes a small display about her holiday, that will connect with the childrens’ interests and extend their understanding of how communities can differ.

To develop her planning, Andrea quickly establishes what the children are able to do, but also observes each child’s preferred learning style using an inventory. When planning for the whole class and small groups, Andrea carefully considers the students’ previous schooling experiences, individual interests of students, the gender ratio, social and academic skills and uses classroom organisation and teaching strategies that cater for a wide range of ability levels.