Make Time

In room 3 the children have the opportunity to explore the classroom environment. They make or create in self selected groups or pairs, some children prefer to work independently.

We think about what we have been learning in class and we represent it in a structural form. Some children were thinking about how to prepare healthy foods, others recreated gardens and some thought about what living conditions (shelter, food and water) that help us to stay healthy. Nearly every group made characters to put in their scenes and creations.

 

Reflections from the Teacher 
This time is either guided or unguided and it is important for a number of reasons:

1. The children move into learning groups naturally. This tells me which peers work together well and who helps each child to learn. 
2. Children participate in authentic conversations with one another. Often teacher-led discussion is directed towards specific predetermined topics, these conversations can seem 'owned' by the teacher. Open times allow children to develop their oral language skills with a variety of speakers on a variety of topics who are right at their level, a little bit above or a little bit below. 
3. The teacher listens. The children take ownership and responsibility. Natural leaders and followers emerge and the teacher allow for this during planned learning activities and use this knowledge to further support and develop students. 
4. The children are working independently. The children guide the learning and develop self-confidence as they are not awaiting instruction from the teacher.