To provide excellent educational services, we need to blend opportunities for children to exercise choice and agency with the needs of the environment. We can do this by planning the environment, interacting with families, and communicating with children and their parents. We can also help them access essential services such as nutrition and livelihood. This article looks at some of these issues. Learn how we work with families to empower children and young people. Let’s get started.
Educators blend opportunities for children to exercise choice and agency
Educators weave opportunities for children to exercise choice and agency into their lessons, creating a planned environment that fosters learning and develops individual creativity. Educators recognize that children are active constructors of knowledge and that they are most likely to learn when they initiate activities and interact with others. The following are strategies for integrating these principles into your classroom. Read on to learn more.
When offering a child a choice, educators focus on the child’s abilities and interests. For example, a child responding to an academic English question in their home dialect is recognized for using receptive language, while a child inventing spellings is examined for current understanding. Educators focus on the child’s strengths, interests, and abilities in order to foster a child’s learning.
Educators plan the environment
Educators must balance opportunities for agency and choice in planning for learning environments. They must recognize that children are active constructors of their knowledge and understanding of the world, and that they benefit most from being actively involved in learning activities and interactions with others. They must be cognizant of the political and social context in which children live and learn. Children’s experiences, including their cultural background, play materials, and family structure, all shape and influence the environment.
To achieve this goal, educators plan the environment to foster a wide range of interests and learning styles. They plan activities based on the interests of children, avoiding the common school experiences for children who don’t enjoy schooling. Additionally, educators collaborate with their children’s families and specialists to make sure that every child can be fully included and that no child is discriminated against because of their ability or status.
Also Read: Explore the Future of Teacher Education
Educators communicate with families
Educators should engage families in a variety of ways. Educators can maintain a journal for each child, set up a parent information board, or send text messages. They should consider family expectations and preferences regarding engagement. For example, some cultures discourage questions and suggestions, while others encourage open sharing of information. Educators must be explicit about the extent of their engagement with families, and respect the limits of that involvement.
To effectively communicate with families, educators must identify what issues need to be addressed and how to achieve these goals. They must also be aware of communication barriers and use effective strategies to overcome them. In this section, educators describe a sample family-teacher conference. A few websites are highlighted below. You can use these resources to plan family-teacher conferences, but do not limit them to just these resources.
