Planning, teaching, facilitating learning, and assessing children's progress in an ECE educational setting

Let’s Be Real: Teaching, Sharing, and a Dash of Laziness

Confession time: I’m a bit lazy when it comes to transforming my ideas into snackable, easy-to-digest nuggets. (Picture me tossing a whole watermelon at you instead of slicing it up—oops!)

But hey, the good stuff is all there! You don’t need to eat the whole watermelon in one sitting. Pick a slice that looks tasty, savor it, and save the rest for later.

Teaching is like a buffet—there’s no wrong way to enjoy it. So, let’s keep it light, keep it fun, and keep growing together. Bonus points if you laugh along the way! 🍉✨

Criteria	Indicators/ Requirements	How to meet/ aspire to meet the requirements	Examples of Teacher Practice
Planning	Clear purpose and coherent structure	Plan clearly outlines the learning objectives, sequence of activities, and how each part builds towards the goal.	Design a Learning Activity Plan with objectives like "Children will identify three different shapes." Clearly outline steps in the activity, e.g., introduction, exploration, and conclusion.
	Links to previous learning	Activities include a review or build on concepts taught in the last session, with explicit connections made.	Reference the previous lesson, e.g., "Last time we talked about colors. Today we’ll use colors to sort shapes."
	Variety of teaching and learning activities	Variety of teaching and learning activities, mainly active learning. Use of role-play, experiments, and interactive games all aimed at active engagement.	Include storytelling, hands-on activities, and movement-based tasks in the plan.
	Differentiation	Activities modified for different skill levels, including options for extension or support.	Plan varied tasks like matching for beginners and creating patterns for advanced learners.
	Potential observation prompts	Specific behaviors or skills to look for are noted for each activity, like collaboration or problem-solving.	Add notes like "Look for children using shape names confidently during play."
	Range of resources	Variety of materials like books, manipulatives, digital resources tailored to the lesson's objectives.	Use manipulatives, storybooks, and digital tools to enhance learning.
Teaching	Subject knowledge and enthusiasm	Teacher explains concepts with depth, uses real-world examples, and shows visible excitement.	Demonstrate a deep understanding of the topic, and show excitement when introducing it, e.g., "Shapes are everywhere—let's find them together!"
	Clear introduction of the activity	Clearly states what children will learn, how, and why it's important, using visual aids if needed.	Clearly state, "Today we’ll play a game to find shapes around the room and learn their names."
	Clear expectations	Rules and goals for the activity are explicitly communicated, with visual reminders.	Tell children, "Each group will find three shapes and share their names with the class."
	Active learning approaches	Activities involve movement, hands-on tasks, and discovery-based learning.	Set up a scavenger hunt for children to find objects in different shapes.
	Effective communication	Uses clear, age-appropriate language, checks for understanding, and encourages dialogue.	Use simple, clear language and visual aids like flashcards to explain tasks.
	Skillful questioning techniques	Uses open-ended questions to provoke thought, encourages children to explain their thinking.	Ask open-ended questions, e.g., "What other objects can you think of that are this shape?"
	Opportunities to reflect and apply learning	Includes pauses for children to think, reflect on actions, and discuss their learning.	Conclude with a discussion: "Where else can you find these shapes at home?"
	Inclusive support	Adapts activities for different needs, ensuring all can participate and succeed.	Provide scaffolds like visual cues or peer helpers for children who need extra support.
	Engagement and motivation	Uses group dynamics, personalizes tasks, and keeps everyone involved, even adapting on-the-fly.	Use interactive tools, e.g., songs about shapes, to keep children focused and excited.
Learning	Understand expectations	Children can articulate the activity's goals in their own words.	Begin by reviewing the task: "We’re looking for shapes and saying their names aloud."
	Active and play-based activities	Children are involved in building, experimenting, or role-playing related to the lesson.	Include activities like shape-themed building blocks or puzzles.
	Time to think and apply new ideas	Deliberate pauses or activities designed for thinking and applying new knowledge.	Allow children to draw or construct objects using shapes.
	Use existing knowledge	Children connect new activities to previous experiences or knowledge.	Encourage children to connect the activity to known objects: "What shape is your book?"
	Pair and group work	Activities include structured pair or group tasks where children learn collaboratively.	Assign roles in groups, like "finder" and "recorder," to encourage teamwork.
Assessment	Understand the purpose	Children can explain why they're doing the activity and what they're learning.	Explain, "We’re learning shapes to help us recognize them in the world around us."
	Build on previous attainment	Feedback or next steps are based on what children already know or can do.	Design tasks that progress, e.g., from naming shapes to identifying them in real-world settings.
	Develop interests	Activities are tailored to spark interest or extend on what children are curious about.	Allow children to choose shapes they’re curious about for exploration.
	Reveal their learning	Children's work, discussions, or performances clearly show what's been learned.	Use show-and-tell sessions where children share what they’ve learned.
	Clear, helpful feedback	Feedback is specific, encourages growth, and is given in a way that children understand and appreciate.	Provide positive reinforcement: "Great job finding circles! Let’s try triangles next."
	Inform future learning	Observations and outcomes directly influence planning for subsequent lessons.	Note observations like "Most children struggled with hexagons—plan an activity to reinforce this shape."