Well news from the Sensory Story sofa.....
Unfortunately, I left the lid off my little plastic 'clip it' container the other day - but HEY great news - my dining room smelt like there had been a bonfire in there!! Who would have thought a couple of fancy tea bags in a Tupperware pot could provide the sensory stimuli that I have been searching for?
Moving in a slightly different direction I would really like to share with you
a thought provoking 'tweet' that came my way last night...
"If a child cannot learn in the way we teach... we must teach in a way the child can learn." - unknown
What a statement! This quote certainly got me thinking.
For those of us working in the Foundation Stage how often do we think "we know best" in terms of teaching a child a new skill?
How often do we stop and observe how the child learns?
Maybe we sometimes need to consider whether a child is learning through using a particular Schema. So what are Schemas?
Schemas are patterns of repeatable behaviour which presents itself through the child's play. Understanding schematic behaviour helps us as practitioners to gain an understanding of what motivates the child. Using this knowledge we are better equipped to extend the child's learning by planning activities and providing resources appropriate to the child's preferences.
During my OU studies I was able to learn more about Schemas in the Early Years. Initially I was very sceptical and at times critical of what I was reading. However, the more I read around the subject and the more I observed the children in my setting, I soon became a convert to recognising schematic behaviour as a way of learning.
Not all children use schemas to learn. Therefore it is important to really get to know the children who we work with. What makes them tick? What motivates them? Have you noticed any patterns of repeated behaviours?
Thinking about this I began to wonder how my Sensory Story supports children who use schemas as a method of learning? Maybe this is a new area to explore? This may be something I can take on board for Sensory Story 2!
For more information about Schemas take a look at my friend Sarah's blog
http://knutsfordchildminding.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/schemas-in-early-years.html
Well off now to check the lid is firmly in place on my Tupperware pot!
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