The role of the educator is to facilitate the child’s learning process by “slowing down”, and to attentively observe, listen to and record emerging interests. Consequently, this will lead to the genuine intention of the child’s play. Educators are then able to provide the tools, questions, resources and information appropriate for the child’s learning and development.
In the Wilkins room this term, children have been invited to explore varied experiences of assorted natural materials including leaves, seeds, flowers and buds. Glass jars, mirrors and magnifying glasses were added to the invitation table to support children’s exploration and findings. Children gravitated to these viewing tools each morning as they entered the Wilkins room. Some used the provided tools to examine the natural materials while others collected a tool and observed items carefully around the classroom, for example, books, furniture, bottles and each other. These observations became a common pattern.
By slowing down, pausing, noticing and listening to the children’s ideas through verbal and non-verbal communication and how they physically expressed their ideas through play, it became apparent that the Wilkins children were not particularly interested in the natural materials but the use of the magnifying glasses, mirrors and binoculars to observe their environment. By decelerating and delaying our assumptions of children’s interests and curiosities, we were then able to steer the children’s inquiry meaningfully to their learning.
Jana Cresp
Early Childhood Teacher
