[Aparna]

• Develop social skills and knowledge.
• Encourage children to think critically, reasons, question and experiments, physical development and skills &art skills.

[Jamie]

Aparna, please list some specific activities to help children engage in their learning. Thank you

[Mya]

Some activities that would get children to engage are doing activities at circle time , doing arts and crafts and have them explain to you what they’re making or what they’re coloring , playing house with Al the children having them explain to me who they are and what they’re doing

[Kina]

I think it is important to begin where the child is and to take the time to get to know each child individually. Once you know each child individually you can begin to add things that they are interested in to the curriculum, mini lessons, circle times, etc. For example, if you have a student who really enjoys reading and one who really enjoys reptiles, show books of reptiles.

[Jamie]

Thank you for sharing. Great ideas

[Ranjani]

To engage children in creative active learning for example while we teach about fruits and vegetables we can make them cut the fruits and vegetables in different shapes and show them how you can create your own shapes and designs.

[Jamie]

You could extend the fruit and vegetable lessons by providing examples of items that the students have never seen or tasted. Also bring in items from other cultures and places.

[Nahomi]

When children are playing in the kitchen area, I get them engaged by asking what they are cooking or suggesting a variety of things they can cook for me. When they are in the book area, I have them choose a book, read it to them, then have them “read” it back to me. I also ask questions about details they see in the book that might not be mentioned in the story.

[Rachel]

For example if a child is painting, ask them what it is that they’re painting, make sure to let them know that they’re doing an amazing job to encourage them and make them feel good about the work that they’re doing. Always engage with them and their work, ask them easy questions to which they can communicate with you what they’re doing.

[Andraya]

A creative way to get children engaged and active in meaningful learning would be to have them bring a picture of a place they have traveled to, whether near or far. Then all the children could gather and we could share the pictures. The children would get the chance to share something they have done, they would get to experience serve and return with their peers. And they would get the chance to tell us things they learned or saw on their trip. This would help them to learn about where they went, what they did, what they saw, and it would build their connection with other students, they would get to learn the patience of waiting while others speak and being respectful while other students are taking their turn sharing. It would also help build their confidence by speaking in front of the class. And for those who may be nervous the teacher could help or if there are several who are nervous it could be broken up and shared into smaller groups.

[Diamon]

I ask them questions when they are playing, & engaging in what they’re doing. If we’re doing art i’ll ask them what color are you using, or asking what they’re drawing. Asking questions when they’re in the kitchen area, asking what are you cooking .. or what’s your favorite foods helps keeping them engaged. If i read a story i’ll ask questions throughout the story to make sure they’re understanding too

[Anna]

Keying into the kinds of interests kids have can help provide clues as to what sorts of learning they may benefit from. For example, my school-age after school program is fairly small (at most about 7 kids, usually about 4 or 5) and mostly boys. They are at an age and temperament where if they aren’t interested in an activity, they simply won’t engage with it, which can make it difficult to find ways to teach them particular skills and lessons. They are highly imaginative, but also their interest in games is very oriented towards the sorts of things they play in video games at home, namely combat and violent themes. I’ve been trying to find a way for them to explore and develop empathy skills, which their interests normally don’t lend themselves to. However, I am in the process of working on introducing table top RPGs to the classroom. The two oldest kids have already expressed interest and enjoyment of Dungeons and Dragons, and while that particular game is a bit too complicated for the younger kids in the class, I know of another game system that was specifically designed for ages 4-10. The game will hopefully appeal to their interests in imaginative play, adventure, and ‘fighting bad guys,’ but will also provide an avenue for me to slip in lessons about empathy in the form of creating adventure storylines that are better solved through seeing things from the opponent’s perspective, and having a conversation where they teach the opponent to see things from *their* perspective, rather than simply fighting them.

[Shaylee fuller]

After your fun crawl around the room, find blocks and other and other things like letters, stickers, ECT to put up on the wall and around in places. Animals, shapes.

[Bonnie Claire]

Ask complex questions instead of the simple “yes” or “no” questions. Inviting them to find out and letting them question, think, reason, and experiment to get to an answer. It helps develop language but also gets their creativity and critical thinking skills working.

[jess]

I think maybe ask him what I’m doing with her building or drawing or painting what they’re gonna do next maybe what colors they’re gonna use if you get help what’s your favorite part about it is. Really cute to try to be creative and come out with their own ideas and encourage them.

[Santana]

A creative way to get children engaged in learning about diversity and respecting each other’s differences is by having a day where the center has food and does activities that celebrate the culture of each child. This is a good way to welcome students who may have different cultures and backgrounds. You could teach a few words to the kids in the language used at home and maybe do some traditional dances or art to help celebrate the cultures of the students.

[miranda]

have it connect to their interest. use tools like music and movement.

[Kristin]

asking questions about the world around them is extremely important in helping children to engage. We can ask them what is happening or what happens, we can ask their opinions or tell them facts

[Nadia]

we can engage them with pictures of animals fruits and vegetables ,engage them in colors and also play doh activities with puzzle games .There are many activities like story telling and like celebrating different events and making the paper crafts