[Kenan]

I think that in order to get children engaged in meaningful learning you have to get to know your children first. You have to know what interests them then after this you can include select appropriate classroom materials that will help them be engaged and you can also incorporate activities such as quiet time, readings, art, or circle time.

[Stella]

I think some ways to get children engaged in active, meaningful learning, are

. Relating the learning activity to current interests of the children

. Present the activity in a way that feels exciting instead of clinical or boring

. Perhaps make the learning a group activity

. Using a reward and praise system is really helpful when getting kids to step outside their comfort zone

[Shalom]

In my classroom, lots of the kids LOVE cats. So the last couple of times I have bought myself a shirt, I pick one with a cat on it. When I come into the classroom, the kids get super excited and we start the conversation about what different sounds that animals make. This usually leads us into story time or book time, which is awesome! I try and pay attention to each child’s interests, and think about ways that I can use this to help them learn. Such as bringing in books about animals or foods the children are curious about or interested in.

[glaiza]

Some examples that I have done with children prior.

Science experiments, hands-on learning where children were encouraged to ask questions and make observations. Making play dough, making a volcano with vinegar and baking soda.

Art projects where children where able to explore their creativity through hands-on art projects. Projects like painting, drawing, sculpting or making things out of a variety of materials.

Outdoor games and activities where we went and did scavenger hunts, nature walks, and obstacle courses.

Music and movement. The children loved having dance parties and playing instruments.

Cooking and baking. It’s a fun way to teach children about cooking and nutrition through hands-on activities, such as baking cookies. They also loved when they got to make their very own mini pizza’s for lunch.

These are just some examples that I’ve used in the past with children. By incorporating a variety of these active, meaningful learning experiences, children can have fun while developing essential skills and knowledge.

[Soleil]

I think that you really need to spend one on one time with the children and learn about their individuality. You can then use this information to build a curriculum based on each child’s needs and interest.

[Katie]

I think a children’s theater/story time area is a great way to get children engaged. It gives them a chance to reflect on their own life/experiences to create a story to share and also allows them to practice articulating their thoughts.

[Somer]

I think you need to understand the children individually first. Encourage beginning activities that will allow you to learn more about them. Then you can think of ways to get each child interested in future activities.

[Zoe]

Firstly, you have to make sure they are comfortable and can relate to the activity or it is a common activity. Something everyone will enjoy. Maybe the activity has something to do with music and you can play the kids favorite song. Lets say you are playing charades you can allow the kids to pick from any topic. maybe you have one about animals, another about people, or an action or even one about superheroes. although it all depend on the age group and what happening in that moment.

[Jasmine Nared]

Make learning hands on and fun. Focus on themes that the child can identify with. Have options.

[Jasmine Nared]

Make learning hands on and fun, focus on themes and give the children options to give their input on activities.

[Leslie]

When a child is working on an activity, I ask them questions to tell me more about what they are doing. If they are drawing something, I ask them to tell me a story about what they are drawing. If they are working in the dramatic play area, I might ask them to tell me what is going on in their pretend play.

[Amara]

A good way to get children engaged in meaningful learning is providing opportunities to learn in different ways because children have different learning styles. For example if they are learning about cooking having a play kitchen that they can be creative in, then reading a few books on cooking in a variety of cultures as a group, and last having a group activity of preparing a simple and safe snack that each child can participate in(ex: children take turns putting each ingredient in and stirring). It’s also good especially with younger children to have child lead learning, if students seem interested in different trucks tractors passing by outside create lessons about that.

[Alison]

You can cater the learning toward what they are interested in. This will help children stay engaged in the learning process.

[Mekieyl]

some creative ways would be ,Use hands-on activities: Children learn best when they can interact with materials and actively engage with the learning process. Incorporate hands-on activities such as science experiments, building projects, or cooking activities to make learning more meaningful and engaging.Incorporate music and movement: Music and movement can be a fun and engaging way to learn. Use music and movement activities to teach math concepts, reinforce language skills, or help children develop gross motor skills.Emphasize problem-solving: Encourage children to solve problems and think critically by presenting them with challenges and puzzles to solve. This can help them develop problem-solving skills and foster a sense of curiosity and exploration.

[Kaitlyn]

Getting children engaged in meaningful learning can include encouraging physical and critical thinking skills, allowing them to be creative, and helping them to know they belong and that making mistakes is okay.