Teaching Emergent Learners Complex Material

Is it possible to teach emergent learners complex material? Yes! Young children are equipped to process lots of new information. They’ve been experiencing new sights, sounds, tastes, and sensations since birth so their hard-working brains already know how to take in and process information. By the time these little learners begin preschool, their brains are hungry for new information so it is the perfect time to bombard them with lots of great educational stuff. This is actually the perfect time for them to learn another language, properties of physics, music and other complex subjects that, for some reason, our education system keeps away from them. Make no mistake, young emergent learners are sponges for learning so it is important for us to offer them high quality lessons and activities to ensure their future education/social success.

How do we engage emergent learners?

From the course, Teaching Emergent Learners: For emergent learners to learn, they MUST play! It is important for teachers to recognize that play is how emergent learners learn complex material. Playing addresses every aspect of a child’s mental and physical growth including, increasing their attention span. For example, playing with clay or play dough helps to develop hand muscles and coordination for writing, typing, turning pages, tying shoes, zipping jackets, using scissors, etc. Dramatic play and building with blocks, tap into the critical thinking and oral language parts of the brain that support growth in communication and problem-solving skills. Messy art projects and playing in small groups provide learners with opportunities for creative thinking, understanding feelings, sharing and taking turns. Independent/exploration play opportunities help develop self-awareness and build confidence. Most importantly, Pre-K teachers can help guide their emergent learners into growing a strong “first” foundational love of learning. But you already knew this… It’s probably why you love your job! Ultimately, play is…fun!

Provide Choices

Let your students be your guide! Get to know your emergent learners by listening to them talk
about things of interest. Feed their curiosity, question their thinking and guide their play to deeper learning. Content for learning could be anything from dinosaurs to space ships. Having several dramatic play areas ensures children get chances to play in their favorite area and allows them to experience choices and decision making. Teachers can design several different play areas solely based on the interests of the children in their classroom. Interests can be completely random and still support curriculum and work well within the classroom. For example, teacher may have students interested in dinosaurs, space and the post office. Three very different topics!

Play! Play! Play! In centers.

Without too much hassle, play centers can be designed to feed the curious minds of all learners. After you and your students brainstorm a few ideas of interest, begin defining spaces within the classroom to nourish imaginative play. Use a table to organize the center and keep track of the skills you would like your students to practice as they are playing in the center.

Where can I find resources for engaging emergent learners?

If you’d like to learn more about engaging young learners, check out the 6 hours professional development course, Teaching Emergent Learners

This course offers teachers lots of online resources for strategies, lessons and activities that help create a classroom environment that has strong home/school connections, an effective physical space and of course, lots of ideas for engaging emergent learners.

Another favorite resource for gathering center ideas is Edutopia. This educational website provides teachers with articles and videos that support effective teaching methods. Here is a quick video for new Preschool teachers!

Online professional development for teachers is more important than ever. Make sure your teachers participate in courses that are approved by their state department of education and do not waste their time. The Teacher’s Academy is a company of teachers who take pride in creating coursework that allows teachers the freedom to create lessons and activities that will be used in their own classrooms. Our affordable courses can be downloaded to any computer and completed at the convenience of the educator. Certificates are issued upon completion of a quick survey and we rely on teacher feedback to develop new courses. Find your state to discover the professional development requirements for teachers.