Kindergarten is a foundation stage of preschoolers to learn as they are schooling for the first time; and according to the National Education Association, it is the bridge between early childhood care and elementary school — making it a very important year for students while requiring some special knowledge and approach from teachers.
Simple as it may sound, kindergarten starts at the age of three with a need of high tolerance when it comes to child’s behavior, understanding, and attention span. Child development experts say that, on average, a four- or five-year-old child could stay focused on a task for two to five minutes times` the year of their age — meaning to say that kids have the attention span between four to 20 minutes or longer, depending on their given task and situation. “Attention span has to be contextualized as it could be elastic subject to time— morning, midday, before naptime, before bedtime”, stated by Neal Rojas, M.D., a developmental behavioral pediatrician at the University of California, San Francisco. The attention a child gives to a task also depends on whether he is or not enjoying, thus, having a huge impact in their learning process and progress. “The first time you introduce an activity that is more important to you than to the child, you are testing your creativity and flexibility as a teacher,” Dr. Rojas added.
Traditional teaching materials such as workbooks could be overwhelming for children so it would be better to make your own ABC book as suggested by Doty, according to O’Hanlon, 2013. Since we are in the 21st century, even preschoolers are exposed to technologies to the point that there are ones who could really use gadgets without the guide of elders. Hence, modern method would be more advisable as it relies with hand-on materials approach and the presentation of materials starts with the whole, and then moves to the parts while the traditional method is the other way around.
“Traditional method emphasizes on basic skills while modern method emphasizes on big ideas”, cited on an article UK Essay entitle Traditional versus Modern Methods of Effective Teaching. Assessment in students is seen as a separate activity and occurs through testing in a traditional setting. On the other hand, evaluation in a modernized teaching is seen as an activity incorporated with teaching and learning, and befalls through portfolios and observation (Brooks and Brooks, 1999). As a learning style of Millennial, a constructivist approach to teaching involves a more interacting, student-based of teaching where students learn through group participation similar to OBTL (Outcome-Based Teaching and Learning).
Moreover, coloring, singing rhyme songs, dancing and a lot of traditional kindergarten activities are classical but the students’ attention would be caught by the modern teaching materials such as watching videos/lessons in television or computer; use of Lego and geo boards, and even playing I Spy and Red Light Green Light, board and memory games can strengthen their attention muscles.
Kindergarten teaching assess students academically and emotionally in order to set goals for the class and individual students. It is an important aspect to maintain the kids’ focus and align their interests on to what they should learn while enjoying their childhood learning. Nevertheless, the teaching style of kindergarten is more effective when it is inclined with the century’s standards and norms of today ‘til tomorrows ahead.
References:
Leslie Harris O’Hanlon. (2013). How To Improve Attention Spans. Retrived from https://www.parents.com/kids/development/intellectual/how-to-improve-attention-spans/
Essays, UK. (November 2018). TRADITIONAL VERSUS MODERN METHODS OF EFFECTIVE TEACHING. Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/education/traditional-versus-modern-methods-of-effective-teaching-education-essay.php?vref=1
By: by: Jefferson V. Nisay |Teacher I|Tortugas Elementary School Tortugas, City of Balanga
