Week 4, Chapter 3, Natalie Gianvecchio, Roles: Vocabulary Concept Vitalizer and Essence Extractor
Vocabulary:
Immense Emotional Stress- In younger children, this stress typically comes from separation and "fear of attachment loss." This is triggered in the brain by "cortisol, the stress hormone, rises, flooding the brain and making some neural activity slower but other activity quicker. The stressed child learns less learning activities in the classroom then the well attached child or the one under less emotional stress." Gurian page 79
Nutrition and Learning- Nutrition in children can have a significant affect on their ability to learn in the classroom. "Brain research has taught us that what children eat profoundly affects their ability to learn and behave." "This is especially true for young children who have not yet developed the mature ability to control impulses when under stress. The stress levels for an early childhood learner could be from emotional stress as well as nutritional stress from not eating the proper foods." "The ultimate classroom is a place where children eat the right foods at the right time." Gurian page 89
Aggressive Behavior- This issue is one of the biggest problems in the early childhood classroom. "Boys are generally more physically aggressive than girls, and girls are generally more socially manipulative than boys." The problem many teachers come across is how much aggression is ok and when should we draw the line? Gurian Page 92-93
Discipline Techniques- Discipline can be very difficult in early childhood education classrooms because these young children are developing their own opinions and start to realize that they have a say in the world, which will normally cause some defiance in the classroom. "One key to improving discipline is the presence of older people. Our research indicates that discipline and behavior of children is heavily affected by the presence of elders in a classroom or other learning environment." Gurian Page 99
Outdoor Classroom- It is extremely important to allow early childhood students to go outdoors often if not every single day. "-the grounds, garden, play area, and other nature areas- to help not only with stimulating the learning brain but also with handling young children's behavioral nuances. In the outdoor classroom we may find the use of water. It is wonderful for the growing brain. The outdoor classroom is as important as the indoor, especially for younger children. It is their world of play, fantasy, and spiritual connection with the mysteries of nature and an essential component of the ultimate classroom." Gurian Page 102
Essence of the Chapter:
Preschool and Kindergarten age children explore and learn through the magical art of play.
~Natalie Gianvecchio
Natalie, As Vocabulary Concept Vitalizer for your role this week, you highligted some important words and phrases that have a hugh impact on brain-based learning. As a classroom teacher, I can now understand why emotional stress can cause a child to struggle with learning activities in the classroom. We don't realize how much the child's behavior is modeled at school because we don't walk in their shoes outside of the classroom.
ReplyDeleteAgressive behavior in the classroom, as Gurian writes about in pages 92-95, has inspired an increase in medication, especially boys. I do believe the debate of how much aggressive behavior is to be tolerated in the classroom and when is "enough is enough", will be an ongoing topic for some time to come, at least until some of the strategies we are learing from reading this book at put into the classroom.
Nutrition and learning are an extremely important part of any human being's life but especially important in the early years of the child. Teaching parents and teachers the importance of proper nutrition is a key element of the learning and behavior process in the classroom.
I also liked what you found regarding discipline techniques. I believe that children are not afraid to blurt things out in the classroom because they have limited boundaries at home and are disciplined for their actions and learn very qiuckly what they can get away with.
Lastly, the outdoor classroom has become as important as the indoor classroom in as much as children develop a world of play,fantasy, and spirutal connection which opens up their energy levels to a greater learning.
The essence of the chapter was captured because children do learn about the world around them though play.
Natalie, I loved your choice on the vocabulary. I loved that idea about the agressive behavior, and "nurturing" that aggressive behavior. Playing games with a good level of competition in it can be healthy for them, and they should learn those life lessons.
ReplyDeleteI was just having a conversation with one of my students today. He was writing a "persuasive essay" on why school should have a longer recess time. And here we are talking about Outdoor Classrooms - it's so important. They get that social time, the time to run around, good exercise... and that time of the day when they can just be kids. Fall down. Scrape a knee sometimes. But realizing how important that is to give them that break is key.
Loved your essence statement - they need to play, they need to be engaged. Especially at that young level. But if I could add to that, I loved the fact that teachers were discussed as being "that second parent". Kids spend so much time with us, and not only were we given tips, but the author was basically screaming at us to yes, be the children's teacher... but to be their friend. Give them high fives. Make that connection, create that bond... and see what a difference it makes in your classroom community.
Meghan Koch