Observation in the kindergarten class

The Kindergarten Competencies

"Observation is the favoured means of evaluation: it fosters and respects the learning process and focuses on the children's attitudes, behaviours, processes, strategies and productions." **

The Kindergarten Developmental Profile

"The Preschool Education program fosters children's overall development by developing six closely linked comptencies" **

Competency 1
Competencies 5 & 6  

Second language learning

Learning and play

"Teachers should take this (the children's difficulties in mastering a second language) into account both in providing learning support and in evaluating their competencies." **

Second language learning resources

"Through their play and spontaneous activities, children express themselves, experiment, construct their learnings, structure their thoughts and develop their world view." **

  The role and importance play-based   
  learning   

Classroom organisation

 Emergent literacy

"The way adults arrange and equip space for children is guided by the ingredients of active learning and influences the way children and adults learn and teach.”  Weikart, 1995

Corners, Centres, Areas or Workshops?
Sharing practices with Christiane ( 2 videos and accompanying document)  looks at how the kindergarten class is divided into distinct working areas. The way they are arranged influences the way children interact, play, work and learn in the classroom. Because materials are plentiful and accessible, children can follow their own interests and intentions.
»» Download the document
»» Find out about the series and where to get the video

Outdoor Kindergarten- Back to Nature
In Norway, the national curriculum encourages outdoor kindergarten classes to support hands-on learning.  In these classes, children are encouraged to be creative and independent while establishing strong physical and mental foundations for learning.  
»» See the YouTube video (21:37)

 "Communication is developed in real, meaningful, complex everyday situations, through the regular use of a variety of sound, visual or digital productions and children's literature." **

Emergent Literacy (The Kindergarten Series)
Helps teachers understand the processes by which children expand their literacy horizons. It discusses the roles teachers are called upon to play in creating an environment that supports emergent literacy and shows children engaging in literacy based activities.
»» Download the document
»» Find out about the series and where to get the video

Learning to Write and Loving it. Miriam P Trehearne, 2012
Equips teachers of young children with practical strategies, assessment tools, and motivating writing activities that are based on current research and proven practice and are easily applicable to all kinds of learning environments.
»» Read ERIC Ed Synopsis

Preschoolers' reading skills benefit from 1 modest change by teachers.
A small change in how teachers and parents read aloud to preschoolers may provide a big boost to their reading skills later on, a new study found.
»» Get the Research Synopsis