
HOME Site map Teaching Tips ..................... Art Be a K Teacher Bulletin boards Holidays Homeschool Ks Learning Centers MATH: How to teach Attribute blocks Geometry Graphing Math & Literature Measurement Manipulatives Money Numbers Pattern Sorting Symmetry Vocabulary Math Index Reading & Writing SCIENCE: Sc. Teaching Tips Environmental Teach science Science Centers Science Fair Science Index Show & Tell SOCIAL STUDIES: Skills & Topics Mapping More S.S. THEMES: ..................... Free newsletter Free K worksheets Graduation K Gifts K Magazines Software Support parents ..................... About Create a website Contact me Can't find it? Amazon.com K-lessons store	Best Teaching Methods - Kindergarten How to teach kindergarten pages: 1 2 3 4 Be Understanding With Young Children Remember that one of the best teaching methods is to be flexible and understanding with young children. Learning won't happen if children are overtired, hungry, upset or worried. Check with them if they are having a difficult time. If a child is hungry, it is easier to let him/her eat part of their lunch early, than to try and force the child to concentrate on a task. Inexperienced teachers sometimes misinterpret a child's unwillingness to participate as stubbornness or bad behavior. Often children do not have the vocabulary to express themselves. It works well to use reflective listening and help the child verbalize what is upsetting them. Sometimes children work well in groups and this helps them learn to share and develop ideas. At other times they just need to be alone with ample time to figure things out. Relax and have fun! Best teaching methods - kindergarten... Motivated children pay attention One of the great things about this age group is that they are generally motivated to learn about everything. Unless children have often been made fun of when investigating or presenting their knowledge, they usually have a strong desire to find out and share information. One of the best teaching methods is to motivate children by modeling enthusiasm and curiosity. Motivation comes from within (intrinsic) and from outside (extrinsic). My experiences have led me to believe that intrinsic motivation is the way to go. Making too much of any one child can result in a competitive attitude in the class. Keep internal motivation high by modeling curiosity about the topics studied. Reinforce thinking processes rather than praising the child. Try, “That is an interesting way that you sorted your blocks. Tell me what you were thinking." Then, "Sarah sorted her blocks in a different way. Both ways of sorting are interesting. Best teaching methods - kindergarten... Children benefit by describing what they learn When children have an opportunity to communicate their new knowledge to patient adults it helps solidify concepts. I say patient, as it often takes children time to find the correct words to explain their thinking. Another best teaching practice is to supply the students with descriptive words as they are playing or working, e.g. "notice how dull those rocks are, the other ones are shiny". This extends their vocabulary and increases their ability to share new discoveries. Best teaching methods - kindergarten... Children Need to be Active If kindergarten students have been sitting still too long, they will let you know it’s time to move. Even well-planned, interesting lessons fail if the children need a break. Taking lots of breaks throughout the day was one of my best teaching practices. Going for walks around the school, jumping up and down or doing anything to get the blood pumping around resulted in good circulation and more alert students Summary Maintain a classroom atmosphere of warmth and acceptance. When kids know they are loved and accepted, when they know you are willing to help them, they relax and learn. Keep a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around you and your students will imitate your behavior. Model the behaviors you want your students to adopt. For some kindergarten children, your classroom will be one of the few places where their opinions and ideas have been valued. Kindergarten Teaching Pages Page 1: Understand how young children learn. Page 2: Always use concrete materials to teach little kids Children learn in lots of different ways Present concepts in a structured step-by-step way Page 3: Thematic units make learning interesting Learning is developmental Practicing concepts and skills does not need to be dull and repetitive On this page: Best Teaching Methods - Kindergarten Be flexible and understanding with young children Motivate with enthusiasm and curiosity Help children describe what they’ve learned Take lots of breaks Go from "Best teaching methods - kindergarten" to Science section.. .	How to teach pages: 1. Understand how children learn... 2. Use real things... 3. Practice skills... 4. Motivate... ........................... Sorting Activities Students benefit from having lots of experiences sorting, comparing and classifying objects before they participate in patterning activities. Try these fun sorting games... ........................... Teaching Pattern As children recognize and create patterns they begin to see and understand how things work together... Read more... This book is a classic. I read it years ago and it is still a best seller with teachers and education students. .......................... This book is practical and presents hands-on classroom practices that relate to content standards. Whether you are a beginning teacher looking for help or a long time teacher hoping to refresh your teaching strategies, you will find meaningful, creative ways to help your students succeed. ................................ Canadian shoppers visit Amazon.ca for lower shipping rates. --------------------------
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Best Teaching Methods - Kindergarten

How to teach kindergarten pages: 1 2 3 4

Be Understanding With Young Children

Remember that one of the best teaching methods is to be flexible and understanding with young children. Learning won't happen if children are overtired, hungry, upset or worried. Check with them if they are having a difficult time. If a child is hungry, it is easier to let him/her eat part of their lunch early, than to try and force the child to concentrate on a task.
Inexperienced teachers sometimes misinterpret a child's unwillingness to participate as stubbornness or bad behavior. Often children do not have the vocabulary to express themselves. It works well to use reflective listening and help the child verbalize what is upsetting them.
Sometimes children work well in groups and this helps them learn to share and develop ideas. At other times they just need to be alone with ample time to figure things out. Relax and have fun!

Best teaching methods - kindergarten...
Motivated children pay attention

One of the great things about this age group is that they are generally motivated to learn about everything. Unless children have often been made fun of when investigating or presenting their knowledge, they usually have a strong desire to find out and share information.
One of the best teaching methods is to motivate children by modeling enthusiasm and curiosity. Motivation comes from within (intrinsic) and from outside (extrinsic). My experiences have led me to believe that intrinsic motivation is the way to go. Making too much of any one child can result in a competitive attitude in the class. Keep internal motivation high by modeling curiosity about the topics studied.
Reinforce thinking processes rather than praising the child. Try, “That is an interesting way that you sorted your blocks. Tell me what you were thinking." Then, "Sarah sorted her blocks in a different way. Both ways of sorting are interesting.

Best teaching methods - kindergarten...
Children benefit by describing what they learn

When children have an opportunity to communicate their new knowledge to patient adults it helps solidify concepts. I say patient, as it often takes children time to find the correct words to explain their thinking.
Another best teaching practice is to supply the students with descriptive words as they are playing or working, e.g. "notice how dull those rocks are, the other ones are shiny". This extends their vocabulary and increases their ability to share new discoveries.

Best teaching methods - kindergarten...
Children Need to be Active

If kindergarten students have been sitting still too long, they will let you know it’s time to move. Even well-planned, interesting lessons fail if the children need a break.
Taking lots of breaks throughout the day was one of my best teaching practices. Going for walks around the school, jumping up and down or doing anything to get the blood pumping around resulted in good circulation and more alert students

Summary

Maintain a classroom atmosphere of warmth and acceptance. When kids know they are loved and accepted, when they know you are willing to help them, they relax and learn.
Keep a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around you and your students will imitate your behavior. Model the behaviors you want your students to adopt.
For some kindergarten children, your classroom will be one of the few places where their opinions and ideas have been valued.