This post will look at the structured learning style. Many would call this the old-fashioned way of teaching that is out of date and out of touch with today's children. However, on a daily basis I prove them wrong. This is my main style of teaching in a manner of speaking. I do put a twist on what you see in public schools, but the content and basic structure are practically the same.
What Is the Structured Learning Style?
Basically, it involves teacher-directed instruction. The instruction follows a predictable routine that varies little from day-to-day. In other words, the daily schedule is set and followed with only slight variations. The instruction follows a line by line format that allows the students to build precept on precept. Many would call this the most boring way to teach. However, for many children this type of system is comforting.
Structured Learning in a Childcare
What does structured learning look like in my childcare? Number one, I have a basic schedule that changes very little even from year to year. With family childcare a provider has the same children for multiple years not just one. When I initiate changes into my schedule, I will always do so gradually making small changes over the course of months until I reach the new goal. I have learned over the years that many small children have a very hard time with change. When they are allowed to settle into a routine, they will take great comfort in that "normalness" and fight all changes to their little world. Making change happen in very small increments helps them to accept the new "normal" over time. This is especially true of children with special needs and even children with ADD and ADHD even though that seems to be a paradox. You would think children with attention issues would hate structure and this type of schedule. However, even though they do hate it in the beginning, once they adjust, they will fight change more than any of the other children. Over the years it has amazed me how much this type of structure calms the most hyper of children. I will admit that some people find implementing this type of structure beyond what they can do. My mother absolutely hates having to implement change in small increments. It drives her nuts. She wants to institute the change and get on with it. I have also had many employees that were of the same mind. However, even my mother has now worked here long enough to understand that I am right, but she still hates it.
One-on-One Instruction
The second aspect of structured learning that I have implemented into my childcare revolves around the one-on-one instruction I provide every child every day. This is where my system deviates from public school classrooms and many other early childhood classrooms. I have a homeschool design to my childcare. Every child has individual planners that lay out his/her lessons in daily incremental steps. I use direct instruction with the children tailoring the delivery of that instruction to each child's personal learning repertoire. For a preschool setting these lessons only take 15-20 minutes per day leaving the child a great portion of the day for free-play. We do have three different group times, but they also only last 10-15 minutes. I believe instruction should be direct but in small daily doses. I agree with the child-centered people that children need much free-play time during the day. I just stay out of their free-play. I do not try to teach during their free-play time. I let them practice what they have learned on their own.
The Mixed-Age Benefit
In my daily schedule I alternate between group activities, free-play, and individual instruction. When I was bigger, I had to have many sessions during the day where I could do the children's one-on-one instruction. Those children that were not doing their one-on-one instruction had free-play at that time. Now that I am much smaller, I can usually finish the one-on-one instruction in one or two sessions in the morning. Even though I do not make them watch each other's school, it is hard to keep them from it. Many days they would rather watch me teach the other children than play. As a homeschooling mom, I understand the value of this. Children learn exponentially more watching an older child's lessons than you would think. They may not fully understand what is going on, but they pick up information you would think way beyond their ability. When they reach that point, they are already familiar with the concept and learn so much faster. This is one of the major benefits to the one-room schoolhouse concept that many homeschoolers employ in their settings. Dividing children by age is actually a relatively new educational concept in the grand scheme of things. For thousands of years, educators mixed ages to allow for this benefit. The younger learn from the older, and the older review watching the younger. It is like getting twice the educational bang for your buck.
One Size Does Not Fit All
As I have alluded to in previous paragraphs, some people would rather not teach if they had to follow such strict structure. Also, as I will cover in my next post, some children need more spontaneity than I provide in my setting. Not everyone has to set up their childcare like mine. Different children need different environments. When will we ever learn that one size will never fit all? Not every child fits in my environment. I tend to attract more conservative parents and parents of special needs children. In the early years, it is very important to find a setting for your child that matches your child's needs. As childcare providers, we need to understand this and not be offended if a child does not fit our setting. Trust me, trying to make a child fit into an environment that is completely opposite of their learning style can be torture for all involved.
Who Benefits from Structure?
What type of child normally fits well into a structured learning environment? I have already talked about children with special needs. This holds for nearly all children on the autism spectrum as well as children with developmental delays. Other children that benefit greatly from this environment are left-brain leaning children. They will thrive in this type of environment. Also, children with emotional issues such as excessive fear or anxiety will find comfort in an environment of this sort. On the other hand, right brain leaning children or children that thrive in a discovery-type environment will more than likely be miserable in a setting like this. The same holds for teachers. I am left-brain leaning and my mother is right-brain leaning. My environment sometimes drives her insane.
I hope you have enjoyed this post. Goodbye and God bless!!
Check out Natalie's children's books at: https://www.amazon.com/author/nataliewade7457
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