Sentry Page Protection

Please Wait...

Unit 5 Student Login Hi, (First Name) | Log Out

Unit 5 Student Login

Welcome, (First Name)!

Enter Member Area

(Message automatically replaces this text)

OK

My Profile Log Out

(Unit 5) Topic 4: Early Childhood Classroom Schedules and Routines

2 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education

Key Elements of the Daily Schedule

Learning Centers and Activities  ​

​Topic 4 Page 5

Click here to take notes.

Learning centers provide a basic environmental and educational structure for early childhood programs.  The majority of learning center activities is child-initiated; however, teacher directed small group activities may be part of the lesson plan. These take place during center time.  Learning center activities are planned by classroom teachers around children’s interests and abilities to provide developmental learning opportunities.  

Each learning center provides the materials and equipment to provide the young child with opportunities to explore and learn.  Teachers plan, expand, and change learning center activities based on the developmental and learning needs of individual children and the classroom group.  Learning centers offer children the opportunity to make their own choice of activities, which increases their level of interest and time spent in focused activity.  Learning center time offers children more time and flexibility to thoroughly explore a concept while lessening the number of transitions throughout the day.

Child -Directed Activities ​

Child-directed activities refer to the self-selected concrete exploration that occurs throughout an early childhood program.  Child-initiated learning takes place when the children select the activity including the choices about who will participate, the materials needed and the process to complete the task.  Early childhood teachers facilitate the exploration and learning activities by creating the learning center environment with interesting developmentally appropriate materials and equipment. Blocks of time for children to participate in learning centers provide children with time to develop complex play experiences that promote learning and development. 

​Why use child-directed learning?

• Young children are more open to learning when motivated by interesting and fun experiences that are self-selected.    
• Active and concrete experiences increase new brain connections and develop children’s cognitive abilities.  
• Children develop language skills as they engage in experiences with other children and teachers. 
• Child-directed learning provides play opportunities that build social/emotional skills.  
• Child-initiated learning increases children’s abilities to develop problem solving skills as they encounter obstacles or make mistakes.  Teachers facilitate problem solving by asking open-ended questions and encouraging children to develop their own solutions.  
• Child-directed learning forces children to predict outcomes and form their own theories of how the world works. 
• When learning is self-directed it is more impactful and meaningful.

(Unit 5) Topic 4: Early Childhood Classroom Schedules & Routines * Navigation Menu