Early Childhood Standards of Quality for ... - State of Michigan

ELE: Approaches to Learning6. Demonstrate comfort with open-ended questions and problems.7. Value the uniqueness of their own work.Examples of Experiences and Strategies• Materials throughout the learning centers are thoughtfully selected toengage multiple senses.• The schedule is arranged so that significant portions of the day offerchildren opportunities to make choices about their play and other learningactivities.• Children’s work is displayed at eye level and adults provide opportunitiesfor children to talk constructively about their work and that of theirclassmates.• Learning experiences offer opportunities to use materials in unique ways.• Choices of play and work experiences are meaningful and realistic.• Children are encouraged to change or make up their own endings forstories, plays or songs.• Games that build on and extend children’s curiosity are available acrossthe learning centers.• Adults are sufficiently flexible in their daily planning to be able to changeplans if children initiate a more interesting idea or experience.Questions for Reflection1. How do adults keep track of children’s interests so that they can beintroduced as topics of conversation in group times?2. How are adults serving as role models for experimenting and takingreasonable risks; e.g., climbing up a small hill or trying to balance?3. How is the environment arranged to promote independence and initiative;e.g., logical ordering of materials on shelves, labeling of materials, use oftask charts?4. How are the materials arranged to help children who have difficultymaking choices; e.g., by limiting options or helping them think throughthose options?5. How do adults interact with children to help them make choices orconsider additional options?6. In what circumstances are adults able to encourage children to talk aboutareas of interest and/or about their activities?7. In what ways do adults encourage children’s natural inclination to askquestions and to wonder, help them refine their questions, and think ofways they might get answers?58 Michigan Department of Education