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

ELE: Approaches to LearningExamples of Experiences and Strategies• Materials and activities appeal to a variety of senses and learning styles.• Materials and activities are appropriate for individuals, small groups, andlarger group experiences and take into account the cultural representationof the class.• Activities are presented in labeled steps with photos when possible.• Activities in all of the learning centers are designed to promoteexperimentation and encourage children to arrive at creative solutions.• Children are engaged in generating multiple solutions to questions orproblems.• Adults recognize children who support others in problem solving.• Books about real people who show their use of imagination, creativity,and invention are included in classroom collections and read aloud togroups.Questions for Reflection1. In what ways are children encouraged to try new experiences in all of thelearning centers?2. Do adults model reasonable risk-taking behavior?3. How is the environment arranged and provisioned to offer new materials,photographs, art work, and music to stimulate children’s experiences,knowledge, and interests?4. What opportunities exist for adults to model open-mindedness andcreativity and to demonstrate that there may be more than one way to dothings or to solve problems?5. What opportunities exist for children to engage in paired learningexperiences; e.g., activities in which children of varying skill levels areencouraged to work together?6. To what extent does the class take advantage of the natural environmentas another learning resource?Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Prekindergarten 61