The early education stage requires the application of specialized techniques that enhance student performance. Everything is in the hands of the teacher, who is responsible for guiding them through this educational path.
You have probably encountered a variety of situations in the past with which you likely identify. If you are taking your first steps as a teacher or plan to embark on a professional career in this sector, we invite you to join us on this journey through the most favorable techniques to improve children’s learning in the first school stage.
Stimulate confidence
Doubt in their abilities can be an enemy that interrupts the correct development of an activity. As teachers, we must be aware that their capabilities may be limited, but at the same time, we must make them feel capable of achieving new and better results through effort and dedication. When we transmit this message of credibility and confidence through support and empathy, they will be more willing to commit to completing tasks and activities with greater impetus.
Constant interactivity
There are many ways to carry out the same task, with the most interactive being the one that can achieve greater interest on the part of the little ones. Talking about the development and exploring the expectations prior to the activity, evaluating their level of interest during, and drawing conclusions after finishing, can give the teacher a clearer picture of the scope of the objectives initially set for that activity.
Maintain a positive attitude
Children are small sponges capable of quickly absorbing the behaviors of adults, so frustration and anxiety in the face of difficult moments can send a negative message. It is possible that we are not in the best state of health or that some personal matters occupy our minds during working hours, but we must make an effort to always remain positive during working hours with children. We must transmit this positive attitude and promote their development in a calm and harmless environment for them.
Variety in activities
Changes are positive when they are carried out in a planned manner, leaving aside improvisation or desperate attempts to find a way to make them learn a new activity. Children’s attention is usually for short periods, so in this time we must take advantage of everything we can, to transmit the correct load of information and that they are able to retain it. Changes in activities keep them attentive and involved, avoiding boredom and lack of attention.
Simplify the dynamics
As adults, we make the involuntary mistake of believing that everything we have learned is easy to teach. This is a recurring error in teachers of different stages, but in the initial stage we must abandon that scheme from day one. Making everything simpler and more understandable for children can be a challenge, but the intention is that they are able to recognize the symbols, instructions, and dynamics without having to offer explanations over and over again that may end up confusing them.
Let them be children
Discipline and respect for working hours are values that should be encouraged at all times in the classroom, however, we must adapt these demands to their level. They are children, and in the initial stage they will be in a process of absorbing new patterns that must be the product of repetition, constancy, empathy, and stimulation. Let them move, play, and explore, but establish clearly established limits from the beginning that will serve as a reference when making a call for attention.
Set rules in time
The classroom rules can be located in an easily accessible area and visible at all times. Make sure to discuss these rules from the beginning of the school year, as this will maintain order in the environment; it is precisely these rules that will define the correct evolution of children during their stay in this space. Include labels and drawings that allow them to connect with these rules more closely, with animations and resources that are easy for them to understand.
Reduce stress
Plan creative and interactive activities that relax them and stimulate their creativity. Planting a plant can be a good idea, as it involves them with the growth of the same and they can evaluate the product of their effort in a tangible and progressive way. Include music and relaxation dynamics a couple of times a week, where concentration is stimulated and anxiety levels are reduced in the face of the presence of challenges posed by the new activities they face every day.
