AISWA Early Childhood Local Study Tour – Responsiveness to Children

Description

Join us on our next exciting Local Study Tour where we will explore the EYLF principle Responsiveness to Children in three very different contexts.

Our day will begin at Rockingham Montessori School where we will learn about Montessori Education and spend time observing the 3-6 year old and 6-9 year old classes.

We will have lunch at Rockingham John Calvin School in their Nature Playground and hear about the development of the Nature Play area and how it has provided authentic opportunities for the children to engage with Aboriginal elders and culture.

After lunch we will go to Tranby College to hear about the schools shifting culture and pedagogy towards a more child responsive curriculum using inquiry learning as a focus.

Rockingham Montessori “Imagine walking in to a classroom and not finding the teacher standing in front of a whiteboard speaking to the children in the class. Looking around you notice that some children are quietly working away, totally absorbed with the task at hand, others are working together in groups, another child is washing the dishes and some are enjoying a bit of a chit chat around the snack table. You would expect it to be noisy but only a soft humming greets your ears. The children speak ever so softly and upon listening closer you will hear questions like "Can I show you how to do that?" or "Would you like to join me?" The politeness would not seem congruent with young children but their genuine desire to help one another is ever present. Enter the world of Montessori education.” Vanessa Aikens Principal

John Calvin “Our wild space used to be a "no-go zone". However, over the last few years we have developed it into a very special place for our students to develop authentic and positive experiences with Aboriginal elders and the Aboriginal culture. New elements have been added each year and the children are given opportunities to role play, discuss and develop empathy and respect for Aboriginal people and culture in a natural bush setting. It continues to be a place that is responsive to children and the children lovingly call it the "Aboriginal Play Space". Helen TenHaaf

Tranby College - The Early Years at Tranby College aspires to be responsive and to honour the child through age appropriate pedagogy. By creating provocative learning environments and the implementation of ‘Floorbooks’ the Early Learning teachers are able to create authentic learning experiences that also address the West Australian Curriculum.