Gillian C

Gillian C

I've spent 20 years teaching in Asia and the Middle East, and the early years classroom is my favourite place to be as a teacher. I'm also an ELT writer and editor, as well as a picture book author.

Location UK

Activity

  • @MarianaMaggioDeMaggi Yes, this persists in some settings unfortunately. But the information is getting out there - young children need an environment suitable to their development in order to thrive. The more people, like you and @IvanaKoleva who know about it and spread the word around to colleagues and friends, the more the situation will change. If you can...

  • @IvicaCacic I think a lot is connected to how you set up your classroom and lessons. Remember that play doesn't have to be boisterous and noisy, and you can arrange the setting and the resources to guide children in a certain context. Engaged children are less likely to disrupt others, so setting up small simple activity areas for early finishers can be really...

  • @TraceySexton I love the idea of Role Play Lane - what a wonderful way to encourage children to experiment!

  • I think it's partly because fun and play are associated with games and wasting time in many people's perception. But why shouldn't we enjoy what we're doing? Fun can be a simple quiet satisfaction in the work we do, or a hobby we enjoy and can share. The idea that work should be hard and isn't meant to be enjoyed is hopefully something that will change

  • @YasminPantano It's sadly common in some places to undervalue the contributions and importance of dedicated teachers and carers - it is my great hope that this is changing. Now, with the new wide availability of online resources and information on so many platforms, there is so much opportunity for managers and directors to discover that there is so much to...

  • @HallaAbdulSayed Thank you for joining us!

  • @YANAFILIPCHENKO Absolutely agree - feeling you are noticed is so very valuable and heartening for children

  • @JoanFratyKumowal What an interesting way to put this - it's important to not succeed at everything the first time, or learning doesn't really happen. Thank you for pointing this out, as it helps us a teachers and parents to be aware that we need to notice where support should be provided.

  • @NailaElyas Thank you for joining us!

  • @AnnisaAnandaPutri Best of luck!

  • Thank you everyone for your contributions and comments! We are glad so many of you have found the course useful, and best of luck to all of you in your future paths.

  • @MonicaAnitaJohnson Yes, the silent period is incredibly important and often misunderstood.

  • @PoMoMyat Yes, a comfortable environment with activities and resources to engage the children and encourage them to explore is really important.

  • @InésZorraquín Yes, maintaining a context can be really rewarding

  • @CarolinaOM You're right that much can depend on the group on the day! If the group is especially energetic for some reason on one day, back up activities may well need to be used. Flexibility is key - thank you for sharing this!

  • @PrernaNikam The accepted rule of thumb is their age plus 1, so an activity for a two year old should be planned for three minutes, etc. However, with more experience and knowing the children well, the teacher can assess and reassess this, so that it develops with the child. Also, when intrinsic motivation is involved (a child focusing on something that...

  • @JayaniSovis and vice versa - as a child's brain develops, they naturally acquire more knowledge, and as educators, we can help to provide the right input at the right time

  • @AkuchiChukwuemeka A super example, thank you for sharing!

  • @WendySpicer Teaching assistants are utterly invaluable in the EY classroom, and as I have read your contributions throughout the course, it has struck me how lucky your setting is to have you. You have really demonstrated here how much a teaching assistant adds to a class dynamic and the children's development. Thank you!

  • @AkuchiChukwuemeka Your last point here is really interesting. You're right, it's really good to have that consistency, but also, children are masters of context! They are very good at assessing their surroundings and acting accordingly!

  • @AnnisaAnandaPutri I agree with this approach. I've found homeroom teachers can be very helpful in this way, and what you share with them can feed into what they, in turn, share with the parents. I've been in this precise position myself @AdrianneK and developing as good a relationship as possible with the individual schools can definitely act as a bridge.

  • @CesarRVallecilloOsa I love that you have developed this relationship with your nephew in this way, what a great example of extending knowledge with a trusted person and in context

  • @BEATRIZPATRÍCIODEMEDEIROS Every child is different but in the case of your nephew, the fact that you have noticed this about him is really useful for when you spend time with him

  • @AkuchiChukwuemeka Thank you for sharing this, it's a wonderful story! And you're right - you think you've been as amazed as possible, then along comes another thing. Working with or caring for children is never ever boring!

  • @NurSyazwaniAhmadFuad Mingling with others can be an intimidating thing, even for an adult. At only 3, he has plenty of time to get used to others, and simple things like a playdate with one other child can help him gently become more used to others

  • @PratikshaBelose Absolutely, and also important to bear in mind that development doesn't go in a straight line - it twists and turns as children get to grips with various skills and knowledge!

  • @JayaniSovis Observing does really let you see what the children are interested in and what type of activity they engage most with, doesn't is?

  • @WendySpicer Oh I love this, taking the roof off to see the stars! And what a great use of technology too

  • @YasminPantano And that you have noticed this in her is also extremely valuable.

  • @ElaineHazelTebby Most welcome - it was a really valid question

  • @WendySpicer Yes, there is a balance which the teacher needs to judge, and it really does illustrate the importance of getting to know the children and their situations. Thank you for highlighting this

  • @AmandaMazzotti Thank you for sharing this - a fantastic example of this in action

  • @JayaniSovis Yes, assessment isn't only tests and writing - there are many ways to assess a child

  • @NailaElyas Absolutely - observation has so many benefits!

  • @AnnisaAnandaPutri That's fair! I hope you get a chance to read through the articles here

  • @IvanaKoleva We will include this question in the Facebook live on Thursday 6/10 (week 5) at 11.30 am UK time. If you can't make it, you'll be able to watch again later as we'll post the live in week 5.

  • @NailaElyas And you Naila, thank you for all your comments and contributions

  • @IvicaCacic Awww, you've made my day!

  • @IvicaCacic We'll be doing another one this Thursday (6th October at 11.30am UK time) - hope you can join us! If not, we'll post the new live here afterwards

  • @ElaineHazelTebby Sorry, I have just noticed that you won't be able to join us live - we'll post the live here though, so you'll be able to see our response!

  • @ElaineHazelTebby I have noted this down and we'll discuss it in the Facebook live this Thursday - hope you can join us.

  • @WendySpicer I absolutely agree with your final point - it can be frustrating in the extreme.

  • @KATERINAKONIDARI This is a great point about our own learned boundaries and responses, as our own upbringing of course plays a huge role in our attitudes. More freedom and new approaches can often be achieved in small steps everyone is comfortable with

  • @SwapnaliSawant A fantastic point - risk doesn't mean physical danger! It's about children taking that next step in any type of activity or skill. Thank you for highlighting this!

  • @WendySpicer Thank you for mentioning the everyday items Wendy! As you say, it just takes thought

  • @AkuchiChukwuemeka I totally agree about developing the reading culture - so important and such a gift to children. They don't need to be reading early, but loving stories and wanting to engage with them, and spending time together exploring them - priceless!

  • @PratikshaBelose Nice to see a mention of schemas - these are so useful for recognising and describing stages of development, and for planning activities for children

  • @JayaniSovis You're right to mention the ongoing effort and the small steps - we all need to work at it to make it successful

  • @NailaElyas Don't forget real (safe) non-toy items too - they can have great fascination for children!

  • @MarianSamirHabibFaragalla Some great ideas here, thank you for sharing them!

  • @WendySpicer I really love the idea of the parents sharing the wow moments from home as well - this connection between educators and parents should be celebrated, and that your setting encourages it is fantastic

  • @AnnisaAnandaPutri The wow moments are the best! When you start to notice and celebrate them, you'll see more and more examples of them occurring. And parents love to hear about them too!

  • @TristanFernie The wow moments are my favourite part of teaching EY. The small triumphs, and sharing those with parents are to be celebrated. And the parents are always so heartened to know that you have noticed their child in this particular way

  • @StephanieI A really useful comment, thank you for sharing your experience here

  • @SwapnaliSawant Name use is so important, thank you for highlighting this!

  • @WendySpicer Great observations, thank you for sharing!

  • @Αφροδίτη-ΚαλλιοπηΜεσσαριτάκη Thank you for highlighting the feeling of belonging - such an important aspect, and one that this teacher has clearly worked to cultivate

  • @PratikshaBelose Great points!

  • @JayaniSovis You've highlighted a great point - the teacher clearly being enthusiastic and engaged inspires the children. They know that she is fully present with them in the classroom

  • @AnaN @AnnisaAnandaPutri Yes, I think this is a key part of EY - the children should see learning as something fun, something enjoyable that they approach without fear

  • @StephanieI Yes, the name use is demonstrated so well here, and it is such a simple way to show each child that you have noticed them individually

  • @JoyEfula This is a fascinating point, and one that I have never seen come up before. Of course, a key person will look different in individual settings, but hopefully the parents will be reassured that a key person doesn't have responsibility for only one child, but a group of children. They should partly be there to support and nurture the relationship...

  • @MayHo I agree fully, that relationship can be extremely helpful for supporting the child

  • @AkuchiChukwuemeka It's a very good question. I think there is often a misunderstanding in the role however, as a key person will support a group of children, not only one child, so they will already be dividing their time between several children. I have, however, seen children become extremely attached to certain teaching assistants, so it's important that...

  • @AnaN I love that you said "share joys" - often people assume that a key person is there for problems, but it's as important that they are there for the small triumphs as well, which can then be communicated to the parents

  • @BenedictaIdiale Yes, a really important link

  • @JayaniSovis A key person tends to have a small group of children assigned, not an individual

  • @MarianSamirHabibFaragalla A lot depends on the class size, etc. but a key person will usually have responsibility for a small group of children, not an individual - as you say, it would be so difficult to provide staff for this!

  • @YasminPantano Anything that encourages children to talk about their problems, and creates a way for the parents and teachers to work together to support children is incredibly valuable

  • @SittiAglitasiaMerdekawati Yes, this sounds very similar to the role above

  • @HayamElsayedHaroun Yes, it's an extremely useful role, and helps the child to see that everyone is on the same team

  • @YANAFILIPCHENKO It's usually a member of staff in school / nursery who pays close attention to the needs of a group of children, and can be the contact point for the parents for any support

  • @PratikshaBelose Do teachers in your country have any support, for example from teaching assistants, in the classroom?

  • @TristanFernie Absolutely, that relationship can be crucial at times

  • @BenedictaIdiale A key person as we talk about here is unlikely to be responsible for a single child - it is more usual for a key person to have several children they are responsible for

  • @JayaniSovis This sounds very similar to a key person's role

  • @NailaElyas Does the HOD also take on any role of emotional support for the children, for example, if they have a problem in their class? Do they communicate with the children's family at all? We have found that the role and structure can be very different in many countries.

  • @YasminPantano What a difficult situation. Are there teachers or assistants in the schools in your country who help to take care of children?

  • @IvicaCacic Do you think it sounds like a good idea? A lot of participants think it is something new, but it exists in a different form in their own context.

  • @AmritaGupta I agree with you that sibling relationships can be incredibly positive.

  • @YANAFILIPCHENKO How brilliant that being unusual and your own worldview was so encouraged - more people should nurture those who see things differently. Thank you for sharing!

  • @AmandaMazzotti Thank you for sharing this - it's a really inspiring answer for the teachers among us

  • @PavaniShakyaThamali This is a strong example of how the memories of discouragement can really stay with a child. It's wonderful that your grandparents are so memorable because of your relationship with them

  • @CarolinaOM Thank you so much for sharing your relationship with your grandfather - he sounds wonderful, and I love the connection you have made to his stories, and how you were fascinated by them. It is so great that you have kept his memory alive in the way you interact with your own children.

  • @Αφροδίτη-ΚαλλιοπηΜεσσαριτάκη Thank you for sharing such a positive and specific memory!

  • @TristanFernie Your comment really shows the importance of a child's voice being valued - thank you for sharing this!

  • @MarianSamirHabibFaragalla I love your description of the arrival of your sister!

  • @ZeinabAslam Isn't it funny how parents pick up on their child's friends and interests without even having met the friends? Thank you for sharing this, a really great point

  • @ElaineHazelTebby This sounds like a really supportive background Elaine, I'm glad you had such a positive experience

  • @ElaineHazelTebby I really like the description of a hedgehog response. I'll highlight this for the Facebook live this week

  • @PratikshaBelose I love the play dough idea especially!

  • @MarianSamirHabibFaragalla Great ideas here Marian!

  • @YasminPantano Super ideas here, thank you for sharing!

  • @AnaN These are all great examples of real language use in a natural way.

  • @SamahElkhadrawy Videos certainly have their place, along with other resources and activities.

  • @ALEXMARZOESCARTIN Yes, curiosity is such a powerful way to help children become involved

  • @ElinaKamanga Circle time is always one of my favourites!

  • @TracyHamilton What a super idea!