Preschoolers

In class we discuss teaching to the grade level. We discuss not teaching over our students. Another part that is important to talk about would be, when should we teach. In the article Why Preschool Shouldn't Be Like School Alison Gopnik explains that children at young ages realized what a teacher in teaching them. The children were shown a toy and a facilitator told one group of students here is my new toy I'll show you how it works. With another group the facilitator explored the toy in front of the children. Gopnik observed that the children who were told how the toy works only did what they saw the teacher doing. However, the students who saw the teacher explore the toy found new and different manipulations that created sounds. Gopnik focuses on how preschools should focus on children's creativity and exploration. Gopnik explains that the students tend to learn more when they are allowed to explore and are asked to find something about a toy.

Science Methods stresses the importance of the nature of science. One of the points that the class keeps discussing is that the nature of science is creative and that there is no "right" way of doing something. The article expresses that view. The exploration done by the children on the toy allows the children to know that there are multiple ways to make something happen. The facilitator showed the children the toy made noise in three moves, when the children were allowed to explore the toy they soon found how to make the toy make noise in two moves, which the facilitator never did. The creativity and exploration is an important goal for our students to access. Students should not be afraid to ask questions on why or how things work. They should be encouraged to explore and ask questions. Gopnik sees that importance too. She wants the exploration and the safe environment for students and children early on in their learning. She wants teachers to know when to teach and when the teachers need to allow the students to explore what is handed to her. In our class that is one of our standards, under teaching methods and strategies. Teachers need to learn when to do what methods. Also by allowing students to explore they are learning with other students which is important in social learning theory. And making sure teachers are not teaching over the heads of the students is developmental learning theory. Gopnik starts the children zone of proximal development. The children learn that when they explore they find interesting things and may understand more fully why or how a specific thing work.

Gopnik focuses on the fact that preschoolers should not be taught but be encouraged to explore and look at things. Her article really applies to what we are discussing in Science Methods. It is important for students to understand that they can ask questions and explore the world around them. We as teachers need to know how to differentiate between when to teach and when to watch. Children and students are intelligent. They will astound you in what they know and how they can explain things. We as teachers just have to listen, watch, and sometimes teach.