Read the following articles located in Required Studies:

Article 11: How Planning and Reflection Develop Young Children’s Thinking Skills

Article 13: Let’s SQUiNK about It!  A Metacognitive Approach to Exploring Text in a Second Grade Classroom

Article 14: From High Chair to High School: Research –Based Principles for Teaching Complex Thinking

Learning through Academic Choice

While the articles may not use the term “constructivist” you will notice many principles and components of constructivism within these readings.

As you read, reflect on your personal teaching practices. What practices similar to those described in the articles are you currently implementing? What practices could easily be implemented within the next month?  What practices would you like to implement with a little more planning?

Action Plan

Consider the various constructivist components described this week: displaying children’s work, building community, learning through play, and providing opportunities for authentic tasks, choice, decision making, and reflecting.

How might you incorporate constructivist principles and components into your classroom curriculum over the next year?

Write an action plan using the template provided in Required Studies. List and briefly describe 5 action steps you can take within the next month, 5 action steps you can take within the next six months, and 5 action steps you can take within the next year.

Readings

Read from text book: Growing Minds: Building Strong Cognitive Foundations in Early Childhood

Article 6: Chopsticks and Counting Chips: Do Play and Foundational Skills Need to Compete for the Teacher’s Attention in the Early Childhood Classroom?

Article 11: How Planning and Reflection Develop Young Children’s Thinking Skills

Article 13: Let’s SQUiNK about It!  A Metacognitive Approach to Exploring Text in a Second Grade Classroom

Article 14: From High Chair to High School: Research –Based Principles for Teaching Complex Thinking

Read the documents below

Consider the Walls (PDF)

Read the following webpage(s)

The Responsive Classroom 

Home

Tribes Learning Community 

http://tribes.com/

Second Step (Early Learning): 

http://www.cfchildren.org/second-step/early-learning.aspx 

Second Step (K – 5): 

http://www.cfchildren.org/second-step/kindergarten-grade-5.aspx

Conscious Discipline: 

http://consciousdiscipline.com/about/conscious_discipline.asp

Watch the following video(s)

A Vygotskian Approach to Play WMV | MOV

Assignment Tools:

Common Core State Standards

http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards

Action Plan Template (RTF)

Libguides Link

Support Materials

Note: These resources have been provided to enhance your overall learning experience. You will want to review and archive them with your other references.

Read the documents below

Children’s Perceptions of the Learning Environment (PDF) 

Watch the Following Video(s)

Academic Choice: Money 2 MOV | WMV

Read the following webpage

The Story of Fern Creek Elementary School 

http://consciousdiscipline.com/about/ferncreek.asp