Sustains Active Engagement with Children

The professional working with young children uses approaches to learning that build on children's natural curiosity, deepen children's knowledge and awareness, and sustain active engagement with ideas and materials

Resources & Media for Understanding Competency 4.8

Behaviors & Skills

• a
  Assesses children's interests, learning styles, strengths and challenges and uses that knowledge to meet children's instructional and social needs
  
  
• b
  Ensures that play is an integral part of the curriculum
  
  
• c
  Encourages child-directed learning, rather than learning that is dependent on adult direction
  
  
• d
  Attends to children's curiosity and interests to determine how to engage them with new concepts and skills
  
  
• e
  Makes learning visible to children, families, colleagues and self through documentation
  
  
• f
  Helps children identify and apply prior knowledge
  
  
• g
  Poses problems and asks questions that provoke children's thinking and curiosity
  
  
• h
  Values and encourages inquiry
  
  
• i
  Helps children learn how to think about a topic, question or problem, rather than what to think about it
  
  
• j
  Helps children express their ideas
  
  
• k
  Encourages children to use their bodies in dance, drama, costume, music and art
  
  
• l
  Ensures that children have plenty of opportunity to practice emerging skills
  
  
• m
  Provides opportunities for children to revisit experiences and materials again and again so they are able to deepen their understanding
  
  
• n
  Encourages and supports children to prolong an activity that they show interest in
  
  
• o
  Is able to put plans on hold to focus on a meaningful concept or experience that a child might introduce
  
  
• p
  Adjusts the level of support he or she provides to children depending on their abilities
  
  
• q
  When necessary, breaks tasks or activities down into smaller parts so that children are able to understand them and carry them out on their own
  
  
• r
  Uses daily small group experiences, activities, and/or interactive read aloud to support children’s development and learning