Mary Aery, ED.SSpecial Education Service Agency

TEACHING STRATEGIES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

A teaching strategy is a behavior or activity that a teacher deliberately selects and flexibly applies to help students construct meaning*

*Meigan, 2005,p. 557

Look at teaching strategies that you can use in the classroom.

Acknowledge what children do or say. This can be done by what you’ve noticed, through comments, or observation*

“Mary, I notice how you’ve used bright colors in your paint project. I like it!”

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strategies”

Encourage persistence and effort rather than just praising what the student has done.*

“Ben, you need to be patient and quiet when we go out ice fishing this afternoon.”

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strategies”

Give specific feedback to the student(s) instead of general comments.*

“Jack, I appreciate you letting me know that the paint spilled on the floor. Let’s get a mop to clean up the floor.”

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strategies”

Model a way to approach problems or issues for children instead of just telling them.*

“Jack great job on showing Jane how to dribble the basketball!”

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strategies”

Demonstrate for students the correct way to do something. This usually involves a procedure of how things need to be done.*

“Students, I will show you how to hold the scissors to cut out the counting books.”

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strategies”

Create or Challenge the task for students. This will go beyond what children may be able to do.*

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strategies”

“Jeff great job jumping through the hoop! I knew you could do it!”

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Ask questions of children that stimulate their thinking about learning.*

“Class, can you tell me what the word ‘Nippivik’ means in Inupiaq?”

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strategies”

Give assistance to children so that they can work to their current competence.*

“I can help you with your project after you finish writingyour words.”

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strategies”

Provide information directly giving children facts, verbal labels and other information.*

“The social skills cards help us to learn how we can share our books in the classroom.”

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strategies”

Give Directions for children’s actions or behavior.*

* Copyright © YEAR NAEYC ®. Source: http://www.naeyc.org/dap/10-effective-dap-teaching-

strategies”

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“Tell me how many colors and patterns you have on the table.”