Focused on learning

Here an early childhood teacher establishes class rules and expectations and sets up procedures that keep young children consistently focused on classroom tasks. Children transition smoothly between activities and maintain engagement with a sense of ‘ownership’ of the space and control over the pace of their learning. She recognises and responds to the Aboriginal cultural background of many of the students and supports students from low socioeconomic backgrounds through strong partnerships with families.

'My Country, My Culture' is the unifying theme for students' work in a guided play-based program in which children move between workstations, which include puzzles, reading and writing, Home Corner, and creative arts. Students choose the order of their activities and opportunities are taken to demonstrate and utilise everyday purposes for reading and writing. The teacher has broad intentions for children to 'have a go', 'take the risk' to learn something new and solve problems as confident learners. She has specific learning goals in History and English, which are communicated to the students, other educators in the room and parents.