CONT801: Kindergarten Part 1
Kindergarten Part 1 will provide opportunities to critically explore the fundamental principles of child-centred play-based learning and the pedagogical approaches that work best for young children. You will develop and deepen your understanding of the four frames of the Kindergarten program, the importance of the learning environment, the structure of the Kindergarten program expectations, including the conceptual understandings, and pedagogical documentation as the primary form of assessment. You will also identify the processes involved in creating and sustaining equitable, inclusive learning environments that move beyond antibias activities toward antibias practices.
You will reflect individually and with others on your learning by engaging in a variety of learning experiences that are intended to promote critical reflection, dialogue, and inquiry. The course will provide a balance of theory and practice to enhance your ability to articulate the “why” underpinning your instructional decisions.
Learning Outcomes
What You Will Learn and Do
In this course you’ll have the opportunity to
- explain the principles of play-based learning and the pedagogical approaches that work best for young children
- describe the four frames of the Kindergarten program and explain how they align with the four foundational conditions for learning and development
- identify the roles and relationships that support learning in a play-based program (the educator team, children, families, etc.) and describe how they support children’s growth.
- understand assessment and learning in Kindergarten, in particular the role of the pedagogical documentation process to support assessment for, as, and of learning
- explain why the learning environment is often described as “the third teacher” and plan learning experiences that demonstrate an understanding of effective use of time, space, and materials
- identify the processes involved in creating and sustaining equitable, inclusive learning environments that move beyond antibias activities toward antibias practices
- identify the components of the expectations charts (i.e., overall and specific expectations, conceptual understandings, and examples of ways in which thinking and learning are made visible) and describe how they are used to support learning
Assessments
Module 1
Overview of the Kindergarten Program
Module 2
Play-Based Learning in a Culture of Inquiry
Progress Update 1
Module 3
The Learning Environment
Module 4
The Four Frames
Progress Update 2
Module 5
Assessment and Learning in Kindergarten
Module 6
Mental Health, Relationships, and Antibias Education
Progress Update 3
Module 7
Consolidation
Final Report