Early Years
The Learner in the Early Years (3–6 years old)
Early Years: Summary
In the Early Years:
Children are capable to construct their own learning.
Play is the primary driver for inquiry is valued by all stakeholders.
Children are collaborators and learn through interaction within their communities
Children are natural communicators and should be encouraged to express themselves however they feel they can.
The classroom environment acts as the third teacher
Teachers are partners, nurturers, and guides who help facilitate the exploration of children’s interests as they work on short and long-term projects.
Documentation is a critical component of communication.
Parents are partners in education.
Play involves choice, promotes agency and provides opportunities to inquire into important concepts and personal interests.
The early years should include as a minimum: play, relationships, learning spaces, symbolic exploration and expression which are central to learning.
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Principles of Ideal Learning Environments
Decision-making reflects a commitment to equity
Children construct knowledge from diverse experiences to make meaning of the world
Play is an essential element of young children’s learning
Instruction is personalized to acknowledge each child’s development and abilities
The teacher is a guide, nurturing presence, and co-constructor of knowledge
Young children and adults learn through relationships
The environment is intentionally designed to facilitate children’s exploration, independence, and interaction
The time of childhood is valued
Continuous learning environments support adult development
Source: ibo.org | The Compass School | Trust For Learning
Nine Principles of Ideal Learning - Early Years
This brief summarizes scientific research aligned with the principles of ideal learning environments. The brief is a unifying framework of nine principles underlying equitable, developmental, relational models of early childhood education, but can/should be applied to all learning environments. Rather than prescribing a uniform vision of “quality,” these nine principles allow educators to adopt a comprehensive early learning approach that serves their children and communities.
Drawing from the strength of world-renowned early childhood approaches including Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Friends Center for Children, Tools of the Mind, Bank Street College of Education, and Waldorf, these nine principles outline core concepts that create ideal learning environments for young children across settings. They allow for multiple approaches, models, and traditions, and take into account the varied contexts within which early educators and care providers work.
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Several essential beliefs weave throughout, including a commitment to play, relationship-based interactions, an ecologically-focused, child-centered perspective; equity; and a strength-based and inquiry-based approach with children, adults and families. Together, they balance principles of attachment and independence that are meaningful for young children’s development.
Children Are Born Learning, Exploring and Growing
How children develop depends on us. We know that during the first few years of life, more than 1 million neural connections are formed every second. Young children develop through rich, daily interactions with nurturing caregivers and educators, building brains and shaping physical, socioemotional and cognitive development for life. These early years represent a unique, flexible period of human development and a finite window for high-impact investment.
Early learning environments shape children’s present and future through mechanisms scientists continue to discover — from statistical learning to nervous system attunement to epigenetics. Because children are born learning, any environment can become an ideal learning environment — whether at home, in family- or center-based child care, or at school. While every child should have access to ideal learning environments from birth, far too many do not. With growing public investment, we now have the opportunity to create equitable ideal learning environments serving children, families and educators in any setting.
Additional Resources
Source: Trust For Learning and Trust For learning Resources
Early Years: Key Features
Early Years: Key Domains
Principles of Ideal Early Learning Environments
Source: Trust for Learning(this website has a lot of early learning documents and articles)
Drawing from the strength of world-renowned early childhood approaches including Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Friends Center for Children, Tools of the Mind, Bank Street College of Education, and Waldorf, these principles outline core concepts that create ideal learning environments for young children across settings. They allow for multiple approaches, models, and traditions, and take into account the varied contexts within which early educators and care providers work. Several essential beliefs weave throughout, including a commitment to play, relationship-based interactions, an ecologically-focused, child-centered perspective; equity; and a strength-based and inquiry-based approach with children, adults and families. Together, they balance principles of attachment and independence that are meaningful for young children’s development.
Measuring - Early Learning Environments
Source: Trust for Learning(this website has a lot of early learning documents and articles)
Measuring the Quality of Early Learning Environments envisions a new, equity-driven approach for assessing the quality of programs and demonstrates how the Principles of Ideal Learning framework can be used to guide decision-making.
Evaluating Family Voices Workbook
Source: Trust For Learning
The Elevating Family Voices Workbook is a resource designed to support meaningful community participation and robust family engagement in planning for ideal learning environments for young children.
UN Rights of the Child: Simplified
Source: https://www.unicef.org/sop/convention-rights-child-child-friendly-version
Role of the Teacher in Early Years
Podcast: Play, Assessment and Accountability in the Early Years
Anne_van_Dam_Pt_1-Early_Years_Education.m4aEngaging Learners By Following Their Interests
When students show genuine curiosity about a topic, the emergent curriculum approach lets teachers build upon that excitement to reach learning objectives.
PYP Learner Profile Booklist - Early Years
Fostering a Feeling of Security for Younge Students
Simple classroom tips for helping preschool and elementary students feel at ease and open to learning.
Create a Calm Preschool Learning Environment
Simple elements like lighting, tone of voice, and routines can help young children feel calm and ready to learn.
Outdoor Adventures in the Early Years
In this webinar with outdoor play specialist Christina Pickles, gain insights to transform outdoor play for young children! Listen in as she inspires you to get your little explorers to discover the wonderland of plants, animals, water, rocks, sand, mud, and more!
Also see this free editable risk assessment form for outdoor play to ensure your little ones are always safe on their outdoor adventures. (Direct Download)
Outdoor Adventures: Risk Analysis
By following the steps in this pamphlet, you can ensure that outdoor play activities are safe, developmentally appropriate, and empowering for children. Remember, outdoor play is essential for children's physical, social, and emotional well-being, and a well-planned and risk-managed approach can provide children with opportunities for growth and exploration.
A Pedagogy of Listening in the Early Years
As teachers, how might we invite students to lead the conversation around learning? Join early years expert Angela MeeLee as she explores inquiry as a pedagogy of listening. She will discuss some of the foundations of Reggio Emilia schools and share strategies for planning and responding to provocations.
Ten Picture Books for Outdoor Learning
Ten inspiring children's stories that can serve as a catalyst for immersive outdoor exploration, play, and learning. Each page of the resource comes alive, inviting children to engage in activities that stimulate their development in numerous ways. From climbing and counting to creating and collaborating, children will embark on a journey that connects them to nature while fostering holistic growth.
Fine Motor Skills Checklists
These fine motor skills checklists (Ages 0-6) created by Toddle come in two styles - Milestones and My Self Evaluation
Also view: Build Your Fine Motor Skills Toolkit - a video by Stacey Band.
- Explore hands-on ideas to establish concentration, coordination, and independence
- Learn how to observe children and document next steps
- Monitor the seven areas of concern and how to document them
Fine Motor Skills Activities
These fine motor activities (Ages 1-6) are created by Toddle
Also explore videos about woodwork, sound art provocations, treasure baskets, playful math ideas, loose parts play, and outdoor learning through these guided experiences led by experts.
PBL in the Early Elementary Grades
Setting up project-based learning with young students can be a challenge, but it’s worth the work, according to first-grade teachers from across the U.S.
For more information about Project-Based Learning (PBL) go HERE
Sparking Critical Thinking Skills in K-2
As early elementary teachers know, young learners are able to engage in critical thinking and participate in nuanced conversations, with appropriate supports. What can teachers do to foster these discussions? Find out by reading the article from Edutopia.
Developing a Loving Pedagogy in the Early Years
It is what we do in our settings and schools on a daily basis to help children feel loved, to feel a sense of belonging, and to put things like attachment theory into practice. A loving pedagogy is evident when we place children and their needs at the centre of our provision.
View/listen to the Podcast: Developing a loving pedagogy in the Early Years
PYP Early Years ATL Learning Card Example
Created by Sonya Terborg - View her blog post
Early Years Articles
Click/Tap to ViewInteractive Read-Alouds in the Early Grades | Stenhouse Blog | Apr 21, 2022 | Haeny
Breaking Free: Reimagining the Constraints of Classroom Spaces | Edutopia | Aug 3, 2023 | Guiding preschool and early elementary students to interact with texts can engage and empower them to develop their reading skills.
3 Ways to Guide Early Elementary Students to Talk About Their Learning | Edutopia | January 7, 2022 | Young students love to talk, but harnessing that enthusiasm for learning requires some structure.
Creating Fascinating Talking Tubs to Support Child-Led Learning | Mind Teachers Academy Blog | July 16, 2021 | A Talking Tub is a box filled with a variety of objects about a specific subject. A practitioner will then allow children to take each item out one at a time and fully examine the objects, giving them time to investigate and discuss each object.
How to Ask Questions That Engage Young Students | Edutopia | Dec 6, 2021 | Learn about three questioning techniques that prompt all students to come up with a response that can raise their spirits and make learning more joyful.
Creating a Culturally Responsive Early Childhood Classroom | Edutopia | Feb 26, 2021 | Ensuring that all students see their culture reflected in the curriculum and classroom materials is crucial. Learn more about Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT).
Supporting Children’s Agentic Identities through the Approaches to Learning | The Sharing PYP Blog - agency, approaches to teaching, early years | 6 January 2021.