Or are you looking for some review printables to offer with your lessons? Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Search here Rules for Using Worksheets in Preschool 1. Worksheets are Optional A big reason why play is such an effective means of learning is because play allows children to choose. Worksheets are for Review Again, play is context through which preschoolers learn.
Shop for Preschool Printables Do you have students who love completing papers? You can find developmentally appropriate preschool worksheets in my shop! Shop Now. Leave a Comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Below are some common misconceptions about the use of worksheets in the classroom.
Children do not always know what is best for them, just because they like something is not an indication that it is good for them. How many times have your students come to school dressed inappropriately for the weather or chosen to eat candy for lunch rather than the sandwich their mother packed for them?
Because children do not know what is best for them, that is why we, as educators, must purposefully prepare appropriate materials and activities for our students instead of just copying off another worksheet, that is a cop-out in my opinion. As trained professionals in the field of education it is our duty to teach our students to the best of our ability and keep their best interests in mind while doing so.
If we do not do that then we are cheapening the profession and adding to the already tarnished image teachers hold in this country. I would have to peel and slice the apples to get the kids to eat them, it would be more work for me, but the apples are better for them than the candy so that is what I would do. You can use worksheets if you balance it out with other hands-on types of activities.
Balance what? So some parts of the day the children are receiving appropriate instruction and other parts they are not? Following written directions? As for the fine motor part of the statement, there are many more appropriate types of activities children can be doing to develop their fine motor skills than doing a worksheet, again, I find this to be a cop out. For more handwriting tips click HERE.
When students are struggling academically the first thing that needs to be examined is teaching practice, we cannot blame academic failure on the lack of worksheets. Our presentation includes information on how worksheets are not appropriate for young children and why.
We explain that worksheets teach children that there is only one right answer and they do not allow children to think for themselves. We explain how writing on paper with lines two solid and a dotted line in the middle is not appropriate for certain ages and why visual accuity, fine motor not developed enough, creates frustration and lack of desire to write etc We also tell parents that there is a difference between their young child and older siblings and how older children are more developmentally ready to profit from using worksheets occasionally.
Then, we introduce our homework program and show the parents specific ways they can help their children at home each night. My job as a professional educator is to help each child be as successful as possible in my classroom.
I challenge teachers everywhere to break the worksheet cycle and actually teach young children instead of occupying them with worksheets. So much information. I do agree that as a society we are using too many worksheets and not enough active learning experiences. We all have our own learning styles and therefore it makes sense to use multisensory technigues for teaching.
Developmentally worksheets are not appropriate for little learners; many of which have not yet established a hand dominance or an efficient grasp.
Children learn by doing, by partaking, by being involved. I personally feel the same way about homework for preschool age children. With all the pressure to create 1st graders out of kindergartners and kindergarteners out of preschoolers, etc. This is such an important topic—thank you for addressing the falsehoods AND offering solid alternatives! Vanessa- I have always loved your website and have adopted many of your ideas into my classroom. However, this article is by far the most important.
Over the past few years I have transformed my pre-kindergarten curriculum from being heavy worksheet based to provocation based. Instead of making copies, I am now carefully analyzing every material and activity to ensure it lends itself to discovery and scaffold learning. Worksheets are not. Educators who use pedagogical documentation will be able to gather evidence that makes literacy learning visible. Worksheets are not necessary to meet outcomes.
Make It Meaningful! Emergent Literacy in the Kindergarten Years follows the work of educators exploring how one can foster an environment that supports emergent literacy development in a Reggio Emilia-inspired kindergarten classroom.
There are many ways that the teachers inspired children to engage in meaningful projects that supported their development of literacy. The environment acts as the third teacher, providing authentic experiences for children to play, learn and develop. Within the environment are materials. Materials are a way for children to enter the written world. The The Enchantment of Writing is a wonderful resource that connects inquiry, play and emerging literacy.
Is the early learning community ready to let go of worksheets? Clearly, I am not the only one that thinks so. Yes, it is true that parents may see worksheets as important but you can share this brochure from the Association for Childhood Education International which designed to share with families. There is help out there for those of you committed to stepping away from the photocopiers! When my Facebook page shows that almost 14, people have been reached and close to shares from a post about worksheets, clearly this topic is hitting a nerve.
Can we say no to worksheets? I say that we can. Like Like. Fantastic blog and was wondering if you would weigh in on a? Sure I had free choice built in my day but my math and literacy were filled with groups working on activities that I designed.
I spent hours doing creating them and organizing them! I would call these activies very closed as I would teach them what to do with them. Now I use those activities rarely and if so with a specific student to target a skill I may see not yet developed. Like Liked by 1 person. That is an interesting question Lori. The one big difference between the two is that one is 2 dimensional and the other involved 3 dimensional materials. The materials invite children to think while actively engaged with concrete objects yet once the teacher has external rules and controls built in then this contradicts the notion of learning through play.
I also wonder what Diane thinks! Play is play and work is work … I think it is safe to say that at some points during the days and weeks of a school year that teachers assign work but what is play is really clear.
In order for an activity to be considered play, the experience must include a measure of inner control, ability to bend or invent reality, and a strong internally based motivation for playing. If parents and educators try to label experiences as play, but in reality have specific requirements for the activity, then it becomes work not play. For example, it is really impossible to play with flash cards whose purpose is to have a child memorize something on each card.
When you work with an individual student to target a skill it is not play, it is work but it may be very important and valuable to that child in your classroom at that time. I think you should trust your yourself to make those judgement calls keeping in mind what you believe is best for the child. Thank you for writing this insightful article!! I strongly agree with your points presented. Unfortunately, I was unaware of this when I took the job! How would I share this on MY Facebook page?
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