Posts in Explicit Teaching
The 5 Best Resources for Hands On Learning in Early Childhood Classrooms
The 5 Best Resources for Hands On Learning in Early Childhood Classrooms

Hands-on learning is learning by doing. It is not only fun and engaging, but it’s the most effective way early childhood students learn. Check out the top 5 resources you need to make your classroom hands on learning activities super educational and entertaining!

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Investigations, Explicit TeachingJanelle McArdlehands-on, hands-on learning, early childhood, play based learning, play based classroomComment
11 Amazing Yoga Benefits for Children
11 Amazing Yoga Benefits for Children

Yoga has many benefits for children. It can help children develop their physical, emotional, and mental health, as well as promote self-awareness, concentration, and relaxation. Classroom yoga will benefit your children. Check out this blog post to discover 11 amazing yoga benefits for children.

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Investigations, Explicit Teaching, Social and EmotionalJanelle McArdlekids yoga, yoga benefits for children, classroom yoga, mindful kids, mindful classroom, behaviour management, early childhood, early years, social and emotionalComment
The Trajectory Schema
The Trajectory Schema

The trajectory schema is all about movement. If you have children in your classroom throwing things, fascinated with moving objects or force and motion, you have children developing their trajectory schema. Discover exactly what this play schema is and get heaps of playful hands-on activities you can use to support them.

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Investigations, Explicit TeachingJanelle McArdleplay schema, trajectory schema, play based classroom, investigations, early childhood, play based learning, developmental play, child development Comment
How to Write Open Ended Math Questions
How to Write Open Ended Math Questions

If you are wondering how to write open-ended math questions so you can improve your math instruction, this blog post is for you. Discover everything you need to know before you even start writing and then follow my 3 easy steps on how to write the best open-ended math problems.

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Explicit TeachingJanelle McArdlemaths, open ended, open-ended math questions, open ended questions, kindergarten, grade 1, first grade, early years math, teaching math, math problems, problem solving, teachingComment
Why Use Open-Ended Questions in Math?
Why Use Open-Ended Questions in Math?

If you want your students to think deeply about mathematics, you need to be using open-ended math questions to teach math in the early childhood classroom. Find out why open-ended math problems are vital for an effective math curriculum and how you can use these game-changers to take your maths to the next level.

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Explicit TeachingJanelle McArdlemaths, math activities, open ended, open-ended math questions, early years math, early childhood math, math problems, teaching mathComment
Teaching Geometry in Kindergarten
Teaching Geometry in Kindergarten

Discover why it is so important to teach kindergarten and preschool children geometry and find out all about the Australian Curriculum Geometry strand so you can be confident teaching this complex maths subject.

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Explicit Teaching, InvestigationsJanelle McArdlemaths, kindergarten, preschool, shapes, geometry, play based, play based learning, hands-on, hands-on learning, 2D shapes, 3D shapes, early childhood math, early years, math activities, math provocationsComment
A Guide to Play Schemas in Early Childhood Education
A Guide to Play Schemas in Early Childhood Education

If you would like to create an engaging and effective learning environment and confidently plan learning experiences that perfectly match the cognitive development of each child in your class, this blog post on play schemas is for you. Understanding play schemas and being able to pinpoint the ones your students are developing is critical to the success of your early childhood classroom.

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Investigations, Explicit Teaching, Classroom EnvironmentJanelle McArdleplay based learning, play based classroom, play schema, schemas, play based, developmental play, kindergarten, preschool, early childhood, early years, child development, piaget, age appropriate, child led, curriculum planning, teaching, learning invitation, handmade, provocations for learning Comments
How to Write a Statement of Intent for Your Play Based Learning Classroom
How to Write a Statement of Intent for Your Play Based Learning Classroom

If you are familiar with the Walker Learning Approach, then you are no doubt also familiar with writing a Statement of Intent. This fortnightly planning document is vital to the success of your play-based learning program. Check out this blog post to see how we write ours.

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Explicit Teaching, InvestigationsJanelle McArdleplay based learning, planning, curriculum planning, investigations, investigative play, statement of intent, walker learning, kindergarten, play based classroom, developmental play, play based, Reggio teacher, teacher planningComment
How to Write a Play Based Learning Term Overview
How to Write a Play Based Learning Term Overview

If you think curriculum planning and mapping out your term is hard work and you find it a dreaded task that seems to take you forever, you are going to love this blog post on how to write a play-based learning term overview. I’ll show you my quick and easy process.

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Explicit Teaching, InvestigationsJanelle McArdleplay based learning, play based classroom, planning, play based, developmental play, kindergarten, teaching, teacher planning, term planning, term menu, term overview, walker learning Comment
Teaching the F-2 ACARA Math Learning Intentions Through Play
Teaching the F-2 ACARA Math Learning Intentions Through Play

The best way to teach math is through play. This blog post explains the F-2 ACARA Math Curriculum and how you can create opportunities for your early childhood students to enjoy their math learning by using hands-on play based strategies and materials.

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Investigations, Explicit TeachingJanelle McArdlemaths, play based learning, play based, playbased, play based classroom, math activities, math provocations, early years, early childhood, early numeracy, hands-on learning, hands-on, ACARA, Australian curriculum, investigations, inquiry, integrated curriculum, investigative play, learning invitationComment
How to Write Learning Intentions for Kindergarten and Preschool
How to Write Learning Intentions for Kindergarten and Preschool

Are you wondering how to write effective and age-appropriate learning intentions for your preschool or kindergarten classroom? In this blog post you will discover some practical strategies to help you write curriculum aligned learning intentions your kindergarten and preschool children can relate to and use.

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Explicit Teaching, InvestigationsJanelle McArdlelearning intentions, kindergarten, preschool, prep, foundation stage, play based learning, planning, teaching, integrated curriculum, investigations, early childhood, early years, curriculum planning, Australian curriculumComment
Do You Need Learning Intentions and Success Criteria in an Early Years Classroom?
Do You Need Learning Intentions and Success Criteria in an Early Years Classroom?

Do you really need to display your learning intentions in a kindergarten or preschool classroom? In this blog post you will discover exactly what learning intentions are and learn some practical teacher tips and ideas for you to have success using or displaying classroom learning intentions in the early years learning environment.

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Explicit Teaching, Classroom Environment, InvestigationsJanelle McArdlelearning intentions, kindergarten, preschool, prep, WALT goals, foundation stage, ACARA, Australian curriculum, learning objectives, curriculum planning, early years, early childhoodComment
Teaching Science in a Play Based Classroom
Teaching Science in a Play Based Classroom

Teaching science in a play based classroom is one of the easiest things you will ever do as a classroom teacher. In this blog post you will discover how play based learning and science education go hand-in-hand. I’ll share heaps of photos and ideas you can use in your classroom to teach science through play and learning provocations.

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Investigations, Explicit TeachingJanelle McArdlescience, first grade science, grade 1 science, teaching science, early years science, grade one science, early childhood science, kindergarten science, preschool science, playbased, play based learning, play based classroom, play based, developmental play, walker learning, investigative play, investigations, learning invitation, provocations for learning, printablesComment
Counting the Days of School
Counting the Days of School

If you are not already counting the days of school, I encourage you to do it!!. This fun math activity is popular in kindergarten and grade 1 because it is such an engaging way to teach and consolidate early number concepts. Your students will love this predictable daily counting practice and you will be surprised at how many early numeracy skills and concepts can be taught when you count and celebrate 100 days of school.

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Explicit TeachingJanelle McArdle100 days, counting, numbers, early years, kindergarten, grade 1, grade one, maths, counting the days, math activities, early numeracyComment