After
lunch the toddlers went to bed but three children didn’t go. The three children
‘G’, ‘L’ and ‘R’ were sitting at the book corner and they chose their favourite
book to read. The girl ‘L’ picked out a book called ‘The Animal Boogie’. There
was CD attached at the book’s back. The girl ‘L’ got the CD out and asked me to
play this CD for her. I went to get the CD player and played it for her. I
followed the CD and turned the pages for the girl, so she knew where we were
at. Then another boy ‘R’ chose a book called ‘A dragon on the doorstep’ it also
had a CD. This time, I asked ‘R’ tried to put the CD in the CD player by
himself and I instructed him how to do it. ‘R’ was so proud of himself what he
did. I helped him flip the pages as well. All the children enjoyed this period
of peaceful and quiet while they listened to their books.
In
my point of view, book, CD and CD player are very useful technological things.
I always use them to facilitate children’s learning in music and reading areas.
When I put the musical CD in the CD player, the children would spontaneously to
move their body for dance. Similarly, the book with CD and the CD player also
helps for educate children by storytelling. Toddlers through listen to the CD
of the book, it can help them to improve their listening skills, make them links
between what they hear and the written word (Beaver, Brewster, Green, Neaum,
Sheppard, Tallack & Walker, 2008). It is a great activity to support and
extend toddlers’ language and literacy development.
Actually,
English is my second languages. Sometimes I would meet some words but do not
how to read them and say the wrong pronunciation. Therefore, I read the book
for the children; I won’t feel as confidence. On the contrary, use the CD to
help the children reading; they can gain standard pronunciation. Also the CD
has background music and effects. Children will pay more attention and
concentrate to read their book anyway. Therefore, I said the book, CD and CD
player not just help the children. It also helps me too.
I
understand technology helps us a lot. Using book, CD and CD player is a range
of resources which enables the children to develop in language and intellectual
development. Our Early Childhood Curriculum 'Te Whāriki' in the strand of the ‘Communication’ also
suggests teachers use technology to support children’s learning such as
mathematics, reading and writing (Ministry of Education, 1996). We
have evidence show that reading and language development are close related.
Chandler (2008) argued that “children who start school with poor language
skills are more likely to have problems with reading” (p. 10).
Children
acquired the language skills by playing, singing, talking and reading together.
Those experiences provide an excellent foundation and preparation at school
time. For instance, ‘English’ is one of the eight essential learning of ‘The
New Zealand Curriculum’ which all the students need to be involved in.
‘English’ is also included in language and languages because it encompasses
learning the language, learning through the language, and learning about the
language (Ministry of Education, 1996). In the other hand, the learning area of
‘Learning Languages’ is also recommend to use as a variety of technologies to
facilitate students’ learning. Therefore, ‘English’, ‘Learning Languages’ and
‘Technology’ are all equally important without one of them you cannot learn
them properly.
Reference
Beaver, M., Brewster,
J., Green, S., Neaum, S., Sheppard, H., Tallack, J., Walker, M. (2008). Cache level 3 child care and education.
Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Nelson Thornes Ltd.
Chandler,
F. (2008). Usborne parents’ guides: Help
your child to read and write. London, England: Usborne Publishing Ltd.
Google Images. (2012). Image of The Animal Boogie. Retrieved from
Google
Images. (2012). Image of the CD player.
Retrieved from
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki,
he whāriki mātauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington,
New Zealand: Learning Media.
Ministry of Education. (1993). The New
Zealand curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Comment
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome story.
Pion, it is good to see you recognising children’s interest. It is interesting to see how children are interested in CD player and how it was used to educate children. My centre children are also huge fans of listening to children's favourite books on CD. For example, Wonky Donky, We're going on a bear hunt and Do-Wacky-Do. I agree that there are many advantages of encouraging young children to listen to children's books on CD. I understand you in terms of usefulness of CD – I feel also that English is not my first language; hence I do find it challenging to read books out. I also enjoy reading books with children, and I believe that it is important to get children interested in those areas. Te Whāriki states that for toddlers, adults use simple, clear phrases with toddlers and have realistic expectations of toddlers' verbal and listening skills (Ministry of education, 1996). I feel that CD players help me to engage in reading activities more comfortably as if I am stuck on a certain word; I can turn the CD player on and engage children’s attention. Very interesting blog to read. Well done!
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Wháriki: He wháriki mátauranga mo nga mokopuna o Aotearoa. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Hi Peon, it is great to see that you used book, CD and CD player as a technological tool to support your teaching and children’s learning. Yes, I agree with you that technology is one of important learning areas. It is as important as other learning areas, such as mathematics, and science which is supported by Ministry of Education, (1996). It is very important for us to think how to use technology as a tool to support children’s learning in different learning area. You did use a very good example of how you used technological tool to promote children’s language development in your reflection. I also gain lots of information and ideas of how to promote children language development through reading the reflection. However, in your reflection, you acknowledged that” English, learning languages and technology are all equally important without one of them children cannot learn them properly”. I am wondering that how this concept influences your teaching practice and how will you implement it in your centre?
ReplyDeleteMinistry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki, He whāriki mātauranga mo nga mokopunao Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Kia Ora Ki.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a lovely reflection, as it reminds me of when I was younger, I used to enjoy listening to CD’s that had read-along books attached to it! One of the things that stood out for me in this reflection, was your facilitation and fostering of the children’s interests, which in this case, is supporting their interest in reading and listening to music through this technological tool. Isn’t it exquisite observing children’s reactions once they hear music that is familiar to them, as they join in, knowing the words to the song or book by memory and dancing along as they sing? It is remarkable to see that you are strengthening the children in your centre’s literacy skills and extending on their interest by adapting it to their learning, through allowing them the opportunity to learn more effectively through playing the CD to help keep the children interested. Arthur & Beecher (2008) suggests that through the use of relevant technologies, we are able to extend on children’s interests and knowledge of different concepts more effectively. I hope you keep encouraging and supporting the children’s literacy skills through the use of these CD’s and read/sing-a-long books, as well as finding other ways in which you can promote and extend on this, such as exploring CD’s which have their favourite fairy-tale stories or stories that relate to them as children.
Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Death, E., Dockett, S., & Farmer, S. (20008). Programming and planning in early childhood settings (4th ed.). Victoria, Australia: CENGAGE Learning.
Mālō e lelei Ki! Welcome to my world! English is my second language and as a teacher I sometimes feel challenged by reading loudly to children because of my fear about pronouncing the words wrongly and misleading the children. But thank God for the invention of cds and books, because they help me support me in getting the pronunciations right. If we have a new story book and a cd, I would listen to it first so that I could make sure that my pronunciations are the same as that in the cd before I actually read them to the children. This is a very important tool to my teaching and I really support its use in early childhood centres. This technology gives me a lot of confidences as a teacher and it supports me in my practices.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that these toddlers were given a choice when they could not sleep. They got to have some quality time with you Ki and they had the opportunity to choose their own books according to their own interests. The cds allow children to make their own independent choices to accommodate their own learning needs. The songs and its rhythms appeal to children’s senses and they made them move their bodies as they strived to make connections with the music and the story. The movement promote children’s physical well-beings as children move around. Listening to the stories allow children to develop their own language skills as they listen to words used in the story. Therefore, the cd and radio are obviously important tools in technology to advance children’s learning and development. Thanks Ki because “from the moment of birth infants are intent on responding and exploring. In learning to respond to their surroundings – the sights and sounds, the textures, tastes and smells – they lay the foundations for later learning. When they have such experiences in the presence of a loving person it seems that important faculties of their minds take root. Interaction with another is crucial.” (Kolbe, 2007, p 12).
References
Kolbe, U. (2007). Magic in everyday things. In Rapunzel's supermarket (pp. 11-40). Byron Bay, Australia: Peppinot Press.
Hi Peon CDs, CD player & Books
ReplyDeleteQuite an interesting story buddy when you reflect on the children's attitude towards listening to CD. You are right there, listening to music is such a relaxing and soothing experience as much as reading books. No wonder why the music is turned on softly in my centre when the children go to sleep. The rest of the children that are not sleeping read books. The idea behind this is to make the child feel at ease and feel loved. The teachers in my centre have a pretty good notion of how to utilise these technologies for children’s development and learning. When the children are in the warm and nurturing environment they learn that their well-being is protected and they have a place in the centre(Ministry of Education, 1996).
Additionally you mention that when you get stuck with your pronounciation of English words, you refer to listen to CD to guide you through. I feel this is a good strategy to take on board. I know that one of my practicum centres use CD’s for children’s reading. The teacher points her fingers at the words and the children listen to the music. You do not worry too much on your pronounciation, the young children focus more on pictures than words. Good on you Peon for trying. Kia kaha
Reference
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki matauranga mō ngā
mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New
Zealand: Learning Media.