Have you been exploring different materials at home?

This has been an especially exciting week in Shale of discovery and playfulness. We’ve continued our exploration of different materials and this week our interests have lead us to exploring materials and objects through sound. By moving objects and materials in all sorts of directions such as up, down, across, through, pushing, pulling, stomping with our feet and even by tapping we’ve found out sounds come from a variety of movements and textures… And we all know how much our Shale friends love to explore loud sounds! By provoking these thoughts and interests, we have been observing all of the dispositions of a child.

In past blogs, we have been referencing the Children’s Dispositions to Learn and it dawned on us that our families might not be familiar with them. Children’s dispositions to learn reflect the image of strong, capable and resourceful children who are active, mighty learners. Dispositions are not something that is taught, these are qualities that are pre-existing in each child, and it is our goal as educators and parents to nurture and develop each disposition.

“I/we are playing and playful. I/we are inventing creating, and imagining, I/we are creating and testing theories. I/we are telling a direct narrative and stories. I/we are exploring and representing our knowledge using multimodal literacies. I/we are taking risks in/for learning.

I/we are seeking. I/we are questioning. I/we are exploring with all our senses. I/we are wondering and are curious. I/we are solving problems in our play and learning. 

I/we are participating. I/we are engaging with others. I/we are engaging with others. I/we are listening to and sharing ideas, thoughts and feelings. I/we are negotiating, taking turns, and observing. 

I/we are persisting. I/we are persevering with challenges and/for difficulties. I/we are trying new strategies. I/we are asking for help. I/we are striving to reach our own goals. 

I/we are caring. I/we are helping. I/we are caring about our families, one another, and ourselves. I/we are caring for the world and living things.” 

Makovichuk, L., Hewes, J., Lirette, P., & Thomas, N. (2014).
Play, participation, and possibilities: An early learning and child care
curriculum framework for Alberta. Retrieved from page 63.

By exploring movement with all kinds of materials, our Shale citizens are learning to express and interpret their own feelings and understanding of our community. Exploring materials with sound has undoubtably encouraged communicative practices within our peers over the last few weeks. We’ve noticed more babbling amongst our Shale friends, on their own and in engaging conversations with each other.

Provoking this exploration of sound through materials and each other encourages daily communicative practices. When our Shale friends explore and play with sounds, they can become more attuned to rhyme, rhythm, pitch, tone and vibrations. They’re growing their knowledge of visual and gestural queues, conventional conversation, and even cause and effect theories; you hit the drum, it makes a sound.

So how can this be taken home? Well, it’s as easy as replicating babbling sounds or words you may hear your child say, identifying sounds as your child discovers them (ie. bang, pop, hiss, click, etc), and continuing exposure to different materials to build on developing language skills and repertoire.

Let us know what you and your child like to make sounds and build language with:)

Have a great weekend!

Cassi, Young, Sarah, and Michelle.