Ages and Stages Stages of Development 5-12 Years Basics of Child Development Share the important role paraeducators can take as readers to children to encourage healthy cognitive development When you are in a classroom, there will be children across the continuum of development Need to understand child development to know where to meet the child with instruction How to support language development

The 5 Year Old How I learn: What I need from adults: Through imaginative play Through play with others Through experimenting over and over again Through stories, songs, and rhymes Through practicing By asking questions Through experiences in kindergarten What I need from adults: Clear messages about safety and social expectations – I’m curious Opportunities to be creative To know that learning is fun Patience! I have a short attention span! increase fine motor – can use knives to spread things and cut, spoons to stir, etc. Can dress/undress, brush teeth Gross Motor – climb, jump run 1,500 words -2000 words Memory improves and tell you stories, songs, “Remember when…” Language skills improve – can understand jokes and make up their own..even only they may understand why it is funny. Enjoys stories and making up their own Imagination is key to learning Enjoys pretend play Understand simple concepts: big little, tall short, heavy light, mine yours Able to learn letters, shapes, colors, and numbers Social skills: turn taking, patience, being without caregiver, less self-centered, able to play in groups Group play now splits into genders

6 Year Old How I learn: By asking questions Through play Through practice Through interactions with friends my age Through experiences at school in preschool or kindergarten What I need from adults: Clear expectations of social rules Some opportunities to be independent Help practicing my letters, numbers, colors and shapes 2200 + words Right or left handed Printing letters, numbers, reproduce shapes Physical Development: hop on one foot, balance on a beam, skip, somersaults More and more questions: marriage, birth, death Know the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior Pretend play is still important: children at this age still have difficulty time separating reality from fantasy.

7-8 Year Old How I learn: By active participation Through concrete experiences By drawing on my own experiences By comparing past and present What I need from adults: Opportunities to be competitive Approval and assurance Support to be independent

9-10 Year Old How I learn: By observation and critical thinking By reading for information Using my own skills Exploring problems What I need from adults: Clear expectations of standards Opportunities to practice helpful behaviors Affection and humor

11-12 Year Old How I learn: By active participation Through concrete experiences By drawing on my own experiences By comparing past and present What I need from adults: Opportunities to be competitive Approval and assurance Support to be independent

English Language Learners MYTH: Learning a second language confuses a child. Children do not get confused and mixing languages is normal and to be expected when learning more than one language.

MYTH: Learning a second language will slow a child’s readiness to read. Bilingual children are better able to connect sounds to letters and read words.

MYTH: Children who learn 2 languages never master either language. As long as children are exposed to both languages, children can become proficient in both languages.

Stages of 2nd Language Acquisition Silent or Non-Verbal Period Early Speech Conversation Continued Language Development

One Hundred Years From Now…   It will not matter  what kind of car I drove,  What kind of house I lived in,  how much money was in my bank account  nor what my clothes looked like.  But the world may be a better place because  I was important in the life of a child. (excerpt from "Within My Power" by Forest Witcraft)