Early Literacy Learning Model: Additional Practice Exercises for Home Visitors about Child Interests Distance Learning Events brought to you by the Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL) Thank you for accessing the additional practices for distance learning. What follows are three additional practice exercises about child interests for the home visitor. To access the slides and slide notes, click on the PDF file titled “Distance Learning Child Interests Practice Exercises for Home Visitors Slides and Notes” on the home page. This file can be used to print copies of the content.

What are additional practice exercises for home visitors? Created specifically for those who work with families Cover the four main components of the CELL early literacy learning model Utilize the Participatory Adult Learning Strategies (PALS) approach to learning These additional practice exercises were designed specifically for those practitioners who work with families in the home. The practice exercises provide more opportunity to practice, evaluate, and reflect about a particular component of the CELL early literacy learning model. The additional practice exercises in this presentation focus on the child interests component of CELL’s early literacy learning model. As you move through each practice exercise, you will see that you are asked to practice, evaluate your knowledge based on the practice, and then reflect on what you learned. As you may remember from training, these are key components of the Participatory Adult Learning Strategy or PALS, a research-based approach to teaching adult learners. The main ingredient of PALS is active learner involvement that promotes learner understanding and use of the knowledge and practice.

Additional Practice #1: Identifying Child Interests Read the vignettes on the back page of the Parent Practice Guide My Turn, Your Turn Identify the child’s interest in each vignette For this practice exercise you will need the Parent Practice Guide titled My Turn, Your Turn. The quickest way to locate this practice guide is to go to CELL’s website at www.earlyliteracylearning.org and click on practice guides especially for parents found under the products link. Print and read the vignettes on the back page of the My Turn, Your Turn Parent Practice Guide. Next, identify and write down the child’s interest in each vignette. Practicing the use of your new knowledge keeps you engaged and focused.

Additional Evaluation #1: Child Interests What interest or interests did you identify? How did you determine that the child was interested? To evaluate your learning based on the practice exercise, answer the following questions: What interest or interests did you identify? How did you determine that the child was interested? Remember, the evaluate component of the PALS approach to learning assists in the assessment of your strengths and weaknesses related to the practice you completed.

Additional Reflection #1: Child Interests We strongly encourage you to reflect on the additional practice that you just completed Reflecting assists you to determine your level of knowledge and the outcome of your practice To help you reflect about child interests, print and complete the checklist located on our tools page located here We strongly encourage you to reflect on the information you have learned in this distance learning event. Reflecting assists you to determine your level of knowledge and the outcome of your practice. Are you comfortable with the level of knowledge acquired? Do you need more practice? To help you reflect about child interests, print and complete the checklist located on our tools page by clicking on the link you see on your screen.

Additional Practice #2: Child Interests Select one child this week that you visit, and allow them to choose the materials or activities with which to interact. Immediately following the visit write down what specific activities or materials the child chose when given a choice. For this additional practice you will need a pen and paper for note taking. Select one child this week that you visit, and allow them to choose the materials or activities with which to interact. Immediately following the visit write down what specific activities or materials the child chose when given a choice. Practicing the use of your new knowledge keeps you engaged and focused.

Additional Evaluation #2: Child Interests What interests did you identify? Which of these activities made the child laugh & smile? What activities did the child do over and over again? Were you surprised by any of the child’s choices? How did you determine that the child was interested? To evaluate your learning based on the practice exercise, please answer the following questions: What interests did you identify? Which of these activities made the child laugh & smile? What activities did the child do over and over again? Were you surprised by any of the child’s choices? How did you determine that the child was interested? Remember, the evaluate component of the PALS approach to learning assists in the assessment of your strengths and weaknesses related to the practice you completed.

Additional Reflection #2: Child Interests We strongly encourage you to reflect on the additional practice that you just completed Reflecting assists you to determine your level of knowledge and the outcome of your practice To help you reflect about child interests, print and complete the checklist located on our tools page located here We strongly encourage you to reflect on the information you have learned in this distance learning event. Reflecting assists you to determine your level of knowledge and the outcome of your practice. Are you comfortable with the level of knowledge acquired? Do you need more practice? To help you reflect about child interests, print and complete the checklist located on our tools page by clicking on the link you see on your screen.

Illustration: The Interest-Based Cycle of Mastery Interests Engagement Competence Literacy Activities This diagram shows the interest-based cycle of mastery. Take a close look at the diagram and think about a specific child that you have recently observed or interacted with. Now, please move to the next slide. 9

Additional Practice #3: Interest-Based Cycle of Mastery Taking it a step further… Once you’ve observed a child and identified their interests ,you should have enough information to respond to one or more of the following : Identify the child interests that the activity is based on. Identify indicators of the child’s engagement in the activity. Identify an ability in which the child will begin to gain competence with repeated participation in this activity. Now think about what the child’s participation in the activity will look like when he/she has mastered the activity. A blank diagram of the Interest-Based Cycle of Mastery follows this slide if you wish to fill it in with your responses. For this practice you will need a pen and paper and/or a blank copy of the Interest-Based Cycle of Mastery Diagram that follows on the next slide. We encourage you to take your observation of a child a step further. Once you’ve observed a child and identified their interests, you should have enough information to respond to one or more of the following. Please write down your responses to as many of the following as possible: Identify the child interests that the activity is based on. Identify indicators of the child’s engagement in the activity. Identify an ability in which the child will begin to gain competence with repeated participation in this activity. Now think about what the child’s participation in the activity will look like when he/she has mastered the activity. A blank diagram of the Interest-Based Cycle of Mastery follows this slide if you wish to fill it in with your responses. Practicing the use of your new knowledge keeps you engaged and focused.

Illustration: The Interest-Based Cycle of Mastery You may use this blank diagram to complete the interest-based cycle of mastery for a child that you have observed and identified an interest. 11

Additional Evaluation #3: Interest-Based Cycle of Mastery How could you build on the child’s interest? How could you encourage the child’s engagement in the activity? In what ways could you support the child to build competence and mastery? How did you know the child had moved from competence to mastery? To evaluate your learning based on the practice exercise, please answer the following questions: How could you build on the child’s interest? How could you encourage the child’s engagement in the activity? In what ways could you support the child to build competence and mastery? How did you know the child had moved from competence to mastery? Remember, the evaluate component of the PALS approach to learning assists in the assessment of your strengths and weaknesses related to the practice you completed.

Additional Reflection #3: Child Interests We strongly encourage you to reflect on the additional practice that you just completed Reflecting assists you to determine your level of knowledge and the outcome of your practice To help you reflect about child interests, print and complete the checklist located on our tools page located here We strongly encourage you to reflect on the information you have learned in this distance learning event. Reflecting assists you to determine your level of knowledge and the outcome of your practice. Are you comfortable with the level of knowledge acquired? Do you need more practice? To help you reflect about child interests, print and complete the checklist located on our tools page by clicking on the link you see on your screen.