Category: Teachers Corner

By: Teacher Ravisara When planning holiday activities in the classroom, it’s important to take a thoughtful and inclusive approach that honours diverse backgrounds, traditions, and family beliefs. By teaching students about holidays from various cultures and belief systems, teachers and parents help foster empathy and a deeper understanding of different people and perspectives. Most holiday celebrations across cultures emphasise traditions, history, and the reasons a community cares for one another. Introducing children to holidays from different cultures helps them recognize that, despite our differences, we share many commonalities, such as: Parents can enhance the discussion of holidays with their children by reading multicultural holiday books. A key benefit of sharing these books with your children is the opportunity to explain your own beliefs and traditions while addressing their questions. Even better, if you’re unfamiliar with the holiday, you can learn alongside your child. Here are some great books to begin with: Teaching children to appreciate the cultural traditions of others is essential for fostering healthy emotions and social connections. Parents, students, and  teachers can nurture cultural sensitivity by explaining holidays to students and helping them understand why people celebrate in different ways.

by Nancy Sivilai How Language Develops   Language begins early in life, a baby will pick up the sounds of people in his immediate family and community.  By six months old,  a baby will usually imitate speech intonations, so it sounds as if baby is saying something understandable.  During  the first year most babies have picked up the  most significant language sounds  in their environment.  A baby in Germany will pick up the language sounds of the German language,  a baby in Mexico the language sounds of the Mexican language,  A Thai baby the Thai sounds.    As soon as this ability is acquired they will begin to string them together to make words.   Once they can speak, children will put the words together to match the grammatical rules of their language. They will be motivated to increase their vocabulary and will ask the name of things.  By the time they are in preschool, most children are able to speak their native language.  They did not learn by being drilled in sounds and grammar.  They learned by being immersed in their native language.  By hearing and using language in their home environment. As a parent, it is important to speak to your child in the language you want to him/her to develop.  Many opportunities to learn language happen daily, as you guide your child to eat, dress, wash up, pick up toys or play games.  Childhood is a time when language can be developed quickly and fluently.  I would encourage  development of more than one language as you child will be smarter because the brain is having to make more connections.  Children who are fluent in their mother tongue will most likely  be fluent in the next language.   Reading It used to be accepted that oral language development  came before written language development However, learning to read and talk happens at the same time.  Babies begin to read as sound books and print become a part of their lives. We do not leave children alone to learn to read, we give them assistance just like when they learned to talk.  In developing reading, we model phonic sounds and participate in oral  interactions at the child’s current level ability.   Young children work hard to identify letters.  Children develop reading skills in English as they learn phonics through fun interactive  reading and writing activities.  Children will learn phonics from songs and stories and rhymes which are meaningful to them.  They learn the names and sounds of letters in their own names and other words that are important to them.  Using phonics is one of several necessary reading skills.  Children who are read to at home learn phonics faster.  Reading activities should include story time with  age appropriate books.   Learning to read and learning to write are inseparable.  That is our goal for each child to speak, read and write.  As a parent, take time to read to your child and with your child.  Your child will be learning phonics and doing guided reading at school.  As a parent you can support your child by taking time to review alphabets in their environment in signs, books, boxes, etc and maintain a reading habit with your child as it best works in your family schedule.   May you enjoy watching your child’s language and literacy development as you read, sing songs, play and have fun with your child.

Whether you are going to a new school or returning to your old school chances are you will have a new teacher each year. Children and families build strong relationships with their teachers over the period of a school year and there is often a sense of need or want to stay with that teacher or keep everything the same as it was last year. However, as in real life, we need to prepare and support young children to be able to learn from  and work with different personalities. Here are some tips on starting the school year with a new teacher. Every teacher is different. As with many professions, there are of course stereotypes but not every teacher looks and sounds the same!  Every teacher is different so don’t go in with an expectation or you may be disappointed. Also do not expect that this teacher is going to do  all the same things or everything the same way the previous teacher did. New teachers are good for your child.  Your child will have a range of different teachers throughout their learning journey and they will all have different teaching styles and approaches. This is great for your child as they will find out what works for them and it also helps to keep their learning fresh. The common theme with all of your child’s teachers is that they will all want what is best for your child. Try to trust in their knowledge and work together to support your child.  Assume positive intentions.  If you question or disagree with a teacher’s decision or judgement, approach the teacher with the understanding that they almost always make decisions based upon what they believe is best for your child. Remarkably, your child’s teacher almost certainly loves your child, especially in early years where teachers spend  all day long with their students. You can disagree with a teacher’s decision, of course, but always approach the situation with patience, grace, and a willingness to listen. Talk to your teacher. If at any time you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s learning or development the best person to talk to is your child’s teacher. Keep in mind that drop off and pick up times are best reserved for general and short conversations. Anything sensitive or of concern should be discussed in private and at  a time your teacher is not busy engaging with all the other families of the class. Send your teacher a message or ask the school office to help set up a private meeting to be held outside of teaching hours. Getting settled into the new school year and building a relationship with the new teacher doesn’t happen overnight. It may take several weeks, a month or longer  for this to happen so be patient and supportive through the process.  And remember – early years teachers are a special breed – they become teachers because they love children and are committed to providing the best education and care for them.

Starting the new school year can arouse many feelings, whether your child is starting school for the very first time, changing to a different school or returning to school after a long summer break. You can expect your child to be excited, anxious, hesitant and eager … the full range of emotions all mixed together!! Here are some tips to get the new school year of to a smooth start: Quality early years settings will have teachers who are well aware of the mix of emotions and reactions that come with the start of a new school year, so they will be there to support your child through their settling in process. Have a great first day of school, followed by many more throughout the year!

With summer holidays fast approaching you may be thinking about how you will keep your child engaged and stimulated while school is out. A perfect Saturday or Sunday plan is a day at the park. Bangkok has a number of great parks that are suitable for families with young children. Here are Trip Advisors top 10 –THE 10 BEST Bangkok Parks (Updated 2024) – Tripadvisor Here are some tips to plan a great morning or afternoon at the park. When heading out to the park, it is good to have a rough game plan, but it’s also important to be flexible and  to “go with the flow”.   Give your child the opportunity to lead you… follow them on their wanderings of interest and you just might see something from a new perspective. Have fun… It’s a walk in the park!

By Teacher Ravisara Children possess an inherent curiosity, their minds serving as fertile ground for embracing new experiences and ideas. The initial stages of a child’s life mark a period of remarkable growth and maturation. It is within these crucial years that children thrive in learning, not solely through instruction, but by immersing themselves in various experiences. Through experiential learning, children engage with their surroundings, fostering a sense of belonging and comprehension of their role in the broader world. Field trips provide a tactile method of education that stimulates children’s senses and ignites their inquisitiveness. They offer genuine, firsthand encounters that cultivate a child’s comprehension of their surroundings. These outings may range from a visit to the neighbourhood library, where children can explore the pleasure of reading. Having field trips that relate to the academic side of teaching can always be more fun. Students have the basic knowledge and understanding on the topic. Once they go outside school to the location they will only enrich their understanding and see for themselves how things work and how what they have learned is similar to the world outside of school.   To sum up, short field trips for preschoolers are priceless for fostering experiential learning and cultivating a sense of belonging. They afford children the chance to interact with their surroundings meaningfully, promoting personal growth and advancement. Although obstacles may arise, collaborative endeavours among educators, local authorities, and businesses can surmount them, opening avenues for a more enriching educational journey for our youngest students.

By Teacher Shannon When sent to school students are often separated by age group. Depending on their age and birthday they will be placed in a group with students in the same age group as them. Prior to this the student may have been surrounded by adults, siblings of various ages, or even cousins. This is most likely the first time the child will be around many students of the same age. Although each year group will have goals to work on and hopefully achieve throughout the school year each student will be at different places in their development.  At school students have various opportunities to interact with students from different age groups. During outdoor times, class collaborations, free play, project exhibitions, class assemblies, and school wide events students at Kidz Village have many opportunities to interact with their fellow peers. This can be extremely beneficial to both the older and younger students.  For younger children it can help build their confidence to be around students who are older than them. They can build friendships while enhancing their language and behavioural skills. Younger kids can observe and notice how various skills are completed without having the skills to complete them yet. They may even build the confidence to try something new that may challenge them a bit, but they would not know if they can do it until they try.  Older children have the opportunity to be role models for younger students. They can gain skills such as empathy for younger children, they can practise teaching and demonstrating different skills to their peers, as well as build a sense of responsibility. Older students can become leaders in their community which helps them build on their own independence.  For all students involved in mixed age groups there are only positives to gain. A child old or young may not always see someone in their own class that they can relate to or see themselves in. When we open up the school to provide more opportunities for students to mingle with students from different age groups it provides more chances for that child to find a role model, someone who they can relate to, and hopefully more friends.  Overall having a school community that works together and sees every member of the community as someone who can benefit the team is a school that will be successful. 

Art Exploration with Toddler Children Toddler children are developing their sensory awareness . Offering art each day to your toddler provides an opportunity to explore and try various materials and refine fine motor motor  skills necessary for later writing.   Art gives children practice in learning to focus while they create art.   Art for toddlers is a means to express themselves freely and feel confident and independent as they make their own creations. Art will develop your toddlers creativity and give them a sense of  enjoyment. What is art? And how is it different from a craft? Art does not have a clear wrong or right in the process of creating the piece of art. It is not making a product. Creating an art piece is about the process of doing the work.  Whereas creating a craft is an activity with multiple steps to follow and directions that will create a type of product at the end. When and how to offer art activity to the children. children?  Art activities can be offered anytime throughout the day.  Many times art is used as a tool in Preschool education for children to express their thoughts and ideas at the end of a lesson.  Art also incorporates science concepts when children explore with mixing colors, textures and using various art supplies. When children create an art piece, parents may show interest by asking  their child questions about what they made? Or what their child likes about their artwork. . This will help you to know the idea or story of your child behind the art work and it also gives your child an opportunity to speak and explain their ideas in words.  However, to do art, parents or adults will need to find a space for children to create or express themselves with materials that are child appropriate. Art can be expressed in many forms and media such as painting with poster paint, water colors, food colors, crayons, colors from natural materials such as with flowers, soil, leaves, or vegetables.  It can be done using various materials or tools such as with color pencils, paint brushes, sponges, sticks, twigs, feathers, scrubs, spoon, or fork.   Painting can be on various surfaces such as paper, cardboard box, egg carton, plastic trays, ice, floor and wall surfaces, wood, plastic, ceramic tiles, mirror, cement, brick, tree, bench, fabric, paper towel, or even on natural materials such as painting on the tree trunk, or different types of leaves. Creating art in various ways will expand your toddlers creativity  to express themselves and encourage unlimited ideas.  Benefits of Art Offering art to your toddler will help your child to express their self  with enjoyment, feel calm and relaxed and encourage their free flow of ideas and imagination.   Have fun trying out some of the suggested activities with your toddler. by Teacher Nancy Sivilai

What are educational toys?  Educational toys are items and gadgets of play, principally designed for children, which are expected to stimulate learning. These toys are often intended to meet an educational purpose such as helping a child develop a particular skill or teaching a child about a particular subject.  Deciding on an educational toy:  When you’re in the process of purchasing an educational toy, don’t just buy it because you think it looks great, or it looks like it will allow your child to think differently. There are a few questions you should take in consideration while choosing an educational toy that will benefit your child in the long run.  What makes a good educational toy? The best toys teach basic concepts while promoting free play and social interaction. These toys should also challenge coordination and fine motor skills. leaving room for any new skills introduction. Educational toys actually play a big part in the child’s development, depending on the developmental skills you’re looking to enhance in your child.  Additional features to look for include: Potential Drawbacks from using an educational toy: Children are always so curious to explore and learn new things. They are constantly interested in the world around them. Parents and teachers can take their time to invest in buying educational toys that will support their child/student. Educational toys have countless benefits and the main one is to boost their development. 

Toddler children are fast learners and grow up fast. This is an important stage of development when you can help your toddler develop his/her independent skills daily and see results blossom constantly.  That means that as a parent or a care giver, we should let the children do things with less help from an adult.   This is a period of time where you are giving your toddler the opportunity to develop and know how to do things on their own.  For toddler parents, your start will be with simple tasks in your child’s daily routine, such as letting your child put on and take off their shoe by themselves. Helping your toddler Learn to put their belongings in their proper place where they belong. Have a place for everything. Everything your toddler owns should have it own spot and easy to store away.  Letting your toddler spoon-feed them self.  You are his/her first teachers always sit down when eating.  Take your child to wash and dry hands, observe and only comment if help is needed, such as put soap on and rub hands together.   Guide and help in putting on and taking off clothes with little guidance, teach how to fold clothes and pick up toys after play.   Development happens when your toddler is given choices.  When planning clothes for next day.  Ask your child which shirt he would like to wear to school from a choice of two options.  Children are often told what to do too often.  They need to feel in control of things that they are experiencing daily.  Choices lead to developing independence and building self-esteem or confidence which leads to becoming a confident child.   It is important to give your child time and be patient when helping your child while he/she is developing any self help skill. In many cases an adult might feel that it is faster to help a child with a task then having to wait for the child finish with the task.  It is true that you can do a better job with faster results.  However, by giving your toddler an opportunity to work on developing a self-help skill , your toddler will experience growth and development and learn to think how to do things which will boost his/her self-esteem.   If your child does need help, be there to help and still make him/her feel they accomplished as much as they could.  Always speak positive words to your child when your child is performing a self help skill task and encourage your child and phrase him/her for doing things with little or no help from an adult.  Enjoy watching your child progress in his independent development!