Preschool
What We Saw: A child had been
painting next to an area where a teacher was giving Spanish
lessons. When the teacher was done, the child showed her
the pockets on her smock. The teacher responded by pointing
to each of the pockets while saying, "You've got uno,
dos, tres". The child looked at the teacher for a moment,
not comprehending. The teacher waited. Suddenly, recognition
came across the child's face, and he smiled and nodded.
What It Means: The best teaching
isn't confined to lessons, but is connected to our ongoing,
everyday experiences. This teacher was using a teachable
moment to reinforce the Spanish she is including in
the classroom. She was responsive to the child who was
painting and noticed the non-verbal cues when she
pointed to her pockets. Taken out of context, the child
doesn't immediately comprehend. The teacher waits patiently
while the child puts the information in context.
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Language Promising Practices
