Teaching elementary students Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teaching elementary students - Essay Example At this period children develop effectively writing and drawing skills. The cognitive development characteristics are active information gathering, learning skills, mastering abstract thinking. At this period of life children master verbal skills. They long to become competent that’s why they are prone to ask many questions which are mostly fact-oriented. Communication needs are usually satisfied in social groups or interest clubs. Elementary students are able to handle abstract ideas, think generally of concrete objects, devise memory strategies, and evaluate behavior. Their attention is selective. The emotional development of elementary students is marked by acquiring independence and self-confidence. It’s a stage when self-concept and self-awareness are developing. It’s a stage when a personality traits are more outlined and which can be changed or preserved for the rest of the life depending on many factors. At this stage of development an active social participation starts. A person learns to achieve and compete, feels strong group identity. The need for interaction is satisfied through working and playing with others. The sex identity is determined and a child imitates the same sex adult. Constructivism regards learning as a construction of reality through our experiences. People generate ‘mental models’ to ‘shape’ experience and further acquire new ones. So, successful teaching practices should take into account the mental models which students use to perceive the world. Constructivists regard learning as a search for meaning, not memorizing of the ready answers. Constructivism suggests to customize curricula according to students needs, thus eliminating a standardized curriculum as well as grades and standardized testing. The students are encouraged to analyze and interpret information. They also play a vital role in the assessment of their progress. In Piaget developmental theory learning is also based