Using Scissors
The non digital experience I have chosen to look at is
using scissors, this is because the children have had a strong interest in
cutting things out, they love to cut paper with nothing on and cut out what
ever shape they like but they also enjoy finding pictures from magazines to cut
out. Because of the children enjoying using the scissors I thought it would be
a good idea to ask the children if they wanted to pick some photos off the
computer of themselves and their friends to cut out and they could keep them or
make a picture of all the photos they cut out, the children thought this was a
great idea so we picked the photos and the children begun their cutting. The
smiles on their faces as they cut the different photos out and how they loved
to see themselves and their friends. Once the children had finished their
pictures they wanted to put them up on the wall so that they could see them
every day. This then started a new discussion about how we were going to get
the pictures to stay on the wall, the children were all excited about getting
to use the gun stapler. There was great team work going on and the children
were willing to let me help them out with using the gun stapler as it was very
hard to use.
I feel that this whole experience relates to the
belonging strand in Te Whāriki as it is our job to make sure they children feel
like they belong at the centre and that they know they have a place. By
allowing the children to pick their own photos and cut them out and also stick
them on the wall only helps more to make them feel welcome. Te Whāriki says “children
and their families experience an environment where: they know they have a place”.(MOE,
1996,p54.). This experience with picking their photos and cutting them out and
putting them on the wall, doesn’t happen very often but we do allow the
children to build on their skills with using scissors, the scissors are always available
for the children and there is a wide range of materials to cut out. Again like
in both my other reflections we encourage the toddlers to take control of their
own learning. This way the other children are able to watch and observe what
the others are doing with the scissors and learning of them.
From this experience of the children using the scissors there
is a lot of technology that the children are learning about. First thing is
that they paper are cutting can be used for a lot of things folding, writing on
and cutting. Then the scissors they learn that if used the right way they are
able to cut through lots of materials and that the scissors are able to cut
shapes that children want, by moving their hands. Then they also use about the
gun stapler and how by pushing the top of it you are able to make the staple
come out and hold their picture on the wall. As teachers I feel that we forget about
how important the small things can be for children, just learning about what
scissors do is something very big for a child and it can take them a long time
to learn just how to use them the right way. Giving children this opportunity
to explore these new found technologies such as paper scissors and gun stapler
can help them hugely with their development.
Reference:
http://amysorrells.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/scissors.jpg
http://lynslines.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/mp900399071.jpg
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRSgw83DxlR6qJ1lD_AJz1bDHypgwnokIVoHiSWUGxbXdImqgCSA5GFa_nC
Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa : Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
Ministry of Education. (2004). Kei tua o te pae assessment for learning: Early childhood exemplars. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.
A. Ap, & Talay-Ongan. (2005). Child development and teaching young children. Australia:
Cengage Learning.
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ReplyDeleteStaci, I really enjoyed reading this blog you have created on how you are encouraging children’s learning and development while using scissors. From my own experiences I understand that it takes a while for toddlers to get used to using scissors and it was nice to read about the experiences you have in your centre.
ReplyDeleteI like how you got the children to cut pictures out of themselves as I feel this would have been a very valuable learning experience for them. I like how you have linked this experience to the belonging strand it is very important for children to feel that they belong and have a place.
After reading your blog I wondered if your centre has the scissors with the different patterned cutters. If not this would be a great alternative for the children to use to change things up a bit and learn about different patterns. The scissors are like normal scissors just they have different patterns on the blade so when children cut into the paper, the paper would be that certain design. The children in my centre enjoy using these scissors to make cards for their parent and friends and develop mathematical concepts.
It’s a shame we are unable to use pictures on these blogs as I would have found it very interesting to see the pictures of this learning experience you created for children.
I also found a great reading you might like on the importance of teaching children how to use scissors. http://www.gandetherapies.com/PDF%20Files/TheImportanceofTeachingYourChildHowToUseScissors.pdf
and this video also was very helpful for me to understand how to teach children how to use scissors safely and it helped me to understand there is a process. http://video.about.com/babyparenting/Using-Scissors.htm
Kia Ora Staci, I enjoyed reading this blog and I thought it was awesome the way you were able to use a range of non digital and digital technology throughout this experience. You were able to encourage the use of different technologies for a range of purposes, allowing the children to have a try every step of the way.
ReplyDeleteI liked the way you let the children decide what they wanted to do and take the lead. It’s great that you allow children to do this and they are obviously comfortable with you and confident to suggest things and tell you their opinion. By allowing the children to put their pictures on the wall is a really meaningful experience as they are able to recall the past experiences and also the process of how they worked together to put their pictures up.
Teacher’s definitely do forget the importance of the ‘small things’ and how amazed children get when they discover something new. I will definitely think about this the next time I do an experience with the children.
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ReplyDeleteHi Staci,
ReplyDeleteI found your blog about the children using scissor really interesting and useful. There are many benefits that children gain through using scissors, such as developing their fine motor skills, strengthening their muscles in their fingers and hand.
I find that children in my centre love cutting out pictures and making collages. I really loved how you printed out photos of the children in your centre, and allowed the children to cut out them out, and keep them or stick them on the wall. This is such a great, and simple idea, that I will definitely try at my centre.
I also liked how you mentioned that you let the children take control of their own learning, while still letting them know that you are there to help them when needed. I think it is so important that teachers are patient, allowing the children to work at their own time and pace.
I have found some great ideas and activities for scissor cutting, and some pre-scissor activities to help prepare younger or less confident children for scissor cutting.
http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/scissor-practice.html
Kia Ora Staci,
ReplyDeleteThis was a really nice blog to read. I like how you encourage the use of the gun stapler also. I have often seen parents reactions as they see that we have scissors avaliable throughout the day for the children to utilize. Are your scissors avaliable all day for the children to freely use also? I think it's great that you supported the childrens interest and use of scissors by extending it too cutting out the photos this was a nice extension and I can imagine they took alot of pride and time in cutting out the pictures.
There are so many options for the use of scissors and i dont think it should be limited to paper etc.I often get a small group of children and we lay down on the grass and cut individual pieces of grass. This activity encourages the children to change the angle of what they are used to cutting with paper and is less restrictive while also providing numeracy and literacy through this experience. I unfortunately cant find any sites supporting this experience but get creative as scissors are sometimes see as negative resources because of the 'risk factor'. This site may interest you http://www.schoolsparks.com/blog/teaching-children-the-proper-scissors-grip