Intentional teaching means educators make thoughtful, purposeful, and deliberate decisions in their actions. They invite children to share their interests and ideas, identify opportunities to support their play, and build on the learning they have observed.
Te Whāriki, explains that “children learn through play: by doing, asking questions, interacting with others, devising theories about how things work and then trying them out and by making purposeful use of resources.” New Zealand and international research emphasis the importance of balancing spontaneous, child-initiated play with planned learning so tamariki develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for life-long learning.
Spontaneous play occurs when children engage with their environment, resources, and the people around them without planned educator guidance. Children choose how and when the play happens and decide how it develops.
Planned or intentional teaching happens when educators understand what they want to achieve and thoughtfully consider the actions that will support children to reach the intended outcome.
An Education Review Office (ERO) report explains that “children need opportunities to initiate activities and follow their interests, but teachers are not passive during these [child] initiated and directed activities. Similarly, children should be actively engaged and responsive during teacher-initiated and directed activities. Good teachers help support the child’s learning in both types of activities.”
At Nurtured at Home, Visiting Teachers work alongside Educators and whānau to ensure each child’s interests and ideas are recognised, planned for, and celebrated through both planned and spontaneous learning opportunities. In this environment, tamariki understanding, creativity, and exploration can thrive.
