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Engaging Every Child

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Preschool teachers know that children develop and learn at different rates and in different ways. To engage every child, teachers pay attention to how individual children respond to the classroom environment. They also present information in multiple ways, and they offer many opportunities for children to express what they know and can do. This six-step cycle can help you meet the needs of individual children—and of all children.

Step 1: Observe and listen to the child.

  • What does the child do well? What interests them? How do they interact with others?
  • What does the child try to do that is hard for them? How do they handle challenges, frustration, distractions?
  • What does the child say about their classroom experiences?

Step 2: Reflect on what you have observed about the child.

  • What did you notice about the child’s approaches to learning and their learning style?
  • What simple activities might help the child gain specific skills, handle a routine, or expand their knowledge of a topic? Why is it important to make adaptations for them now?
  • Does the child have a disability and receive services through an individual education program? If so, how do your ideas about their needs, interests, and abilities compliment those services?

Step 3: Plan simple ways to help the child learn more about a topic, engage in an activity, or manage a specific routine.

  • How will your plans be implemented? What materials, experiences, or space will you provide?
  • What do you anticipate that the child will gain from these activities?
  • If the child has an IEP, how will these experiences address their other learning goals? (You will need to discuss this with their family and/or any professionals involved with them.)
  • What might interfere with this plan? How will you overcome that interference?

Step 4: Carry out the planned activity or routine while noticing the child’s response.

  • How does the child engage with the planned activity? Do they seem interested? Bored? Frustrated?
  • What does the child say about the activity?

Step 5: Reflect on what you observed.

  • What seemed to go well for the child? What do you think they gained?
  • Were you surprised by anything that happened? What challenges arose?
  • What might make a good “next step” for the child? More time with the same activity? A new activity that builds upon what they did?

Step 6: Modify the plan based on observation and reflection—and continue the cycle!

About this resource

Setting(s) for which the article is intended:
  • Family Child Care
  • Child Care Center
  • Preschool Program

Intended audience(s):
  • Teachers / Service providers

Age Levels (the age of the children to whom the article applies):
Reviewed: 2024