A Different Experience

We just wrapped up the first lapbooking class for age 4 to 5 this week and I am really pleased with the results. 

After 5 intensive sessions, each kid made a lapbook consisting of 9 mini-books, 3 crafts and multiple activities on Language Arts, Science, Maths and Chinese. Making the lapbook is only the secondary part of the learning process. What is more crucial is the learning experience, which I realised quickly after just one lesson, that it is definitely an approach which most kids are unfamiliar with.

Most kids in this class are no strangers to enrichment programmes as their schedules are packed with them. However, since the nature of this lapbooking class is so different from the typical enrichment programmes, it requires a lot more from the child. 

For instance, for this age 4 to 5yo class, I have designed the curriculum such that there will be some age-appropriate activities for the 4yo but also activities that even a 5yo will find challenging.

Throughout each session, the children were asked lots of questions which require them to think and apply the concepts learnt. For most activities that we do, the kids were not spoon-fed with information. Since most 4 to 5yo still can't read independently, it is pointless to provide printed copies. 

Instead, concepts were taught and learnt through active inquiry, a process that requires each child to listen, think, contribute their thoughts and ask questions. I firmly believe this process is a powerful vehicle for learning and encourages inquisitiveness and critical thinking in our young minds.

As most kids are not accustomed to such formats of learning, they require quite a bit of prompting and leading in the first few lessons. Once they become more familiar with the learning process, we can expect each child to easily adopt this process of learning. So I wasn't surprised at all when one child in particular, began to ask more questions at the last lesson. 

Of course this is not a process that will change them and their way of learning overnight. No method can really do that. However, with more practice in class along with the reinforcement at home, I am sure each and every child can be 'trained'. 

It certainly helps that every child in this class has signed up for future classes, some till October 2009. I am excited to see the positive changes in each of these children in these coming months.

My own 4.5yo who attended as a student in this class told me at the last lesson that he likes 'Mama School' better than his own school. That it is a lot more fun. Hmm.. what does that say about his school?  

What's amusing to me is the dilemma he has on the right way to address me. Sometimes he called me 'teacher' before realising how odd it must be, then he would promptly change it to 'err.. mummy... err.. mummy teacher'. :)  Now he tells me he can't wait for the two weeks to pass so he can start on the next lapbook with the other classmates.