How do 4 year olds form schemas. In other words, how do they learn things in the classroom/home?

Question

How do 4 year olds form schemas. In other words, how do they learn things in the classroom/home?

Answer 1

they follow a routine daily, which means they will catch on quickly

Answer 2

Repetition

role-modeling

problem solving

curiosity

Answer 3

they enjoylearning they think of it as a game.

Answer 4

One perspective here.  Take it or leave it...

___________

This is actually a more complex question than it seems.  What you have to do is consider a variety of factors:

--The other children.  Other children play an incredibly important role in learning.  This is true for older children as much as younger children and children their own age.  Studies have shown that infants who do not walk when they should, if allowed to play near babies that do walk, will begin walking at a rapid growth from then on - starting almost immediately.  Children that learn the steps to something remember it better if they observe an older child do it as opposed to a parent.  So children are key in learning.

They also learn by teaching those who do not know a skill or idea.  This is the benefit of having younger children around as well.

They learn with students their own age as well.  Working together with someone on your same level on a work you both find challenging builds many of skills.

--Environment.  What kind of materials are there?  How much of it goes from concrete thinking and manipulation, in a progressive state to more abstract?  Do the materials isolate a skill?  Do they prepare for other materials later in the classroom?  Are they beautiful and inviting for the child?  

Is there a nice atmosphere in the classroom?  Are children able to work independently and for a long period of time on a particular project?  Can they put it away when they're ready to move on and choose something else?  Do they know how to handle the materials in a precise manner?

--Teacher.  Is the teacher interrupting their work constantly?  (This can be due to poorly planned time schedules or continually providing feedback to the student as they work).  Are the students constantly seeking the advice of the teacher to do it for them or are they trying to solve the problems on their own or with the help of another student?  Are they relying too much on other people?

The combination of those 3 things:  Environment, Materials, and Teacher - are the key components that make up a good classroom environment.  There is also a concept of freedom within limits, where the children are engaged in what they need and not what the teacher believes them to need.  The teacher may step in to correct improper behavior or methods, of course.

Learning is done through repetition.  When a child understands the object, it is repeated naturally over and over again until they have a mastery of it.  There is that inner sense that there is "something more to learn," even if they do not understand what it is they are learning.  

This is a general overview.  You could get specifics in terms of how students learn different areas- language, cultural, math, etc.  You could also get into specifics of how children learn other skills - social skills, care of self, etc.  You could write an entire volume of books and make millions.  :-)

Matt

Answer 5

they learn from play and things that interest them

some kids may learn from looking at books and having things explained to them, nature movies/dvds also work

field trips to learn are a great tool

games are also great

Answer 6

by using any of their sences, or interacting, pretty much doing anything.

Answer 7

Through play and interaction with their parents/other adults and kids their age.

Which is why hands on activities and guided play in school are best for that age group.