symbol use in early years. curriculum for excellence: early years active, experiential...
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Symbol use in Early YearsSymbol use in Early Years
Curriculum for Excellence:Curriculum for Excellence:Early YearsEarly Years
• active, experiential learning active, experiential learning • a holistic approach to learning a holistic approach to learning • smooth transitions smooth transitions • learning through playlearning through play
‘…‘…promoting better continuity and promoting better continuity and progression of learning across the progression of learning across the sectors’. sectors’.
daily routinedaily routine
meet and greet on arrival meet and greet on arrival play time play time
together time together time snack time snack time
large group time large group time small group time small group time
outside time outside time tidy-up time tidy-up time
story/song time story/song time home time home time
The early years curriculum The early years curriculum offers many opportunities offers many opportunities for…for…schedules/timetables schedules/timetables ‘now/next’‘now/next’
visual cuesvisual cues – shared understanding – shared understanding supporting supporting transitionstransitions
resource labellingresource labellingintroducing new vocabularyintroducing new vocabulary
making choicesmaking choicescomment/discussioncomment/discussion
learning learning andand understanding rules understanding rules andand routines routines
How symbols improve How symbols improve staff communication with staff communication with
childrenchildren• provide provide visual stimulusvisual stimulus• support support speakingspeaking and and non-speakingnon-speaking
childrenchildren• help help reducereduce number of words used number of words used
– short, simple sentences– short, simple sentences• slow slow rate of speech downrate of speech down
• improve improve comprehensioncomprehension• help to promote help to promote consistencyconsistency• help children to help children to listenlisten• improve behaviourimprove behaviour• support support self confidenceself confidence and and
independenceindependence
How symbols improve staff How symbols improve staff communication with childrencommunication with children
Why symbols and not other Why symbols and not other visuals?visuals?
• too fussytoo fussy – colours, fonts, shapes - – colours, fonts, shapes - often only text although nice to look atoften only text although nice to look at
• not always available to all or be not always available to all or be consistentconsistent throughout the nursery throughout the nursery
•meaning can be unclear
……remember a visual is only as good remember a visual is only as good
as it’s message – can’t read!!!as it’s message – can’t read!!!
How can we use How can we use them?them?
• as visual tools to help organise the as visual tools to help organise the environment and support environment and support understanding.understanding.
environmental labellingenvironmental labelling
song/rhyme/storysong/rhyme/storyboardsboards
routinesroutines
choice boardschoice boards
symbols or scanned symbols or scanned imagesimages
visual timetablesvisual timetables
self regulationself regulation
shared understanding of shared understanding of behaviour expectationsbehaviour expectations
Restorative scriptsRestorative scripts
Give consistent prompts for discussion / resolution…
What happened and how did it feel…What happened and how did it feel…
Who was affected and how Who was affected and how can we make it better…can we make it better…
Where to start?Where to start?
Introduce symbols in key areas:Introduce symbols in key areas:
•labelling areaslabelling areas
•snack time – routine and choicessnack time – routine and choices
•song/story choice song/story choice
•sequences e.g. wash strips, painting sequences e.g. wash strips, painting routinesroutines
•visual timetable/schedulesvisual timetable/schedules
Useful extrasUseful extras
• ‘now’ and ‘next’ strips to help transition
• ‘surprise’ for unusual events, changes or activities
• individual supports where appropriate e.g. choices of activities; routines …
• visual home/nursery diaries to prompt conversation with context
• visual supports for stories, rhymes and song
Do’s and Do’s and Don'ts Don'ts
•dodo be consistent with the symbol choice be consistent with the symbol choice
•dodo involve the children when starting to involve the children when starting to use symbolsuse symbols
•dodo share with others share with others
•dodo think about the size and position of think about the size and position of symbolssymbols
•don’tdon’t try to do too much at once try to do too much at once
•don’t don’t change the symbol when they change the symbol when they need replaced need replaced
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