Author: Samantha Vaughn
Blog: Q2 2024
Why Is It So Important for Kids to Write?
Statistics show that reading helps develop your writing skills, but writing helps develop your cognitive growth, organizational abilities, and the power to influence others through persuasion. In short, writing powers the brain. We spoke with AWE partner Scribblitt.com about the importance of creative writing.
Q: The focus of literacy is often on reading. What benefits come from creative writing?
Scribblitt: Studies show that children who practice creative writing more often are generally better in other subjects too, like math, science, and languages. Creative writing encourages kids to practice using their imaginations, improving their ability to come up with alternatives, problem-solving, and analysis. Writing involves a lot of thought, planning, organization, and the use of language to get a point across. What great practice for kids at laying out their thoughts and trying to clearly convince someone of their point of view.
Q: Given the focus on social-emotional learning in schools now, how can writing help?
Scribblitt: Children often have difficulty understanding and expressing how they feel. Through writing, children have a safe place to explore, and this can be a highly beneficial tool for expressing their feelings.
Q: How does writing improve self-confidence?
Scribblitt: Writing gives children more opportunity to assert themselves and their opinions and develop their ‘voice.’ These developments can really strengthen their self-confidence. Further, publishing their stories develops a sense of pride, and the opportunity to have others read their books shows that their words matter.
Q: Do we become less creative as we grow up?
Scribblitt: It’s true – creativity seems to diminish as we get older. The stories of fairytale
princesses saving the day later turn into business prose and factual writing. It is so important to encourage children to write, to be creative, and to use their imagination. It is equally important to build their confidence in communicating their point of view, their thoughts, and their feelings. Then they can think about publishing their stories to read over and over again at a kid-friendly site like Scribblitt.com and hold onto childhood just a little longer.
Q: What role do families play in AWE Learning’s mission?
Owen: Families are central. Libraries are often places where parents and caregivers juggle many needs, whether that’s job searching, classes, or using community services. Because our workstations are offline, AWE provides a safe, trusted space where children can learn independently without staff or parental supervision, which gives families flexibility. They can take advantage of the community programming libraries have to offer while knowing their kids are engaged in meaningful learning.
Scribblitt.com offers writing, illustration, and publishing tools for kids, and is free to join. Completed stories can be shared in the library, entered into writing contests or submitted to be a featured scribbler. You pay only for publishing. A hardcover book is $29.99, and a comic is $19.99 plus shipping. Email contact@scribblitt.com with questions.
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Learn more about AWE Learning with your local representative to explore your options.
info@awelearning.com (610) 833-6400
AWE Learning Receives Platinum in 2024 Modern Library Awards from LibraryWorks
AWE Learning Receives Platinum in 2024 Modern Library Awards from LibraryWorks
Newsletter: Q1 2024
Q1 2024 Newsletter
Blog: Q1 2024
Technology’s Impact on Experiential Learning for Young Learners
What is experiential learning? Experiential learning is a teaching approach that emphasizes learning through experience and reflection. It involves hands-on activities, experimentation, and problem-solving. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) emphasizes the importance of experiential learning in young learners’ education, noting that “learning through purposeful experiences has long been recognized as an effective approach to teaching children.” Pioneers of early education understood the importance of children making sense of their world through observation and experimentation. Their keen understanding of how young children learn continues to influence contemporary approaches to early childhood education.
How does technology impact experiential learning? Experiential learning, when combined with technology, can become even more powerful, providing children with new and innovative ways to learn. Here are some ways that technology can enhance children’s learning experience: One of the most significant advantages of technology in experiential learning is that it provides young learners with access to a wide range of resources and tools that can enhance their learning experience. For instance, digital learning spaces. Using digital spaces to educate can be a great way to enhance engagement by connecting young learners to experts in their field of study. In addition, digital spaces can encourage collaboration by creating a forum to share ideas and experiences.
Another way technology is changing experiential learning is through online simulations and games. These tools can be used to create a fun and engaging learning environment where students can learn through trial and error. Games and simulations can also be tailored to the specific learning needs of individual students, making the learning experience more personalized and effective.
Another significant advantage of technology in experiential learning in early education is that it can provide children with a safe and controlled environment to practice their skills and apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations. For instance, virtual reality (VR) technology can simulate real-world situations and provide children with a safe and controlled environment to practice their skills. According to a publication by the National Library of Medicine on the use of technology, VR technology can be used in various fields, such as science, math, and language learning, to name a few, to provide children with an immersive and interactive learning experience. Despite the numerous benefits, technology in experiential learning in early education also presents its own set of challenges.
One of the most difficult challenges is the need for teachers and parents to ensure that children are using technology in an age-appropriate and safe manner. Moreover, it is essential to ensure that technology is not a substitute for human interaction and that children have ample opportunities to interact with their peers and teachers in a real-world setting.
In conclusion, technology has had a significant impact on experiential learning in early
education, transforming the way children learn and experience the world around them. By leveraging the power of technology in experiential learning, children can develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills that will prepare them for success in the future.
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Learn more about AWE Learning with your local representative to explore your options.
info@awelearning.com (610) 833-6400
Blog: Q4 2023
Family Engagement Leads to Early Childhood Success
Family engagement is about the knowledge, values, and actions that enable children to be successful learners. For schools and libraries, family engagement refers to meaningful partnerships with parents that provide the opportunity to be active in the learning and development of their children. Family engagement keeps parents informed—via in-person conversations, e-mails, or
online communication tools—of their young learner’s academic standing. These practices increase parental involvement in important education-related decisions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the relationship between schools and parents reinforces learning and health beyond the classroom. This includes at home, in school, out-of-school programs,
and in the community. To increase parent engagement, schools can make a positive connection with parents, provide a variety of activities and opportunities to engage parents, and sustain their engagement by addressing common challenges. Through collaboration with schools, local libraries can host after-school educational programs for early learners and their parents.
Family engagement, however, is not a linear process. Each community is unique and must adapt their own set of best practices. Researchers have identified six types of involvement that schools can use to engage parents and improve the skills of young learners:
- Providing parenting support
- Communicate directly with parents
- Provide a variety of volunteer opportunities
- Support learning at home
- Encourage parents to be part of decision making in schools
- Collaborate with the community
It is important for educators to encourage family engagement both at school and within the community. When teachers take the time to understand families’ needs, they invite an opportunity for collaboration. By welcoming parents and families to events focused on their child’s early learning, educators build a sense of trust and teamwork with individuals who are critical to early childhood success. A study discussed in Teaching Young illustrates that these events help to develop a rapport between the educator and the family.
Studies conducted by the Harvard Family Research Project show that family engagement improves academic performance, increases school attendance, and ultimately increases graduation rates. Furthermore, it reduces at-risk behaviors and positively impacts attitudes and overall well-being. Especially in early childhood, active parental involvement in the young learner’s education process helps to build early literacy skills. Libraries also place a focus on family engagement and have implemented strategies such as Every Child Ready to Read to support parents in building their child’s early literacy skills. Similarly, 21st Century Community Learning Centers that provide out-of-school learning and afterschool programs also play a fundamental role in family engagement. The development of this role includes strategies such as:
- Have an adequate and welcoming space to engage families
- Establish policies and procedures to promote family engagement
- Be intentional about staff hiring and training to promote effective staff-family interactions
- Connect families to each other, to the program staff, to schools, and to other community institutions
- Help support families and their basic needs
Family engagement results in short-term and long-term academic success for young
learners. From the child’s perspective, it is important to see the collaboration between their family and the educators in their lives. What types of in-school or out-of-school programs would you attend in order to have the most impact on your young learners’ early education?
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Learn more about AWE Learning with your local representative to explore your options.
info@awelearning.com (610) 833-6400
