Effective Teaching Strategies

How to Extend Learning Through Cues, Hints, and Assistance.

How to Extend Learning Through Cues, Hints, and Assistance. This is part of a series: How to Extend Learning as Part of Everyday Life part 8. Effective Teaching Strategies: Giving Cues, Hints, and Offering Assistance. In this article I am going to teach you how to extend learning as part of everyday life by giving cues, hints, and offering assistance.

Effective Teaching Strategies: Giving cues, hints, and offering assistance

How to Extend Learning as Part of Everyday Life

When it comes to bringing learning into the everyday moments of life, there is a simple three step formula I like to keep in mind. This is called the Powerful Interactions Framework.

The three parts to the formula are 1- be present, 2- connect, and 3- extend learning. This third step includes learning and implementing teaching strategies that build on the knowledge your child already has.

It is my goal to help teach you these effective teaching strategies so you can confidently extend learning when those key moments come up in your life. 

Effective Teaching Strategies: Giving Cues, Hints, and Offering Assistance

Definition: Acknowledging where your child is starting and what they already know and can do, and helping them to use that knowledge to develop new learning (scaffolding).

Another term for this strategy is scaffolding. Which just means helping your child achieve one level harder than they can on their own. With every skill, there is a level at which your child is competent in said skill. As a parent, you can give them a cue, hint, or other assistance to help them build just a little more onto that skill. And soon, they will be competent at that level. Then you will help them achieve the next baby step. This is how you can support small, sustainable development toward bigger goals. 

How to Extend Learning Through Cues, Hints, and Assistance

What this looks like

  • Your child counts 7 fingers- then you continue to count 8, 9, 10.
  • Your child is trying to fit shapes into a puzzle, upside down. You might say “hmm, I wonder what would happen if we turned the shapes around?”
  • When you come in the house from playing outside you might say “I remember there is something I need to do right when I get inside. Do you remember what it is?” “Take your shoes off!”
  • When your child is learning to dress himself, this may look like having him put on his shirt and pants, and you put on his socks and shoes. 

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