Although parents of older children tend to realise the value of Greenfields teaching methods, we have on occasion heard parents questioning how this would apply to the 4 and 5 year olds in the Reception class.
When you see our older children, it is easy to observe them using the Study Technology (The technology developed by Educator L. Ron Hubbard™ to solve problems relating to studying and being able to learn and retain what one has learned). Younger children, though, need a different approach. Miri McQuade teaches Reception class and is dedicated to making sure her children get the right start before joining the main school. In her own words: “Many parents do not realise how vital the first year of education is to a child. The basics they learn here will affect everything they say, write and read from here on out. Basics such as how to hold a pen, how to write words and numbers and how to pronounce them are quite commonly not dealt with adequately in other schools and this causes life long problems in studying”.
Alarmingly, many adults cannot write properly, or read well and this is most likely because the fundamentals were not done at school and not done enough. Greenfields children, from the age of 4, are taught how to hold a pencil, how to write all their letters and numbers and how to form words. This is practised daily with different projects and games to make it fun for them and daily is what it takes.
In addition to Mr Hubbard’s Study Technology, Miri also applies his ‘Teachers Hat’ (Written March 20th 1961) which outlines many fundamental methods of teaching that are just as applicable today as they were then. This directive covers advice such as how to teach handwriting, arithmetic, reading etc and also, very importantly, advocates research. By allowing children to research what they study - and not just take accept what they are taught without question - you allow a brighter, happier and more able and intelligent child to develop.
A particular point Miri has found very useful is this line from Mr Hubbard: “Ability to read is directly proportional to the number of wins achieved and inversely proportional to the amount of correction.” This is how Miri applies this datum in her own words: “It is common for parents and teachers to continuously interrupt a child and correct them as they read aloud and, although well meant, is one of the things that will actually stop a child being confident about reading or even wanting to read at all. I apply Mr Hubbard’s reference by making sure that the reading material each child has is exactly the right gradient for that child which means they can get a wins on reading it and do not need too much correction. Then as their confidence improves, because they are not being continuously interrupted or corrected, they naturally get to like reading and will want to read more - thus ensuring that they will gain greater ability and increasing their desire to learn”.
The attitude a child receives in the first few years of schooling can set them up (or inhibit them) for life. Our goal is to have the majority of our children able to read and write competently even before they start school and have them very happy about it!
© 2012 Greenfields Educational Trust. Grateful acknowledgement is made to the L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.
