Use these guiding questions to help facilitate discussion around this video series.
Principles of Ideal Learning in Action: A Look at Spuyten Duyvil Preschool
Spuyten Duyvil Preschool, a Bronx, New York city-funded early childhood center that serves a diverse population of children and families. Through classrooms that are carefully designed into well-provisioned centers, outdoor learning environments of gardens and playgrounds, caring teachers that are culturally-congruent with the children they serve, and specialists that offer music and movement, chess, block play, Spanish language learning opportunities, and violin instruction, Spuyten Duyvil Preschool puts into practice developmental and neuroscience research confirming that children learn through play and active experiences.
Children construct knowledge from diverse experiences to make meaning of the world
This video clip offers glimpses of the many different kinds of experiences children engage in to expand their learning and make sense of the world.
The teacher is a guide, nurturing presence, and co-constructor of knowledge
Notice in this video clip how the teachers observe with the children, extend their thinking with prompts, and ask questions to get a sense of their understandings and intentions.
The environment is intentionally designed to facilitate exploration, independence, and interaction
While a well-provisioned block area is a substantial part of every classroom, at the Spuyten Duyvil Preschool an additional feature of the learning environment is an amply-provisioned, well-organized block room that small groups of children visit in rotation each week to expand their block-building strategies. The structures the children create stay up for several days so that they have time and space for trial and error and for completing the structure they envision. On this visit, the teacher begins the special block-building session by scaffolding for them how to build tall structures. The children soon take off on their own to collaborate and share ideas. Their finished piece can be seen at this video’s end.
Continuous learning environments support adult development
In this video Director Judith Menken talks about the ongoing learning that takes place for the Spuyten Duyvil community. In addition to doing a summer reading, carefully selected to be relevant and inclusive for all staff members, that they discuss together at the beginning of the school year, regular staff meetings facilitated by individuals from both inside and outside the school provide opportunities for sharing of questions and issues of concern. Note the chart on which teachers jotted down their thoughts that became the focus of one afternoon’s professional learning session.
Interview with School Director Judith Menken
Director Judith Menken explains the school’s way of supporting how children learn, involving parents/families, nurturing individual learners and their differences, and providing an environment of ongoing learning for children as well as adults.
Interview with Music and Movement Teacher Mary E. Cartales
Music and movement teacher Mary E. Cartales explains the science that underlies her work with young children – that movement is a critical component of learning.
Guiding Questions
Where in the long video do you find representations of the Ideal Learning Principles?
Decision-making reflects a commitment to equity
Children construct knowledge from diverse experiences to make meaning of the world
Play is an essential element of young children’s learning
Instruction is personalized to acknowledge each child’s unique development and abilities
The teacher is a guide, nurturing presence, and co-constructor of knowledge
Young children and adults learn through relationships
The environment is intentionally designed to facilitate exploration, independence, and interaction
Continuous learning environments support adult development
The time of childhood is valued
What examples from your own practice can you describe that put these principles into action?
What challenges have you encountered in enacting these principles?
What supports do you need/have to enable to make these principles come to life?
The High Quality Early Learning Project 