Clarifying Open-Ended Teaching
Open-ended teaching…what is it? Why? How? Who? All the questions. This blog and my overall teaching practice is dedicated to the open-ended teaching philosophy. We will dive deep into all the topics and all the things over time. This blog post gives you a bit of an idea where I’ve developed my teaching philosophy from. First let’s start with a few tidbits about the open-ended style.
First, clarification: my basic definition of open-ended teaching is: exploratory play based learning led by the children’s interests. Play and child-led learning is the main component of this philosophy.
Now let’s talk about the 7 Benefits of Open-Ended Teaching
1. Open-Ended Teaching Leads to More Student Engagement
At the basica level children are more engaged because they are making their own choices and driving their learning topics based on their ideas. Who wouldn’t love to learn and play whatever they want. I’ve learned that even if the topic isn’t interesting to some of the class the children are still more engaged because they were and are a part of the entire process.
2. Less Behavior Challenges in the Open-Ended Style
Overall there are less behavior challenges because the students are more engaged, see number 1. Now this isn’t a magic pill and a blanket solution to all behavior issues, but I can guarantee there will be less. Children generally transition less (usually the#1 reason for push back) and when you feel heard, which choice allows, you don’t feel the need to fight for everything. Also open-ended child-led activities allow for multiple entry points letting children work at their pace and skill level, lowering frustration.
3. Academics are Integrated and Learned Authentically
Giving children space and time to work with open-ended materials allows for natural learning, a key pillar in open-ended teaching. Building a tower on a table with bottle caps, mini blocks, and hair curlers teaches children about balance and planning, working together, problem solving, spatial awareness and so much more! Incorporating drawing plans and reflection afterwards adds even more layers of appropriate academic learning on top of that!
4. Anything and Everything Can Be an Open-Ended Learning Material
There is often a misconception that to practice this style of learning there needs to be a specific environment and certain materials, and that is just not true. The more popular items in my room are paper towel tubes, plastic cups, mini erasers, and velcro hair curlers. Most of which I pulled out of cabinets at my house and my family’s houses. Our entire imagination play (dramatic play) area is filled with donated scarves and recyclables. Often just asking for a collection can fill your room with all the necessary open=ended materials needed to spark creativity and play. If you need some direction on this, click here for a freebie letter to parents.
5. Open-Ended Teaching is Sustainable
This style of teaching is much more sustainable than the style of cutting and prepping a million crafts every single day. It is more sustainable than finding a new activity for each center weekly. Allowing children freedom to choose puts that responsibility on them. Sure do you need to guide them? Of course. Do you need to bring in a little something to spark interest? Of course. But bringing in an interesting rock or shell or a bouquet of flowers is easier than searching for a themed craft and preparing all the materials for 5 minutes of engagement.
6. There is Space for Open-Ended Teaching Anytime
My goal is to help all teachers learn that this is possible as an entire philosophy and can be used to drive an entire school day, but I understand there are limitations and different requirements. Sometimes just allowing part of the day in free play and discovery works as well. It can be incorporated in small bits or at every second of the day. It is really a mindset…see number 7.
7. Open-Ended Teaching is a Process Mindset
Mindset absolutely plays a huge role in the style of open-ended teaching. Setting up activities and conversations to be centered on the child means stepping back a bit and releasing control to young learners. That is a tough thing to do when so much control and obedience is often expected of teachers. But setting your mindset to process over product and progress over perfection will set up the classroom and students for maximum exploration and learning. Sometimes we just need to see things through a different lens. If you need some guidance on this and want to start your journey grab the Discover Your Open Ended Mindset workbook for free here.
Wouldn’t you love to have less stress, more time and engagement, and overall happy students and happy parents? Opening up your teaching practice can give you all of this and so much more. It can be incredibly rewarding and time and time again has been proven to be the most developmentally appropriate practice for early learners. These are just 7 Benefits, but I promise, there is so much more.
Questions? Comments? Leave your thoughts below. Hit the contact button if you would like to chat further.
