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Embedding ATL in Daily Activities - Coggle Diagram
Embedding ATL in Daily Activities
Observation and Documentation:
Observation:
Use the ATL categories (thinking skills, social skills, communication skills, self-management skills, research skills) as a framework for observing children during play. Take note of behaviours and skills that align with these categories.
Documentation:
Record observations using various formats such as anecdotal notes, photos, videos, and learning stories. Organise these records by ATL categories to clearly showcase the development of each skill.
Learning Journals and Portfolios
Portfolio System:
Develop a portfolio system where children’s work and evidence of learning are collected and categorised by ATL skills, including artwork, project summaries, and reflective comments.
Individual Learning Journals:
Create learning journals for each child, structured around the ATL categories. Document progress and achievements in each area over time, including drawings, writings, photos, and teacher notes.
Planning and Reflection
Reflection
Child Reflections:
Incorporate regular reflection sessions where children discuss what they have learned and how it relates to the ATL categories. This helps them become more aware of their own learning processes.
Teacher Reflections:
Have teachers reflect on their observations and the effectiveness of activities in promoting ATL skills, adjusting strategies as necessary.
Planning
Activity Planning:
Use the ATL categories to guide the planning of activities and learning environments that encourage the development of these skills. For example, set up collaborative play areas to foster social skills or provide materials for problem-solving tasks to enhance thinking skills.
Parent Communication
Reports and Newsletters
• Regular Updates: Include ATL-related observations and updates in regular newsletters or progress reports to parents, highlighting how play-based activities are supporting their child’s learning.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Conferences: Use the ATL framework to discuss children’s progress with parents. Share specific examples of how their child is developing in each category and provide suggestions for supporting these skills at home.
Child Involvement
Goal Setting
Personal Goals:
Help children set personal goals related to the ATL skills. For example, a goal might be to “work on sharing toys with friends” to develop social skills.
Self-Assessment
Tools:
Introduce simple self-assessment tools where children can reflect on their own learning experiences in terms of the ATL skills. This can be done through discussions, drawings, or simple rating systems.
Learning Centres
Environment Setup
Flexible Spaces:
Create flexible spaces that can be adapted to support different types of play and learning, ensuring that all ATL categories are nurtured through the environment.
Thematic Centres:
Design learning centres or stations that target specific ATL skills. For example, a science exploration area for research skills, a quiet reading corner for communication skills, and a puzzle area for thinking skills.
Professional Development
Collaborative Reflection
Teacher Collaboration:
Encourage educators to regularly reflect on their practices and share strategies for embedding ATL skills in the classroom.
Training
Workshops:
Provide training for educators on the ATL framework and how to integrate it into play-based learning. This can include workshops, collaborative planning sessions, and sharing best practices.