Why this approach is important

Students spend much of their time learning informally at home and in the community. However, the tendency to adhere to the textbook as the main source of instruction means that teachers may overlook the skills, knowledge and experiences that students bring to the classroom.

The unfamiliar people, routines and language that young children encounter when they first come to school can be bewildering. By valuing the diversity of cultural practices and languages that your students know, you can make them feel more secure in this new context.

Children have to cross a bridge between home-based learning and school-based learning every day. This unit suggests activities to ease this transition, for the benefit of teachers and students alike.