Teaching the Junior Learner

Junior learners (Tweens) are at different stages of physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. Some are operating at primary levels and others beyond. This presentation will look at the characteristics of the junior learner in relation to these four areas and discuss some strategies for teaching to the whole child.

Tweens are going through many physical changes. They are now able to sit for longer periods with higher concentration and their small motor skills are more developed (such as hand writing.) However, because of hormonal changes some students may feel fatigued or the opposite, restless, with increased energy.

Supporting Physical Changes

• Include drama and role plays into reading and writing tasks. Readers Theatre is a great way to make readings more active and engaging in the classroom.
• Give students choice when demonstrating their understanding of a topic. Have them show their learning in a variety of ways by using technology/plays/visual presentations etc.

Implementing Readers Theater

Give them choices!

Supporting Physical Changes

• Promote healthy attitudes about body image by encouraging students to seek positive role models. Tweens are greatly influenced by social media so students should be pushed to look towards healthy pop culture icons.

Provide healthy role models for boys and girls by putting positive posters and quotes around the class and discussing them.

Tweens are able to understand more abstract and complex topics. Their cognitive capacities become more advanced and they are able to apply more logical reasoning and thinking. Junior students take greater interest and initiative in researching different subject areas. They also become better at multitasking.

Supporting Cognitive Changes

• Provide texts for students from various genres and that have multiple layers of meaning.
• Include anecdote, humor and word play into the classroom.
• Establish a safe environment that promotes risk taking and provide time and opportunity for a variety of responses to allow students to build confidence.

Bring Humor into Learning

Supporting Cognitive Changes

• Invite students to discuss issues from different points of views and encourage them to "dig deeper."
• Engage students in accountable talk through "chit chatting" circles.
• Include metecognition practices through modelling, demonstration and think aloud.

Accountable Talk Prompts

Real reading is thinking about the text that is being read.

Supporting Cognitive Changes

• Have students set their own learning goals and participate in self-assessment.
• Explain expectations at the beginning of learning so students know what is expected of them.
• Structure lessons with purpose and clear goals.
• Provide ongoing feedback and assessment on a regular basis.
• Build on students individual strengths.

Read more about Assessment Strategies

Tweens are becoming more socially and emotionally aware in grades 4 - 6. They are more interested in social issues and are less egocentric. They are more empathetic towards others and are able to see the world from different points of view. Junior learners are seeking social acceptance and their identity.

Supporting Social and Emotional Changes

• Provide opportunities for flexible grouping, pair work and collaborative project.
• In the case of teaching numeracy, placing students in groups with similar levels of understanding is best as students can raise their academic level, without being shown by a more advanced student, and self esteem at the same time.

Group Work because

Supporting Social and Emotional Changes

• Establish routines that encourage personal responsibility.
• Promote a respectful and inclusive classroom community where students are not afraid to take risks.

Supporting Social and Emotional Changes

• Create opportunities for students to write and talk about themselves.
• Have students personally reflect about the characters and people they read about and relate too.
• Encourage students to think critically about the media and question what they see in popular culture.

Untitled Slide

Untitled Slide

Lastly, promote a Growth Mindset across all subject areas!