How is mine different from yours? - learning stations that is!

For a long time now I have been developing and researching the pedagogy behind stations as a way to develop independent learning during reading or writing time in class. This year I have been fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to develop these in a very practical sense in a new entrant classroom. However I believe the pedagogy behind these stations not only could be used at every level but should be used at every level.

Someone said to me once “I do learning stations – What makes yours different?” That question has inspired me to really dig deep and find a way to explain, simplistically, how it is different. I do not want these stations to be viewed by people as just playing, filling in time, sitting there watching others do all the work or mucking around. In time I believe we can show people through our use of language and development in learning that these stations fill a need in classrooms today

FYI – Pataitai means investigation

What I think so far – The Pataitai Stations are

1.    – planned for on a grid to ensure coverage of all developmental domains of play, growth, and cognitive development, learning styles, and key competencies. This has been a learning curve over many months now, but the plan we have is fantastic and works well.

2.    – Children are encouraged to plan their choice of station and explain why before they put their name on the board.

3.    – sharing and reflection time – inspires new learning, showcases models of expectations, celebrates success, develops intrinsic rewards, scaffolds others and ignites new thinking, inspires others to take risks and try new things and opportunity to hear children’s thinking in their own words and record anecdotal notes about each child.

4.    – teachers reflect each week and is recorded so each station is developed for a specific need or skill

5.    –integrates inquiry learning easily, purposefully and naturally

6.    –Clearly demonstrates and models key competencies for others to see.

7.    - Fully flexible and changed according to children’s needs whether motor skills or academic needs

Are we different?