Week 6 Reflections
Day 16: Dimensions of Professionalism
Date: 1 July 2025
Activity Description:
Picking insects using tongs with children under 2 years.
It was my last week of the placement. I setup a hands-on insect exploration activity, where children demonstrate excitement and engagement as they used tongs to pick up insects, which promote fine motor control, concentration, and curiosity about the natural world. While some children were able to coordinate their grip independently whereas, others required assistance, which help to support the development of bilateral hand use and perseverance. The activity also helps children to encouraged verbal communication and peer interaction, where children were showing interest by pointing and asking questions. This experience is basically aligned with Piaget’s constructivist theory which says that children learn actively through exploration and manipulation of objects (Piaget, 1952), as well as Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, which highlight the role of guided interaction within the Zone of Proximal Development (Vygotsky, 1978). Moreover, the Early Years Learning Framework supports learning through play and environmental exploration (Department of Education, 2022). To enhance this experience in future, I will plan an incorporative descriptive language about different type of insects and integrate bug-related stories or songs to further vocabulary development and engagement of the children. This reflection is consistent with Professional Standards 3.3 (use of teaching strategies) and 1.5 (differentiating instruction) (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership [AITSL], 2017).
References
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. (2017). Australian professional standards for teachers.
https://www.aitsl.edu.au/teach/standards
Department of Education. (2022). Belonging, being & becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (Version 2.0). Australian Government.
A09-057 EYLF Framework Report WEB.indd
Piaget, J. (1952). The origins of intelligence in children. International Universities Press.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
Day 17: National Regulatory Considerations
Date: 2 July 2025
Activity Description:
Cause and effect exploration using different tin cans, pans, scoops, and various utensils with children under 2 years.
It was my 17th day of my placement. I plan an exploratory play session with small group with various utensils like, tin cans, pans, scoops, and various other utensils. All children were actively engaging in tapping, banging, and shaking objects, which demonstrate the emerging sensory awareness and help them to understand the cause and effect as they connected specific actions to sounds. Some children experimented by combining two different utensils to create new noises, while others repeated motions to replicate familiar sounds, where they show early communication skills through vocalisations such as chuckles and attempts to mimic sounds. This kind of activities also support fine motor skill development through gripping and manipulating different materials. Aligning on Piaget’s constructivist theory, which say children learned more through active exploration (Piaget, 1952), while Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory highlights how adult guidance, support and social interaction scaffolded their learning, especially for those needing cues to understand action-sound relationships (Vygotsky, 1978). The Early Years Learning Framework encourages sensory and exploratory play as vital for development in the children (Department of Education, 2022). To enrich this experience, I am planning to incorporate rhythmic clapping and simple melodies which will support language and memory growth in the children. This approach aligns with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, particularly Standard 4.1, which promotes student participation, and Standard 1.1, which emphasises using learner knowledge to guide teaching strategies (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership [AITSL], 2017).
References
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. (2017). Australian professional standards for teachers.
https://www.aitsl.edu.au/teach/standards
Department of Education. (2022). Belonging, being & becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (Version 2.0). Australian Government.
A09-057 EYLF Framework Report WEB.indd
Piaget, J. (1952). The origins of intelligence in children. International Universities Press.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
Day 18: Understanding and Supporting Exceptionality
Date: 4 July 2025
Activity Description:
Building blocks with individual child E under 2 years.
It was my last day of my placement. I was busy with my documentation works. But along with that during afternoon outdoor play, I observed a child E engaged in block-building activity, where Child E demonstrate growing fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and early language development as child was experimenting with balance and hand-eye coordination to stack blocks, by using simple phrases like “up” and “more.” I offer a moderate scaffolding which is based on Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, which says, the child increased confidence and problem-solving abilities, persisting even when the tower fell, which highlight resilience and the importance of encouragement. This play experience helps to support the cognitive understanding of spatial relationships and verbal expression, which reflect Piaget’s constructivist theory of learning through active engagement (Piaget, 1952; Vygotsky, 1978). The activity aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework which emphasis on exploration and play as foundations for learning for the children (Department of Education, 2022). To extend learning, I will incorporate open-ended questions such as “How many blocks can we stack?” or “What colour do you want next?” will help to foster critical thinking and communication skills to the children. This approach corresponds with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, specifically Standards 1.5 (differentiating teaching to meet individual needs) and 3.3 (using effective teaching methods) (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership [AITSL], 2017).
References
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. (2017). Australian professional standards for teachers.
https://www.aitsl.edu.au/teach/standards
Department of Education. (2022). Belonging, being & becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (Version 2.0). Australian Government.
A09-057 EYLF Framework Report WEB.indd
Piaget, J. (1952). The origins of intelligence in children. International Universities Press.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
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