Early+Years+Learners+and+Funds+of+Knowledge

//By Molly Murray//  EARLY YEARS FUNDS OF KNOWLEDGE 'All Communities have Funds of Knowledge.//'// media type="file" key="web Funds Of Knowledge By Molly Murray assing.mov" width="348" height="309" align="center" **//Watch this video to find out about my funds of Knowledge.//** A clip like this is an easy and great way to find out about the individual students in your classroom! •[|Queenscliff primary school student blog] •[|Class project] •[|Fu][|nds of Knowledge Animation] •[|Example of project] How can Literacy be defined? • //The ability to read and use written information, and to write appropriately in a **range of contexts.**//

• //Literacy involves the **integration** of speaking, listening, viewing and critical thinking, along with reading and writing.// Funds of Knowledge? //Sets of resources that often remain **invisible**, and **undervalued**, in the school context. Knowing Students funds of knowledge is highly important when used to inform teachers' curriculum design. //

//Funds of knowledge can be used to build community respect and enhance a child's educational experience (Moll et al.,1992). //

//- Our Observations in Schools- // //-Jamie's experience-// ==== • 'Pat Thomson', an Early Years teacher observed on rounds, came up with the idea of the 'virtual school bag' which is filled with various cultural and linguistic resources. Each child brings their own 'virtual school bag' filled with their funds of knowledge which can be used to inform teachers on the curriculum design and enhance children's educational experience. ====

==== • 'During rounds at Mandama Primary School, it was highly evident within a prep class of each child's individual 'funds of knowledge'. Child A* who was toward the lower end of the scale in literacy and numeracy had known troubles at home which clearly influenced how he learnt at school and also the amount of extra learning experiences received at home. On the other hand, Child B* was on the upper end of the scale, on level 13 reading. ====

==== •After meeting their mother, it was seen that education was seen as an important factor in their homes and had lots of extra attention to develop their literacy and numeracy skills. It is therefore important as a teacher to acknowledge their children's funds of knowledge in order to adapt to each individual's level of capability'. ====

//-Molly's experience-// • Thought observing and conducting a surveys of a funds of knowledge at Queenscliff primary school, I was able to gain a greater understanding of Child A's Funds of knowledge. Child A, had a deep knowledge and understanding of the particular topic of Animals and more specifically, Marine animals. Finding out the funds of knowledge of Child A though an interview with his mother was also very beneficial. I was able to find out that she was a marine biologist and was actively involved at the local Marine discovery center.

• Knowing this information then allowed me to understand why child A had such an interest and broad knowledge of a specific area. When reading a book on dragons, child A was able to relate to the book and enjoyed allot, as its content reflected an area Child A had prior knowledge about and was interested in.

• Another interesting observation was while observing a 2 hr literacy block. Child B, who has behavioral problems was very interested and keen to learn about spiders, so the class teacher discussed with me that to engage this student, she was planning to do a lesson on spiders in order to cater for the interest and funds of knowledge of this particular child.

//-Wendy's experience-// • Teachers can use funds of knowledge, the knowledge students gain from their family and cultural backgrounds to make their classrooms more inclusive. Classrooms I have observed directly relate their program to what is going on in the children's lives, their local community and nationally. A "get to know you better" activity I have seen in classrooms is to have a photo of a child and around the photo they write and draw their pets, family, where they live, favourite books and things to do, any information about themselves.

• Also show and tell I believe is a great speaking in front of the class activity and it is a way of getting the children to tell more about themselves and keeping up to date with what they are interested in so record what they talk about. Keep up mind that children's interests and life experiences are continually changing therefore it is important to be finding out these from the children regularly.

// -Mary's experience- // - I believe funds of knowledge provides and allows us as teachers to gain an understanding of a child's background, hobbies and interests. As a teacher it is important to understand every individual child's different needs. From my observation with a grade two student, Child A, I was able to find out that education was taught by Child A's parents before school years which provided the child with a good start for school, giving her a good head start in literacy.

- Child A very much enjoys using technology and playing video games, however too incorporating the use of learning through technology by playing educational games on the computer or xbox such as maths games, being one of the child's favourites and also spelling games.

// -Madi's observation- // -The students that I observed each had their own book box which is where they kept their books for independent reading. The students were allowed to add books into their boxes with ones that interested them to keep them engaged throughout independent reading. For example, one of the students in the class really liked horses so she had horse books included in her independent reading box.

-As Anakie P.S was a little country school the teacher knew that most students were interested in animals, plants and the outdoors. The teacher used the students funds of knowledge and put them to use in the way of making some of there outdoor playing area into a 'friendship garden'. All of the students were working together to build and create the friendship garden.

//-Hannah's observation-// After conducting surveys with both Child A and her parents, I was able to establish her funds of knowledge. Child A liked spending time outside playing games with her friends and family, especially when her dad made up treasure hunts in the backyard for her and her siblings. She also enjoyed reading books to her younger sister, which was evident when she had to read a book to me for the early years learner profile and asked if her sister could listen as well.

- After gaining more knowledge about her funds of knowledge she was able to relate to the book that I had given to her to read as she had previously experienced a friend moving away just like the boy in the book.

Common themes evident throughout our observations in schools: **Differences** and **Similarities** //.//  **Differences:** The differences we observed in the early years class room were only in regard to how the individual teacher incorporated the students funds of knowledge. F//or example...// <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;"> The teacher came up with the idea of the 'virtual school bag' which is filled with various cultural and linguistic resources. Each child brings their own 'virtual school bag' filled with their funds of knowledge which can be used to inform teachers on the curriculum design and enhance children's educational experience.
 * At Jamie's school:**

Child B, had a behavioral problem and was very interested and keen to learn about spiders, so the class teacher discussed with me that in order to engage this student, she was planning to do a lesson on spiders in order to cater for the interest and funds of knowledge of this particular child.
 * Molly's:**

A "get to know you better" activity I have seen in classrooms is to have a photo of a child and around the photo they write and draw their pets, family, where they live, favourite books and things to do, any information about themselves. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;"> Child A very much enjoys using technology and playing video games, however too incorporating the use of learning through technology by playing educational games on the computer or xbox such as maths games, being one of the child's favourites and also spelling games.
 * Wendy's:**
 * Mary's:**

As Anakie P.S was a little country school the teacher knew that most students were interested in animals, plants and the outdoors. The teacher used the students funds of knowledge and put them to use in the way of making some of there outdoor playing area into a 'friendship garden'. All of the students were working together to build and create the friendship garden.
 * Maddi's:**

After gaining more knowledge about her funds of knowledge she was able to relate to the book that I had given to her to read as she had previously experienced a friend moving away just like the boy in the book.
 * Hannah's:**

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">**Similarities observed and concluded:** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">• Utilizing Students funds of knowledge in a class room allows every child to become more engaged and involved. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">• When the topics, for example, 'My pet', 'My family', 'My Town' and activities in the classroom are directly related to the students, they feel comfortable and excited to learn. Students become more willing to express and verbalize if they have a knowledge base of the particular topic. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">• Through out our observations, we learned that programs incorporating the Students funds of knowledge clearly are far more beneficial to the child's learning and development then work in which students can not relate. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">• Once students begin to share experiences, for example going on an excursion to the beach, students will then have a wealth of knowledge and shared experience which will enrich and expand their classroom learning environment. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;">