I

Approaches to Learning

A

Curiosity and Interest

Child approaches the world with curiosity and develops knowledge about specific topics.

8-year-olds – See this age across all domains Early elementary

What educators might observe

• Conducts research based on a topic of interest
• Uses prior knowledge to develop research questions (e.g., learns about how fish spawn eggs and then decides to find out about the reproductive cycle of amphibians)

B

Initiative

Child pursues their own goals.

8-year-olds – See this age across all domains Early elementary

What educators might observe

• Recognizes that trying something new may be difficult at first
• Independently determines direction for their future learning (e.g., decides that they would like to learn to play the guitar)
• Considers alternatives before beginning a project
• Knows what their own talents are and offers to use them to help others
• Evaluates their progress on their goals

C

Persistence and Attentiveness

Child focuses on tasks and perseveres in accomplishing them.

8-year-olds – See this age across all domains Early elementary

What educators might observe

• Screens out distractions and concentrates on relevant information as they work
• Makes a decision about how to work so they will be able to focus
• Decides to step away from a challenge when frustrated and then returns to it
• Organizes long-term projects (e.g., begins a project by gathering supporting texts)
• Revises their writing, checking for meaning, spelling, and punctuation

D

Creativity and Inventiveness

Child uses their imagination to create and invent.

8-year-olds – See this age across all domains Early elementary

What educators might observe

• Presents an idea for a creative project to the group and then waits for the group’s feedback and incorporates their ideas
• Considers how objects appear from points of view not their own (e.g., tries drawing a picture from a bird’s-eye perspective)
• Incorporates ideas from cultures they have learned about into their creations