LEADERSHIP
5-year-old
WHAT
IS
LEADERSHIP
Leadership
/ˈliːdəʃɪp/
noun
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The action of leading a group of people
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Combination of characteristics to streamline and correct their mindset and outlook on life.
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The ability to listen to others' opinions and lead the group to seek a solution.
The ability to face challenges, work together, find solutions and a strong sense of reasoning (Esperance Anglican Community School, 2019)
IMPORTANCE
OF
LEADERSHIP
Children are the future of our nation and it is important to develop them into young leaders. Leadership is an essential skill to instill in children throughout their early years (The Pennsylvania State University, 2016). It helps children to shape their character and in the process, children will gain confidence and problem-solving skills. It is where children are able to take control and be assured that they have the ability to make things happen. It will also provide children with many opportunities to develop responsibility and the ability to work as a team, which will prepare them for life.
SCAFFOLDING
AS A
TEACHING
TECHNIQUE
The process of scaffolding is where a more knowledgeable other help someone who is less competent for them to function independently in a particular area (MacNaughton and Williams, 2009).
Scaffolding can come in different forms, such as providing cue cards, or visual cues to move children out of the zone of proximal development where they can master a certain skill independently.
WAYS TO INSTILL LEADERSHIP IN SCHOOL
Teaching Leadership in Large Group
ROUP
EVERYONE IS A LEADER
Firstly, the teacher will allow children to write down a few topics over the week that they are interested in, on a board.
Every child will be given an opportunity to lead this activity which will be conducted in the beginning of each week. The assigned child will choose a topic that he/she wants, from the board and give an explanation of why he/she chose it.
The teacher will provide the assigned child with guiding questions on what to ask the class to get their opinion on the topic.
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‘What do you want to know about the topic?’
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‘What is things that relates to the topic?’
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‘Where can we go to learn more about this topic?’
After completing the chart, the leader will take in suggestion from his/her classmates, and come up with ways to learn more about the topic. The teacher will then focus on the topic throughout that week, and conduct some of the activities suggested.
NDIVIDUAL
THERE'S A LEADER IN YOU AND ME
The teacher can ask the more knowledgeable peer, who is done with his/her work, in the particular topic to help a child who needs help.
The teacher will have to guide the more knowledgeable peer on how to help the less competent peer.
For example, when a peer is struggling with the math problem sum, the more knowledgeable peer can guide by drawing out for his peer to visualise.
While the more knowledgeable peer is guiding his/her peer, the teacher can provide affirmation by nodding or suggestion on how the more knowledgeable peer can help.
Teaching Leadership in Individual
OUTINE/
TRANSITION
TEACHER'S LITTLE LEADER
Giving children a role to take on to be a teacher’s assistant. Each child will be given the opportunity to take on a role and be in charge of a certain transition. There are a few roles for the children to take on which they will rotate every week, such as being a timekeeper, where he/she prep their peers the amount of time left before the change of activity.
NVIRONMENT
CLASS OF LEADERS
There will be two separate groups, where they will have to earn points during lessons, which will be accumulated at the end of the semester. This will act as a motivation for children and for them to encourage one another to participate.
There will be a board filled with children photos and as part of the weekly group activity, there will be a spot to indicate the weekly leader.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
STORYBOOKS
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The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
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Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers
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Harold and the purple crayon by Crockett Johnson
SONGS
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7 Habits of Happy Kids Song - There’s A Leader In Me
VIDEOS
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The Leader In Me - How schools can develop leaders one child at a time