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

//**﻿ ﻿ Early Years Learners and Funds of Knowledge**//
//Funds of knowledge// is defined by researchers Luis Moll et al, as 'the historically accumulated and culturally developed bodies of knowledge and skills essential for household or individual functioning and well-being' (Moll et al. 1992 p. 133). They suggest that, 'with this new knowledge, teachers can begin to see that the households of their students contain rich cultural and cognitive resources and that these resources can and should be used in their classroom in order to provide culturally responsive and meaningful lessons that tap students’ prior knowledge' (Moll et al. 1992). By using this research, it can be seen how important investigating children’s funds of knowledge is as an educator. __** CHILD SURVEYS: **__
 * **__ Outside of school, who & what, & favourite games: __**  __CHILD 1:__ play, playground, wrestling, basketball & climbing trees, play lots, go to playground, draw, beach, park, shops, friends, mum & dad, Ashley (sister), play Wii or on the trampoline.   __2:__ Visiting grandparents. Spending time at swimming pool and netball courts. Sarah visits her father and spends time with him every second weekend, play with friends and mum, doing craft at home, hide and seek, playing mums & dads, fairy games.   __4.__ Pokémon on DS, ‘chasey’, playing with my teddies and toys, go outside and play with Roxy (dog), annoy my dad, Josh (brother), Ben (brother), dad, sometimes mum and nan when she comes over.   __5.__ Nanny’s, playgrounds, ballet for her sister Chloe, the beach, Play on the trampoline, scooter, outside play, role playing – e.g. teachers and play cooking, Role playing / playing schools, playing with dolls, DS, Wii, Zhu Zhu pets.  ||


 * **__ What Technologies do you use & what do you learn from them: __**  __CHILD 1:__ Wii, tv, computer   __2.__ Computer, DS, radio, play brain training on DS, learn about maths using Unifix blocks. Can learn whatever she wants on her computer, She loves going on the computer to do all sorts of tasks, such as researching a topic on the internet and playing games. She enjoys checking my email account, as her father often keeps in touch this way.   __3.__ Playing the Wii   __4.__ Computer for games, spelling and learning Nintendo DS for playing games.   __5.__ Computer; playing learning games (Maths and English), Mobile, Wii, DS, Child learning websites e.g. ABC on computer.  ||


 * **__ What kinds of music/films/TV shows do you like: __**  __CHILD 1:__ dinosaur movies, Michael Jackson (thriller), courage the cowardly dog.   __2.__ Katy Perry, Jack Johnson, favourite movie is Narnia, watching the news and the biggest loser with mum.   __3.__ Watching superheroes.   __4.__ Shows about animals, The Simpsons, Prank Patrol, Ironman movies   __5.__ Top gear, Packed to the Rafters, Doesn’t watch a lot but likes children’s movies, Lady Gaga  ||
 * **__ Do you enjoy reading, what do you like to read? __**  __CHILD 2:__ She enjoys reading picture story books with big colourful pictures; she spends a lot of time flicking through a book in the library before she decides if she wants to read it or not. She likes to read fictional stories about fairies.   __3.__ all books  <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"> __5.__ All sorts, mostly picture books of any kind, Authors- Enid Blyton, Andy Griffiths, Emily Rodda, Roald Dahl  ||
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">**__ Do you like to write and draw at home? __** <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"> __CHILD 3.__ yes, in his lightening McQueen book  <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"> __5.__ Yes, all the time, she likes to write whole pages like she does at school  ||

__**Summary:**__ <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">From the data shown, it can be seen that all children enjoy a wide variety of games outside of school, including outdoor play and interaction with family members and friends. The children's technology use is all fairly similar as they all seem to enjoy using computers, DS and Wii's. Although their taste in music/films and TV differ, most seem to enjoy reading. However it is shown that not many write and draw at home and only one child learns another language. Therefore, if a teacher had this wide rang in their class they would have to ensure a lot of outdoor games and interaction, as well as use of learning technologies within the classroom but also encourage all students to write and draw as well as teaching the class a new language if possible.
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: center;">**__ Languages learnt: __** ||
 * <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"> __CHILD 5.__ Learning French at school since Kinder ||