Based on the perceptual motor model, explain how you would organize an early childhood classroom in order to promote academic achievement?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A sample answer follows. In more recent years, Piaget’s theory has led to the perceptual motor model of physical development, a more integrative view proposing that motor behaviors are a prerequisite for and lead to cognitive abilities. As they enter the third year of life, children move into Piaget’s second level of development, the preoperational stage. They can now mentally represent or think about objects and events that are not present in the immediate environment. This emerging ability for symbolic representations is based on a foundation of the sensory and motor learning of the first two years. Because young children learn through physical movement and interaction with the environment, they must be provided with numerous movement opportunities and experiences. Furthermore, this viewpoint also assumes that a child’s academic performance can be improved by increasing the amount of motor activity, because cognition is predicated on motor experience. Since Piaget's theory says movement leads to Improved cognitive abilities, I would design a classroom that allows a great deal of physical movement. I would have large play areas, an outdoor play area, and lots of equipment and materials that my students can use to practice and improve their motor skills. I would make sure to set aside a great deal of time in my daily schedule to allow children to use their motor skills, and design my activities so children could move around the room and be active while engaging in them.