Cognitive Development

Language, problem solving, memory, and other areas of cognitive growth are all apart of cognitive development in first graders.  Cognitive development is looking at a child’s behavior in different ways.

Middle childhood is a very critical time period in children’s lives.  This age children are starting to stick with routines and a specific learning style, but are very eagar to learn anything a teacher will give them.

First graders are learning how to extend the learning span.  They start to stay focused for longer periods of time.  Children at this age always want to be able to finish something they started.

For first grade teachers, they need to allow the children to have choice during some learning activities.  Students love to be able to choose what they want to learn because it makes them feel good about what they are doing.  Also as teachers we have to be able to adjust to each and every child’s specific needs.  Every child learns differently, and we have to be able to help them learn and grow in a cognitive development way.

First graders learn by symbols they see, like adding with their fingers. Children this age like to think ahead and make up things.

- this post was written by:  Sarah Tanner