Every Moment is a Teachable Moment- On-the-Go Learning

I love learning that is initiated by a child's own natural curiosity. On-the-go learning or real-life learning leaves a far more permanent mark than rote learning- learning through mere memorization than connection to a meaning. Embracing and acting on the idea that each moment is a teachable moment, in my humble opinion, create the moments that make a long-lasting impact on a child.


Print Awareness is one of the pieces in the early literacy puzzle. Print Awareness is noticing that printed words are all around us. It starts when children realize that print has meaning - people don't just look at pictures, they read text. This helps children understand that the print they see consists of words - the same words we speak and hear.

So, an example of using an "on-the-go learning" activity would be to use what is called “environmental print” to help your child develop print awareness. Using exit signs, stop signs, advertisements, menus, and other print in your environment is a simple and easy way to develop print awareness throughout your normal everyday activities. Point out the apples at the grocery store and ask your child what kind of fruit it is. Then point out the sign that has 'apples' on it- a is for apple- spell it, sound it out.




I will be posting a series of tidbits throughout the summer called On-the-Go Learning with ideas of simple ways to make a drive in the car or a walk to the park an on-the-go learning experience!

Observation and developing language: If you drive to one destination often, such as the grocery near your home and you take the same route, point out landmarks and discuss this with your child. "Oh, look! There is the big, white church on the corner. Do you see the pretty colored windows? It's on the corner and now we turn left to go to the grocery store."  Ask them questions, involve them in the discussion and use as many descriptive words as you can. When you get to the destination, you can repeat the major landmarks- "we passed the big, white church and the noisy, dusty construction site and that pink billboard that had the tiger on it and what else...and now we are here at the store"

If the child is older, have a notebook and let them draw you a map of your route and then let them describe it to you. Language skills- sequencing, vocabulary, print awareness, directional skills and more are being developed on that simple trip!

For more information about "On-the-Go Learning", check out http://www.walearning.com