We’ve all been that parent—you know, the one with the child who is an undiscovered genius. Aaaand reality check. Yes, our kids are amazing and smart, but 99% of our population never hits the genius mark. And that’s okay. They don’t have to be a genius, but they do need to be given the tools to reach their highest potential.
The Foundation Phase is where the groundwork for success is laid, and choosing a school that does Grade R to Grade 3 properly is crucial. One important consideration when choosing a primary school is ensuring the learner is not pushed to master skills, they are not ready for or bored due to a slower pace. The ideal learning environment is one where teachers pace the child’s work to optimize learning.
The goal of the Foundation Phase is to nurture cognitive, emotional, and social growth while a child is learning. It is where children learn how to learn, and pacing correctly is a key factor in making this happen. Let’s take a deep dive into pacing at Hillcrest Collegiate.
Effective pacing starts with recognizing individuality…
One of our core values at Hillcrest Collegiate is recognizing the individuality of our learners. Every learner is unique, with different strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles. Some may grasp concepts quickly, while others may need more time and repetition. We take this into account and work with our learners as individuals. This helps prevent the frustration, discouragement, and low self-esteem that often result when children are pushed to keep up with work they haven’t fully grasped.
Effective pacing builds a strong foundation.
Just as a solid foundation is essential for a stable building, a strong educational foundation is crucial for academic success. When concepts are introduced at a pace that aligns with a child’s readiness, they are more likely to internalize and retain the information. This deep understanding enables children to feel confident in their ability to learn and build on their knowledge as they progress through their education.
Effective pacing enhances a child’s brain.
Children’s brains develop rapidly during the Foundation Phase, making it an optimal time to learn new skills and concepts. However, neurodivergent learners have different rates of development. A child may not be ready to learn division, and three weeks later they are. Children’s brains grow and change at different paces, and Hillcrest Collegiate accounts for this.
Pacing correctly helps foster a love for learning.
One of our goals at Hillcrest Collegiate Foundation Phase is to nurture a love for learning in all our learners. When children work at the right pace, they do not feel a sense of failure in trying to keep up with what they are not cognitively ready for. Instead, they experience an appropriate sense of accomplishment and confidence as they are expertly guided to master new skills.
Correct pacing supports Hillcrest Collegiate’s commitment to the emotional and social development of our learners.
We believe that learning is not only about academic outcomes—our children’s emotional and social growth is even more important for setting them up for a lifetime of success. During the Foundation Phase, children are developing important skills such as self-regulation, cooperation, and empathy. Carefully curated and timed learning activities allow for the integration of social and emotional learning opportunities with academic instruction.
Pacing encourages creativity and academic exploration.
Little children are adventurous and love to explore the world around them. However, when they feel overwhelmed or incapable (because they are not cognitively or emotionally ready for something), they can shut down, hampering their creativity and academic growth. Hillcrest Collegiate aims to give learners a safe place to grow and learn. Correct pacing protects our children from entering freeze mode.
Pacing gives us the space to address learning gaps.
In all classrooms, children come in with preexisting knowledge and learning gaps. Pacing is one of the most important strategies we use to identify and address learning gaps in the Foundation Phase. It is far more effective to correct a learning gap in the Foundation Phase than to fix a lifelong learning problem. When we observe how children respond to instruction and adjust accordingly, our teachers can provide targeted learning support.
Pacing creates a positive learning environment.
If you have been following the Hillcrest Collegiate story, then you know how important it is to us to create an environment that nurtures our learners’ self-esteem—an environment where our children feel safe, supported, and capable (read more about it here and here).
Children who are given the space to progress at their own pace ask more questions and engage actively in their education. They also gain an understanding that their abilities can improve with effort and persistence.
Would you like to find out more about our Foundation Phase? Give us a call on 031 765 2982 / 073 768 2357 Today!