THINKING TOTS CREATES CREATORS

At Thinking Tots, we view children’s learning as holistic. By combining children’s education with parental guidance, the culture of learning continues outside of a classroom. Teaching children brings an unspeakable joy! If building the foundation of learning from young is your interest, we invite you to create your own experiences with us.

A class filled with adults and young children may seem daunting to some teachers. But the outcome you achieve from transferring essential life skills such as critical thinking and effective communication in a fun teaching-learning environment brings you immense job satisfaction and personal rewards! We have prepared this Certification programme brought to you by our very own Drama and Early Childhood Specialist, Lynette Teo, to hone the holistic teaching skills of language arts, music and movement, art and craft, numeracy and science that form the basic foundation for lifelong learning.

As a competency-based certification programme, the Certified Thinking Tots Teaching Programme (CTTTP) provides course participants with the essential skills and knowledge to teach the Thinking Tots programme across different cultures and countries. It enables participants to understand the critical pedagogy theories that underlies the learning outcomes for critical thinking and development through social interaction and dramatic play. It also applies to all early childhood educators who wish to develop their knowledge and competence in working with parents as partners in the programme. By the end of the programme, all participants will be able to communicate effectively with parents and conduct meaningful learning experiences for them with their tots.

• Anyone who wants to conduct Thinking Tots programme.
• Any parent who wants to learn how to foster a child’s social, emotional and language skills.

Teaching young children critical thinkings in the presence of the parents are highly complex skills which are not acquired overnight. They require multiple skills at play like content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, EQ, time management, adaptability, humility, listening and observation skills, strong sense of ethics, being open and an ability to monitor the learning process.

Therefore, the approach for this course to enable you to develop these skills in as meaningful a manner is as follows:

PRACTICE

Every good teacher needs to first get up, practice and listen to the feedback!

FACILITATIVE

With experience and knowledge, learn to facilitate a community of happy and participative learners – caregivers and young children!

REFLECTIVE

An important growing process every teacher has to go through is to reflect on how you can better connect with your class!
Your daily write-ups will be the canvas for these reflections!

USE OF PUPPETS

You will experience for yourself how you use puppets to encourage free expression and practice socio-emotional skills that children can apply in their daily lives!

COURSE STRUCTURE

MODULE

Module 1: Child Development Theories

This unit equips the Thinking Tots teacher with the knowledge skills in application of early child hood development principles in delivery and communication as related to play and interaction.

Module 2: Vocal Development

This unit equips the learner with knowledge and skills to effectively use their voice in the classroom.

Module 3: Music & Language Acquisition

This unit equips the Thinking Tots teacher with knowledge and skills in the application of music theory and principles to facilitate motor development, co-ordination and critical listening skills.

Module 4: Parent Interaction

This unit specifies the competency required to facilitate the interaction between parent and child. Parents will be guided how to use the Parents’ Handbook.

Module 5: Curriculum Step by Step

This unit equips the learner with knowledge and skills to prepare and conduct an active learning experience using the given lesson plans. Trainers will be assessed on their competence to deliver.

Module 6: Puppetry

This unit equips the learner with knowledge and skills to use puppets to facilitate interaction.

MODULE

Module 1: Communication with Children

This unit equips the Thinking Tots teacher with the practical skills needed to effectively interact with young children.

Module 2: Vocal Development II

This unit equips the learner with knowledge and skills to effectively use their voice in the classroom and how verbal dynamics helps express the meaning of words.

Module 3: Parent Interaction

This unit specifies the competency required to facilitate the interaction between parent and child. Parents will be guided how to use the care-givers guide.

Module 4: Curriculum Step by Step – Presentation

This unit equips the learner with knowledge and skills to prepare and conduct an active learning experience using the given lesson plans. Trainers will also be equipped with the skillls to prepare their classes for a year-end parent-child presentation. Trainers will be assessed on their competence to deliver.