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Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Unit 3 The Learner
Cognitive Development
By the time children enter elementary school, their brains are almost
at full adult size. Brain pathways become stronger. The frontal lobe part
of the brain grows significantly, making it easier for children to complete
increasingly difficult cognitive tasks.
Children at this stage are eager to learn. They are excited about
starting school, and they want to do well. Curiosity and a desire for
independence drives them. They simply want to understand the world
and learn new skills. Succeeding at learning increases their feelings of
competence. They believe that they can accomplish what they try to do.
Five- to seven-year-olds have limited attention spans. In school, this
means lessons must be fairly concise. Children at this stage learn best
through experience, rather than listening to explanations. For example,
numbers are more real for kindergarteners when
they count actual objects or pictures of them.
Thinking Skills
Between five and seven years of age,
children become more logical thinkers. This
paves the way for improvements in problem
solving, planning, and decision making.
Jean Piaget’s experiments highlight
these changes in thinking. According to
Piaget, five-year-olds are unable to solve
logic problems involving conservation.
Conservation refers to the fact that something
can remain the same (its properties are
conserved), even if the way it looks changes.
Children at this stage are only able to focus
on how things appear. For example, a
five-year-old believes that a tall, narrow bottle
of milk contains more milk than a short, wide
bottle, even when observing the teacher pour
the same amount of milk into each. The greater
height of the milk in the taller bottle makes it
appear as if there is more milk. At about age
seven, most children begin to consider multiple
aspects of the bottle when solving the same
problem. They may take both height and width
into account. This is one of the signals of
improved thinking skills that indicate a shift in
Piaget’s concrete operational stage.
Professional Tip
Creating an Effective
Environment
Professional teachers know the impact of
starting and creating a positive environment.
They are always on time for work, even
early. They smile and greet students and
coworkers, knowing that a positive attitude
can impact others. For children, having a
teacher who exudes warmth and positivity
can impact the way they view themselves
throughout life. Truly professional teachers
will prepare ahead of time and give
themselves time to refl ect, so as to mentally
be ready for the day ahead. A professional
teacher understands the need to start the day
well, every day.
Dig Deeper
Observe how those in service jobs such
as a grocer, postal worker, barista, or medical
professional with whom you interact today
impact your own attitude. How can a teacher
“be real” or authentic but still promote a
positive attitude each and every day?