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Unit 2 covers learning theories, classroom environments and teaching methods for young learners. The course divides young learners into two groups; Group 1 covers ages 5-9 years and Group 2 covers ages 9-13 years old. It was interesting to study the characteristics between these two groups, as well as Piaget's four stages of child development: 1) Sensorimotor (birth-2 yrs), 2) Preoperational (2-7yrs), 3) Concrete operational (7-11 yrs) and 4) Formal operational (11+ years). Both the course’s and Piaget’s breakdown of the age groups were fascinating to me because I could directly relate them to my current teaching experience. For the past year, I have been the music teacher for children at my local church. Nursery children are ages 18 months to 3 years old; junior primary children are ages 3-7 years old; senior primary children are ages 7-11 years old, and young men and women are ages 11-18 years old. With the nursery children, it is all “wiggle” songs with many of the children bouncing on their parent’s or teacher’s lap. The junior primary can sing more reverent songs (with sign language and actions) but still need a few wiggle songs thrown in to keep them active. The senior primary can sing a variety of songs with much more complex topics; they also ask a lot of questions about the words they are singing. The young men and women do not have singing time with me; instead, they have a longer Sunday School class that starts with an opening song before they begin their class. It was interesting to see how the youth were grouped pretty much in line with Piaget’s four stages of child development.
