Early+years+learners+and+funds+of+knowledge

The purpose of this page is to investigate the funds of knowledge of the five students within our classroom and how their knowledge varies and where it is similar and also to highlight the importance of the funds of knowledge that each child brings to the classroom and how that adds a richness to the environment that they learn in. One of the key reasons for this is that children learn from each other and in a classroom dynamic each child can benefit from another child's funds of knowledge especially in our society today where we experience a lot of diversification and multiculturalism. Teacher's play a significant role in getting to know and appreciate the children in their classrooms as individuals. This helps to build a stronger relationship between the students and the teacher. The classroom consists of four boys and one girl.
 * FUNDS OF KNOWLEDGE ** **'FoK is not taught directly but come from shared activities with families and communities' **

Let me introduce them to you!

 Funds of knowledge are the und﻿erstandings that a child has developed prior to entering school. As Hill (2006, p.58) maintains, it is how the child indirectly learns their own values and beliefs. Through their family and community, the child learns the acceptable norms of their society. Every child comes to school with their own version of funds of knowledge, as all families are configured independently, with their own experiences. According to Moll et al. (1992, p. 137), teachers are the bridge connecting a student’s world, with their families funds of knowledge, and their school. Therefore, finding out a child’s funds of knowledge is an important tool in order for teachers to make schooling meaningful for their students.

Moll et al. (1992, p. 133) describes ‘funds of knowledge’ as the accumulated skills and knowledge ‘essential for household or individual functioning and well-being’.

**SPORT ACTIVITIES** Sporting activities play an essential part of children's funds of knowledge. It is through sporting activities that they learn to interact and cooperate with other children and to be apart of a team. Being apart of something can give children meaning and purpose and it encourages them to interact with the community they live in. It builds self esteem and helps children to feel good about themselves and its an opportunity to develop friendships within the community that include other cultures. It also develops their motor and co-ordination skills and keeps them fit and healthy.

**FoK QUESTIONS ASKED TO THE CHILD AND PARENTS ** Sporting activites are a popular way for these children to spend their time outside of school and probably during school as well. Harry liked playing football, soccer and all ball games in general and swimming. Nathan also enjoyed playing football and basketball. Charlie especially liked baseball and Ellie liked going swimming. Sam played football like Harry and Nathan and he was also interested in cricket. Most children regularly had friends around to play or played at friends houses. It was evident that the children played at home with their siblings and enjoyed spending time with their families. It is important to point out how the cultural trends of our society impact our choices, for instance Victorians are fanatical about AFL and three of the four boys played football.

**Table 2** 

Whilst the questions asked to the children were similiar to those asked to the parents there are a few key things to mention of interest. Harry's parents noted that he particularly liked to read books about animals including dinasours. He likes to draw and is very good at it but is not interested in reading and writing at home. His parent's goal for him was to improve his concentration levels to help him learn. Nathan's parents inticated that he enjoyes communicating to many people about subjects that he understands. Nathan also speaks another language at home other than English called Creole. His grandparents come from Maritius and even though in Maritius the spoken language is French most people speak Creole. His parents noted that Nathan will not pick up a book on his own to read and says that it takes too long. His paren'ts goal for him is for him to improve his concentration span and his ability to recall information. Sarah's mother noted that she enjoyes building things eg; putting a chicken pen together and that she has a habit of talking constantly about everything that is on her mind. Sam's paren'ts mentioned his enjoyment for reading and his favourite stories were by Paul Jennings and their goal for him was for him to be confident and to do well at school.

[|Encouraging Reading] [|Learning grammar]

[|Multicultural Festivals]



<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;"> <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16pt;">** ﻿ ** <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16pt;">** GAMES AND MOVIES ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Table 3 **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It was interesting to note that each child liked to play different games and watched different movies to the other children in the class. The likely reason for this is that different movies and games appeal to different age groups. This is a list of the games played and movies watched by the group.

**<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16pt;">TECHNOLOGY ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two children said that they they learnt from the technology that they used at home and that was Sarah in Grade 3 and Sam in Grade 1. Sarah has learnt how to download music, create pod casts and albums. This could be because she is slightly older and has started to follow the trends of popular pop music and discovered how to download itunes. Sam has improved his maths on his computer games playing against zombies. The other children used technology purely for fun and entertainment. The table below shows the usage of technology at home and in the school place.



<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If Harry wants to research anything he asks his father to check it on the internet or he goes to the library. Sam plays with a computer, DS and Wii. He believes it has improved his maths by playing maths games against Zombies. Charlie's use of technology includes TV, playstation, DS and computer games. He does not believe that he is learning anything. Nathan has access to a mobile phone, computer, playstation and Wii. He also says he doesn't learn anything and does it just for the fun. As mentioned above Sarah believes she does learn something from her interaction with technology.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;"> **<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16pt;">MUSIC ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The boys in the class, Sam, Harry, Charlie and Nathan enjoyed Rap music or anything that fast. Harry listened to the radio whilst Sarah enjoy Pop and Rock music.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In conclusion the funds of knowledge that a child has plays an integral part within the classroom environment and essentially within the community. Making a connection between children and their families is a way that the curriculum in schools can become more meaningful for children and to find out about the community funds of knowledge is essential. (Hill, 2006, p. 57).