Child-focused Teaching (CFT) Training Programme

This course helps you understand the emotional base from which learning takes place and shows you how to create a classroom that provides positive energy for both teachers and students.

In CFT, the teacher should first have an understanding of the interests and needs of the children in his or her class. This may sound difficult in a classroom setting, however, this course shows you how, by focusing on the children, you will make your job easier and help the children learn.

The course also shows you how to motivate the students to take responsibility for their learning by understanding their experiences and interests and how to use these as a reference point for introducing the subject matter.

Children respond to the classroom culture the teacher creates, and follow the example the teacher sets. You will learn how to create a climate for learning in which children want to come to class and learn. Focusing on the child does not mean, of course, that you can ignore the subject matter and academic content. On the contrary, it means that the teacher is well versed in the subject matter.

The question may arise, “Why care so much about the interests of the student, since they will have to learn many things they may not like?” One may feel the student’s real interests are in cinema, sports or pop music, rather than in serious subjects. However, beginning exactly from where their interests lie, even if these interests are totally unrelated to schoolwork, will gain the students’ attention. The emotional base for the students’ learning shifts from one of fear or force to real interest when they happily and readily give their attention. Thus,a common understanding between teacher and child develops.

For example, at the beginning of a class, the teacher can let the students talk about themselves, and put their own considerable knowledge to use. The teacher can find out what interests them the most about cinema: the story, the music, or the actors? What interests them most about a particular sport: the players or the teams of different countries? Each one of these topics may be expanded or used to include literature, geography, and music from around the world, fine arts, or biographies. Then, through association, the teacher may introduce the syllabus.

The CFT methodology of the course promotes academic excellence, while being sensitive to the personal and social needs of the students. It can be done any time and at any place, regardless of the teacher-child ratio and brings personal and social benefits to the children, and joy, satisfaction and fulfillment to the teacher applying it.

The following topics are covered in the CFT course:

  1. The importance of the child’s feelings in the learning process

  2. Children’s personal, social, and cognitive needs at different ages

  3. Children’s physical and psychological development

  4. How to talk to different aged children

  5. The effect of humiliation on a child’s emotional and academic development

  6. A positive approach in response to unwanted behaviour

  7. How a child develops self-discipline in a child-focused environment

  8. The CFT approach to motivation

  9. Various classroom management strategies

 

  • Training Period

The training programme is usually two months long.

Child-focused Teaching Certificate

A Child-focused Teaching Certificate is issued for participation in the programme.

  • Practical Handbook

Trainees are issued a Practical Handbook with information about living in Malakara. Please open the attached file to view the Practical Handbook for Programme Participants:

 If you are interested in participating in the Child-focused Teaching (CFT) training programme, please email Training and we will send you an application form.