Knowledge of a six year old child’s developmental regularities by teachers of grades I–III

Abstract

This article is an attempt to discuss the evaluative research conducted for the purpose of the project „A six-year old in school”, co-financed by the European Union Social Fund.
In the context of lowering the school starting age it seems very important for teachers of grades I to III to know the developmental regularities of a six-year-old child. The possession of this knowledge facilitates the adjustment of the curriculum requirements to the child’s individual capabilities, needs, abilities, and interests. Particularly significant seem both the ways of obtaining information on the developmental regularity of the six-year-old child, noticing and understanding their importance to the proper functioning of the child in school, and the ability to solve problems occurring in the educational practice. The creation of optimal conditions for the realization of the curriculum objectives, construction of knowledge, acquisition of skills and shaping of attitudes is not possible without a thorough knowledge of the child, observation and analysis of his or her behavior.