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Choosing and Using Curriculum

Choosing and Using Curriculum. Janet Bassingthwaite. What does Curriculum Mean?. Curriculum in early childhood is: the entire range of experiences that children have E nvironment Activities L earning outcomes/objectives. Why do we need curriculum?. Research findings:

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Choosing and Using Curriculum

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  1. Choosing and Using Curriculum Janet Bassingthwaite

  2. What does Curriculum Mean? Curriculum in early childhood is: • the entire range of experiences that children have • Environment • Activities • Learning outcomes/objectives

  3. Why do we need curriculum? • Research findings: • Many factors impact the quality and impact of ECE programs, one of the most influential (and maybe easiest to control) is the curriculum.

  4. How do I choose? Based on: • Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) • knowledge of child development • Early Learning Guidelines • Pre-K Standards • careful observation of the needs and interests of individual children • Design activities and spaces around this aspect There is no one “best” curriculum for all programs. There are many excellent curriculum models that meet the guidelines for developmentally appropriate practice

  5. Choosing… • Thoughtfully • The approach that meets the needs of your program and the children you serve. • Alignment with your program goals, philosophy, mission, etc. • Socialization, academic, arts, hands-on, direct instruction? • Domains and domain elements • (ELG, Pre-K Standards, etc.) • Pedagogy- variety of ways to teach • One-on-one, large and small group, meet different learning styles

  6. Creative Curriculum • Environment • DAP interest areas • Activities • Assessment of learning http://www.nj.gov/education/ece/curriculum/curriculum.htm

  7. Reggio Approach • Environment • Strongly child-directed • Focus on natural materials • Progressive but no scope and sequence • Environment and activities is based completely on children’s skills and interests. NO SET AGENDA or focused instruction on ‘academic skills’ • Children learn necessary skills through activities they are interested in

  8. Working With Clay

  9. Curiosity with Lights

  10. Interesting Shadows

  11. Emergent Curriculum • Plan for learning and activities ‘emerges’ from the children • Mix of child-directed with teacher-guided learning • No packaged pieces to order- you develop the day to day curriculum

  12. Using ND resources with curriculum… • Early Learning Guidelines • Pre-K Standards • Resource is the guide for developing curriculum with appropriate activities to meet learning objectives • Theme or interest area activities are the avenue for building curriculum that meets learning objectives

  13. Language Development- Listening and Understanding/Comprehension Resource is your guide… 3-5 yrs: Listens for a variety of purposes (to perform a task) 18-36 mo: Follows simple one-step directions Large group- Play Simon Says Social- self-help- step by step brushing teeth NORTH DAKOTA PRE-KINDERGARTEN CONTENT STANDARDS North Dakota Department of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler, State Superintendent 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept 201 Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0440 4-5 yrs: LL.4.2 Listen for a variety of purposes (follow instructions) Science experiment – make oobleck w/ three step by step directions

  14. Theme- Snowmen Theme and/or activity areas link to resources …. Language and Literacy Cognitive/ Math Social Emotional Large group- build snowmen as a team outside Small group- Play snowman math game with snowman in different colored scarves Read Snow Day B-3: Looks at, turns pages, and names people or objects in picture books B-3: Attends to colors, shapes, patterns Matches snowman B-3: Self-awareness Shows confidence in increasing ability 3-5 yrs: Comparison, matching, patterns 3-5 yrs: Know that books have titles, authors and illustrators 3-5 yrs: Interaction with peers and adults 4-5 yrs: LL 1.1 Recall and retell information from a book with attention to detail 4-5 yrs: SED 2.7 work cooperatively with others 4-5 yrs: MTH 2.1 Recognize that the number of objects can change when they are added

  15. Your turn to practice-

  16. Be careful… • Watch out for ‘cookie cutter’ approaches • Lack of hands-on, creative learning • A lot of cut and paste projects • Worksheet-based learning • Use these for additional enhancement of learning or to jump start more appropriate ideas

  17. How do I know if I choose the right one? • http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/EarlyChildhoodEduc/curricguidance.pdf

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