Emergent CurriculumEmergent Curriculum

What is emergent What is emergent curriculum?curriculum?

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNFYFSa0720

Links to Reggio EmiliaLinks to Reggio Emilia

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UFhcDzAqdk

• 1:08- 1:581:08- 1:58

Teacher’s Role Teacher’s Role

• to co-explore the learning experience to co-explore the learning experience with the children with the children

• to provoke ideas, problem solving, to provoke ideas, problem solving, and conflict and conflict

• to take ideas from the children and to take ideas from the children and return them for further exploration return them for further exploration

Projects…Projects…

• can emerge from children's ideas can emerge from children's ideas and/or interests and/or interests

• can be provoked by teachers can be provoked by teachers

• can be introduced by teachers can be introduced by teachers knowing what is of interest to knowing what is of interest to children: shadows, puddles, tall children: shadows, puddles, tall buildings, construction sites, nature, buildings, construction sites, nature, etc. etc.

But… how do we get But… how do we get started?started?

Video ExampleVideo Example

• To See Takes Time: Growing To See Takes Time: Growing Curriculum from Children’s TheoriesCurriculum from Children’s Theories

How to prepare for How to prepare for teaching an emergent teaching an emergent

curriculumcurriculum

Ideas from To See Takes Ideas from To See Takes TimeTime• Don’t sit around and waitDon’t sit around and wait

• Actively create a space where children’s Actively create a space where children’s ideas can be pursuedideas can be pursued

• Make the environment a place that Make the environment a place that children can explorechildren can explore

• Make available a lot of materials so Make available a lot of materials so children are able to communicate their children are able to communicate their thoughts, ideas, and questions. (art thoughts, ideas, and questions. (art supplies)supplies)

• Create general goals and make Create general goals and make predications about what direction predications about what direction activities and projects might take, activities and projects might take, and then make appropriate and then make appropriate preparations based on those preparations based on those predictions. predictions.

Predictions Predictions

Use provocations, questions, Use provocations, questions, and wait time. and wait time.

• Introduce a provocation to children- Introduce a provocation to children- something that stimulates or provokes something that stimulates or provokes thought and invites wonder, curiosity, and thought and invites wonder, curiosity, and investigation. An example of a provocation investigation. An example of a provocation would be a giant leaf, a photo of a sunset, would be a giant leaf, a photo of a sunset, or a snail shell. Allow for questions and pose or a snail shell. Allow for questions and pose your own questions, then give a wait period your own questions, then give a wait period where students may formulate further where students may formulate further questions as well as come up with their own questions as well as come up with their own theories and ideas. theories and ideas.

Observe the children in actionObserve the children in action

• The study of group conversations can The study of group conversations can reveal children’s questions, reveal children’s questions, concerns, and idea that could be the concerns, and idea that could be the focus of further investigation or focus of further investigation or explorations. When we understand explorations. When we understand their ideas we are better able to their ideas we are better able to think of ways to provoke the think of ways to provoke the children’s thinking. children’s thinking.

ConversationsConversations

• Have conversations with children as Have conversations with children as a basis for curriculum planninga basis for curriculum planning

• Group conversations can provide a Group conversations can provide a lot of information about questions, lot of information about questions, concerns, and ideas that could be the concerns, and ideas that could be the focus of further investigation or focus of further investigation or exploration. exploration.

ResourcesResources

• http://www.youngchildrenslearning.ecsd.net/reggio%20emilia%20philosophy.htm

• DVD To See Takes Time: Growing Curriculum From Children's DVD To See Takes Time: Growing Curriculum From Children's TheoriesTheories

Authors:Authors:  Margie Carter, Harvest Resources Margie Carter, Harvest Resources

• Early Childhood CurriculumEarly Childhood Curriculum Evelyn A. Peterson Evelyn A. Peterson

• Bringing the Reggio Approach to Your Early Years Practice Bringing the Reggio Approach to Your Early Years Practice Linda Linda Thornton and Pat BruntonThornton and Pat Brunton

• First Steps Toward Teaching the Reggio WayFirst Steps Toward Teaching the Reggio Way Joanne Hendrick Joanne Hendrick

• Next Steps to Teaching the Reggio Way Next Steps to Teaching the Reggio Way Joanne HendrickJoanne Hendrick