Mano a Mano 3Phase II Internet Course

Week 6 – Topic IVThe Early Childhood

CurriculumDrs. Ellen Marshall and Cathy

McAuliffe

Objectives for this topic: Explore your understanding of the

components of a sound early childhood curriculum

Investigate your ability to articulate the relationship of your educational philosophy, early learning standards, and teaching techniques to your early childhood curriculum

Explore your understanding of one early childhood curriculum model

Topic IV: Curriculum

This topic will last two weeks March 1 – 14, 2010

Introduction

Before going on with this presentation, please ask yourself (and answer yourself!)…

How would you define curriculum?

Curriculum

Curriculum can be defined as “an organized framework that delineates the content children are to learn, the processes through which children achieve

the identified curricular goals, what teachers do to help children achieve

these goals, and the context in which teaching and learning

occur” (Bredekamp & Rosegrant, 1992)

Curriculum Your curriculum is a reflection of your

philosophy (the basic principles, attitudes, and beliefs) of early childhood education (this needs to be based on sound research-based information)

goals (early learning standards) for the children

teaching techniques used to achieve those goals

A comprehensive curriculum includes… Social-emotional development Language and literacy Mathematics Technology Scientific inquiry Understanding ourselves and our

communities Creative expression and arts

appreciation Physical skills and development

What about you? Is your curriculum

comprehensive? The completion of the ECERS-R

should help you in answering this question

Even though the ECERS-R not a curriculum, it assists in evaluating the context in which teaching andlearning occur

It is a significant step in ensuring an appropriate early childhood context for your curriculum

Curriculum Development is… An ongoing process Based on sound theories of child

development Based on knowledge of how children

grow and develop at different ages and stages (developmentally appropriate practices)

Based on the cultural needs and interests of your students

Based on careful observation of individual children

Position Statements

Follow these links and read some information about early childhood curriculum:

North Central Regional Educational Laboratory: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/

methods/instrctn/in5lk5.htm NAEYC:

http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf

Research in a nutshell

Follow these links and read some research related to curriculum:

From the Clearinghouse of Early Education and Parenting: http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/eecearchive/

digests/1997/dunn97.html From the Association of Early Childhood

International: http://www.acei.org/playpaper.htm

Curriculum Models… Can provide guidelines for planning and

organizing experiences and activities No one curriculum model addresses all of

the developmental and cultural needs of children

Examples of curriculum models: Montessori, Bank Street, High/Scope, Reggio

Emilia, Primary Years Programme, the Project Approach

STOP! Research the Internet

for more information on one of the curriculum models listed in the previous slide

Select one that especially interests you

Write a reflection about something that’s new to you

What do these curricula have in common?

The philosophy, goals and teaching techniques that form the pillars of these curricula are based on developmental and constructivist theories of learning

Let’s go back to Slide #6… Remember that your curriculum reflects

Your philosophy (the basic principles, attitudes, and beliefs) of early childhood education (this needs to be based on sound research-based information)

Your goals (valid standards) for the children Teaching techniques you use to achieve

those goals (again based on research-based practices)

(1) Your Philosophy Have you written your philosophy of

early education? Many teachers post this on the door to

their classroom (along with their photo) or give it to their students’ parents

Check out these explanations of philosophies: http://resumes-for-teachers.com/news/

philosophy-of-education.htm http://www.uwstout.edu/art/artedportfolios/

creatingyour/philosphy.htm

(1) Your Philosophy

Write a working draft of your philosophy of early learning

If you already have one written, revisit it and revise it if necessary

(2) Your Goals (Standards) for Early Learning The second item that your

curriculum must reflect is your selection of the early learning standards…remember the standards we asked you to identify earlier?

Curriculum must be planned with standards in mind

We will come back to this next week!

(3) Teaching Techniques Your teaching techniques should be based on

your educational philosophy We will come back to this next week, as well!