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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!