Early Child Curriculum
What is curriculum?
Purpose of Curriculm
Cultural preservation and experience from good works and disciplines of knowledge.
Acquiring knowledge and skills are important because of the success of future schooling and skills needed in society.
Prepares for interaction within a democratic society.
Creates a fair and just society
Future of Curriculm
Know how children learn and how they develop.
Knowledge of each child.
Understanding curriculum.
Being knowledgeable with reading and math.
Knowledge and understanding of the standards.
Main topic
Programs for at risk children
Head Start programs stemmed from the realization that not all children succeed in school.
The students are given more time to complete tasks and master concepts.
Curricculm came from Bank Street and Education Development Center.
They modeled the Behaviorist theory ideals from the Kansas Behavioral Analysis.
Project Follow Through was introduced to allow the continuation of curriculum models from Head Start to grade 3. The condition being head start provided learning experiences resulting in academic gain.
Roots of Early Childhood Curriculum
Kindergarten
Kindergarten began with a program based on play.
At the kindergarten it is a wide spread belief that the holistic view of teaching is most effective. This entails hands-on learning.
The progressive education act made improvements to schools and debated curriculum preparing students. Equipment and new standards were introduced.
Nursery School
In nursery school the curriculum focuses on teaching life skills such as hand washing, dressing, and eating.
In Nursery school common activities were block building, stories, music, and dance.
European Programs
Waldorf Education focuses on the development of the child's body ,mind, and spirit.
The Montessori method is characterized by design and sequenced learning materials.
Children at Risk Programs
The Head Start program followed the principles of Nursery School child development.
Head Start curriculum would continue with Project Follow Through with added academic gains.
Develepmental Theories and their impact on education
Implications of the Behaviorist Theory for Education
Limited to certain concepts relating to reading and math.
Believes all children learn the same way.
Mostly teacher based.
Implications of the Constructivist Theory for Education
Child-centered based.
Knowledge must be through the child's thinking of the experiences.
Believes children are responsible for own ongoing development.
Selection and Organization
The Unit or Thematic Approach is using a topic that is selected and organizied with activities over a set amount of time.
The Developmental Interaction Approach is based on using real-world experiences for learning over several weeks.
A Emergent Curriculum is child-centered which are conducted with children based on their understanding and knowledge.
The Reggio Emilia Approach allows teachers to consider themselves the child's partner and children are encouraged to use modes of expression to explain the topic.
The Project Approach uses questions by the teacher or student to investigate the topic and gather information from the answers of those questions.