1. STACEY STEMBER CE101 Unit 8 Seminar Curriculum Planning 1

2. Unit 8 Objectives After completing this unit you should be able to: Discuss how to develop lessons as part of curriculum planning. Explain the importance of early literacy. Share activities that integrate the subjects.

3. Unit 8 Requirements Read Chapter 8 in your textbook. Web Resources: You have 4 web resources to read. You can find the links to these articles under the Unit 8 Web Resource tab on the class platform. Discussion: You have two discussion questions to answer. Make sure your respond to at least 2-3 of your classmates posts for each question. Seminar: Attend live seminar or complete the seminar discussion questions. 3

4. Language Development: Nativist Theory 4 Nativist theory: children have an inborn ability to make sense of the world by using language to find meaning (Crosser, para. 4). Noam Chomsky (1972) young children learn language effortlessly through a mechanism in the brain called LAD (language acquisition device). The young child can not analyze the rules and structure of the language logically (Crosser, para. 5).

5. Theories and Language Development 5 Social learning theory: children imitate the words and language patterns they hear by watching and listening to others (Bandura, 1989).

6. Amazing……………. A normal infant born to deaf and mute parents was observed as the child developed language. This infant provided scientists the opportunity to observe a child’s attempts to learn language in an environment where spoken language interaction was not possible. The question that scientists asked: Could a child learn language by listening to TV? What do you think happened???????? 6

7. More language theory….. Interactionist theory: children need more than a desire to speak, more than an inborn LAD, and more than a model to imitate. Interactionists suggest that children need to interact with others (Bohannon & Bonvillian, 1997 7

8. Activities to Facilitate Language Development in Infants 8 Engage infants with rhymes, simple word games, and songs Books with either black and white or colorful pictures of familiar objects stimulate infants. The infant is neurologically stimulated by the flow of the language used by caregivers Put up photos and talk about those photos throughout the infant’s day. (Crosser, para. 23-25).

9. Activities to Facilitate Language Development in Toddlers 9 Build vocabulary of words by talking and pointing things out during reading activities Books that picture common objects are particularly appealing to the young child Engage the child in movement activities to stress vocabulary meanings (example: action songs, etc.) “Take advantage of every opportunity to enlarge the child's world because each new adventure brims with language possibilities” (Crosser, para. 26-28).

10. Activities to Facilitate Language Development in Preschoolers 10 Interactive reading: adults should allow children to make comments, predict events, and answer questions about the story and illustrations (Crosser, para. 29). Pause while reading to allow the anticipation of words and phrases. Give the child enough time to insert the vocabulary during the reading of a familiar book Make up different endings, play with the words, and encourage children to retell the stories and act them out. Provide simple props and costumes for role playing. (Example: poster board characters with holes for arms and faces) (Crosser, para. 31).

11. If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff LISTEN AS I READ THE STORY ALOUD…………………….. 11

12. 12 Math center? Reading or Language Center? Social Studies Center? Community Center? Science Center? How could we include the family and get parents involved? Integrating activities across the curriculum and in centers

13. Promoting language development with literature 13 Provide puppets, dramatic play props, blocks, dolls, and/or stuffed or plastic animals that encourage talking (Crosser, para. 32). Listening centers, karaoke centers, or other language props encourage listening and speaking skills (Crosser, para. 33). Expand vocabulary through movement and musical activities (Crosser, para. 34).

14. Incorporating literature into your theme 14 First select the books for your unit theme. Next, share with the children a brief background of the author’s life and a brief summary of the story Do ask questions to increase comprehension and thinking skills in your class Make a K-W-L chart What do we know? What do we want to know? What have we learned? Are there any other resources you want to use in teaching your unit?

15. Organization Tips for Curriculum Planning 15 Using a large monthly calendar, write in Monday through Friday. Decide on a theme or unit for the week. Include blocks for literature, math, science, music and art. Note holidays and special occasions. List accommodations for children with special needs Stay flexible in your planning and follow through. Leave plans at the end of the day for a substitute in case of unplanned absence (Tomlin, para. 8-9).

16. References 16 Follari, L. M., (2007). Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education. Prentice Hall.

17. Final Project Due on the last day of Unit 9. Your final project is to develop learning centers around the theme “All About Me”. Your final project may be in the form of a Microsoft Word document or a Power Point Presentation. All About Me can relate to several themes. For example: All About Me can cover family, body parts, senses, nutrition, self awareness etc. You can include any of these and many others in your activities. 17

18. You are asked to create activities that relate to the “All About Me” theme for SIX different centers. One center must be Book Center and you may choose 5 additional centers from the following list: Book Center Block Center Sand/Water Center Housekeeping/Dramatic Play Center Cooking Center Math Center Art Center Writing Center Puppet Center Social Studies Center Science/Discovery Center Computer Center Listening Center Music Center Puzzles and Games Center 18

19. Power Point Project Requirements At least 14 slides in length. Make sure you include a title page slide and a reference page slide. 1 Title page slide 3 Introductory slides 6 Activity/center slides 3 Conclusion slides 1 Reference page slide 19

20. Introductory Page Slides Answer the following questions on 3 separate slides: 1. Why are centers important? 2. What kinds of skills and concepts can be reinforced in centers? 3. What is your role as an Early Childhood Care Professional in working with children in these centers? 20

21. Supporting Slides Provide 6 slides, one per center you choose. Make sure one of the slides is the Book Center. Include the name of a book that relates to the All About Me theme in that slide. Include the following information in each slide:  1. The name of the center.  2. The specific activities the children will engage in when playing in the center to support the theme “All About Me”.  3. What materials will be used?  4. What developmental skills will the activity teach? 21

22. Concluding Slides Include the following information on 3 separate slides: 1. How did the center activities enhance the learning experience of the children? 2. How do learning centers address different learning styles? 3. What was your role in working with students and small groups and they participated in centers? 22

23. DON’T FORGET Include a title page slide at the beginning and a reference page slide at the end! 23

24. Microsoft Word Document Project Requirements At least 6-8 pages in length. Make sure you include a title page and reference page in your project. 24

25. Introductory Paragraph Make sure you answer the following questions in your introductory paragraph: 1. Why are centers important? 2. What kinds of skills and concepts can be reinforced in centers? 3. What is your role as an Early Childhood Care Professional in working with children in these centers? 25

26. Supporting Paragraphs Include 6 paragraphs, one per center you choose. Make sure one of the paragraphs is the Book Center. Include the name of a book that relates to the All About Me theme in that paragraph. Include the following information in each paragraph:  1. The name of the center.  2. The specific activities the children will engage in when playing in the center to support the theme “All About Me”.  3. What materials will be used?  4. What developmental skills will the activity teach? 26

27. Concluding Paragraph Include the following information in your concluding paragraph: 1. How did the center activities enhance the learning experience of the children? 2. How do learning centers address different learning styles? 3. What was your role in working with students and small groups and they participated in centers? 27

28. DON’T FORGET Include a title page slide at the beginning and a reference page at the end! 28

29. Part 2 of Final Project On a separate Microsoft Word document: Imagine you are working with one- and two-year-old children in a child care center. The majority of the children's parents work two jobs and have a difficult time participating in your center's activities. Whenever the center plans an event, your parental involvement is lower than desired. The center has tried to increase parental involvement – through such methods as calling to remind parents and sending home notices – but it is not having any luck. Paragraph 1: identify the issue. Paragraph 2: discuss your beliefs about the situation. Paragraph 3: formulate conclusions and offer suggestions to the director of the child care center. Explain why you think your suggestions would improve the parental involvement at the center. Paragraph 4: create a Parent Involvement Plan for the teachers to use and refer to often. This plan should include various activities to involve parents. It should discuss how to communicate and advertise the events and who will be involved in preparing the event and making sure it runs smoothly. 29

30. 30 Good Night and Sweet Dreams!