1. Chapter 18
The Curriculum

2. The curriculum includes:
All activities, materials and equipment used in the classroom

3. Developmentally appropriate curriculum is based on how children develop and learn.
The curriculum should consist of a wide range of concepts, experiences and materials designed to meet the developmental needs of a group of children.
These needs include:
Social
Emotional
Physical
Cognitive

4. A developmentally appropriate curriculum:
Should develop, support and encourage positive relationships with the children’s family
Should tailor learning experiences to children’s ages, stage of development, interests, needs, abilities, and experiences.
Should provide the children an opportunity to make meaningful choices

5. Developing Program Goals
These are described as the “WHY” of the curriculum
These goals should focus on the whole child
Each goal is broad and should relate to all four areas of development

6. Examples of program goals
To develop independence
To develop a curiosity about the world
To develop effective language skills, both listening and speaking
To develop an understanding of the relationships between people, events and objects

7. Meeting Program Goals
Teachers, available resources, and the environment all influence whether goals will be met.
Classroom activities and room arrangement should be designed to aid the children in meeting their goals

8. Assessment Should be based on the children’s activities at the center
occur as part of the ongoing life of the classroom
Rely on multiple sources
Highlight the children’s strengths and capabilities
Highlight what the children know and what they can do
Include collections of the children’s work (artwork, stories, projects) may include teacher’s observations

9. Content and Process-Centered Curriculum
Learning is a constant process or exploring and questioning the environment
All four areas of child development are included
Use a wide variety of age- appropriate materials, supplies and experiences are used

10. A good curriculum includes:
Direct learning experiences
Planned
Indirect learning experiences
Spur of the moment (mixing paint)
Teachable moments
unexpected event (someone falling over toys)

11. Factors to consider during Curriculum planning
What skill and content should be covered?
Do I have a balance of learning activities that support all developmental domains?
Have I considered all learning styles?
Field- sensitive
Field- independent
Visual learners
Auditory learners
Have I considered all learning characteristics?
Slow/ fast workers
Attentive/ ADHD

12. Emergent Curriculum
It emerges from the children’s interests and experiences
Might emerge from events, things, and people in the environment
it is always responsive to the children’s changing interests
Must use appropriate themes that have a meaningful connection to the children’s lives

13. Theme
A theme is one main topic or idea around which the classroom activities are planned
Connecting activities through a theme allows children to build on previous learning
Successful themes take the children’s age, abilities, interests, and experiences into consideration

14. Ways to Develop Themes Use a web Create a block plan
Write individual lesson plans

15. Summary
A developmentally appropriate curriculum is based on how children develop and learn.
It should consist of a wide variety of experiences and materials
Program goals should focus on the WHOLE child
The content and process- centered approach to planning is the method most often used
Learning should be seen as a constant process of exploring and questioning the environment.
Activities are often based on a theme
A quality staff is one who continually evaluates the curriculum and finds ways to improve