Curriculum for Young Children An Introduction

by Arce, Eve-Marie

• ISBN13: 9780766812789
• ISBN10: 0766812782
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-01-26
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Here is step-by-step guidance to developing and managing curriculum for early childhood education. Written by an experienced teacher in the field, this book presents basic methods for meeting the needs of children and how to adapt them to existing programs. It also helps teachers plan curriculum to maximize the time they can spend with the children and their parents. This hardcover book compares similar approaches in early childhood education. Teachers and parents alike will find this volume a very useful resource.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Acknowledgments	ix
Curriculum for Young Children: As Valuable and As Much Fun As You Make It!	1	(14)
Understanding Curriculum	2	(4)
Curriculum Ideas---Old and New	2	(1)
The Remarkable Teacher Planning Remarkable Curriculum	3	(1)
Activities---The Core of the Curriculum	4	(1)
Benefits of Planning and Managing Curriculum	5	(1)
Technology to Assist Teachers of Young Children	5	(1)
Fundamentals that Shape Early Childhood Education	6	(2)
Defining Early Childhood Education Terms	7	(1)
The Importance of the Early Experiences	7	(1)
Program Perspectives and Practices	8	(3)
Theories Influence Curricula	9	(1)
Types of Programs	10	(1)
Essential Considerations	11	(2)
Best Practices for Quality Programs	12	(1)
Strengthening Connections: Harmony, Equity, Respect	12	(1)
Review	13	(2)
Considering Children's Needs: Skills Developing During Early Childhood	15	(14)
What You Need to Know to Meet Children's Needs	16	(1)
Each Child is an Individual	16	(1)
The Concept of the Whole Child	17	(1)
Developmental Focus Areas	17	(3)
Physical Development	17	(1)
Affective and Aesthetic Development	18	(2)
Cognitive and Language Development	20	(1)
Skill Development: A Process	20	(2)
Reasonable Expectations	21	(1)
Developing Skills	21	(1)
Appropriate: Developmentally, Culturally, and Linguistically	22	(1)
Developmentally Appropriate	22	(1)
Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate	23	(1)
Ongoing Assessment of Children's Needs and Skills	23	(3)
Taking Cues from Children	23	(1)
Assessing What Children Say and Do	24	(1)
Collecting Information---Assessment Methods	24	(2)
Review	26	(3)
Early Curriculum Basics: Play, Discovery, Creativity	29	(12)
Play	30	(3)
Play Experiences During Early Childhood	30	(1)
Valuing Children's Play	31	(1)
Promoting Playful Experiences	32	(1)
Discovery, Curiosity, and Exploration	33	(2)
Interactive Questioning	33	(1)
Blending Technology into the Curriculum	34	(1)
Creativity	35	(1)
Many Ways to Think and Learn	35	(1)
Supporting Creativity	35	(1)
Partnering with Parents for Quality Curriculum	36	(3)
What Do Parents Want for Their Children?	36	(1)
Families as Resources for Learning	37	(1)
Linking Parents with Technology	38	(1)
Review	39	(2)
Environments for Young Children: Places for Curriculum	41	(12)
Environments that Strengthen Curriculum	42	(2)
Places for Young Children	43	(1)
Standards for Early Childhood Programs	44	(1)
Indoor and Outdoor Classrooms	44	(2)
Indoor Places	44	(1)
Outdoor Places	45	(1)
Storage for Curriculum Supplies	46	(1)
Interest Centers	46	(3)
What to Call the Interest Center?	47	(1)
How to Set Up Interest Centers	47	(2)
Environments for Inclusive Curricula	49	(1)
Review	50	(3)
Designing a Managed Curriculum: Beginning with Review and a Plan	53	(28)
Curriculum that is Good for Young Children	55	(4)
Curriculum Linked to Assessment	55	(1)
Individualizing Curriculum: Observe/Review/Plan	55	(1)
Child-Initiated Activities	56	(1)
Inclusive and Sensitive	57	(1)
Multi-Age Grouping	58	(1)
Teacher-Guided Experiences	58	(1)
Identifying Curricular Guidelines	59	(1)
Guidelines for Children, Families, and Programs	59	(1)
Developing Practical and Meaningful Guidelines	59	(1)
Approaches to Planning	60	(7)
Developmental Focus Approach	60	(1)
Physical	61	(1)
Affective and Aesthetic	61	(1)
Cognitive and Language	61	(1)
Curriculum Area Approach	61	(2)
Art	63	(1)
Creative Dramatics	63	(1)
Health, Safety, Nutrition	63	(1)
Communication and Literacy	63	(1)
Mathematics	63	(1)
Movement	64	(1)
Music and Rhythm	64	(1)
Science	64	(1)
Social Understanding	64	(1)
Thematic Approach	64	(1)
Project Approach	65	(2)
Creating an Emergent and Integrated Curriculum	67	(2)
Emergent Experiences	67	(1)
Integrated Experiences	67	(2)
Establishing and Recording A Curriculum Plan and Schedule	69	(7)
Getting Started: What Is Happening Now?	69	(1)
Flexibility within a Framework	69	(1)
Framing a Schedule	70	(1)
Recording Long- and Short-Term Curriculum Plans	70	(2)
Plan for Developmental Focus Areas	72	(1)
Plan for Curriculum Areas	72	(1)
Plan for Interest Centers	72	(1)
Curriculum Planning Form for Integrating Activities	73	(2)
Adapting Plans for Extended Day Activities	75	(1)
Maximizing Curriculum Resources	76	(1)
Parents and Community Guests	77	(1)
Trips in the Neighborhood	77	(1)
Review	77	(4)
Activities for Young Children: Managing Good Ideas	81	(16)
Curriculum Activities---What to Consider	82	(1)
How Ideas Become Activities	82	(1)
Defining an Activity	83	(1)
What it Takes to Create an Activity	83	(6)
Goals for Guiding Activities	83	(2)
Important Elements of an Activity	85	(1)
Understanding the Elements	85	(4)
Documenting Activities with forms	89	(2)
Written Curriculum Guides	90	(1)
Reusing and Displaying Curriculum Activity Guides	90	(1)
Is the Activity Suitable?	91	(3)
Clustering Activities	92	(1)
Modifying Activities	93	(1)
Setting up Activities	94	(1)
What is Needed?	94	(1)
Adapting the Plan to the Day and Moment	94	(1)
Labeling and Storing Curriculum Materials	94	(1)
Review	95	(2)
Physical Development: Health, Safety, and Nutrition; Movement; and Music and Rhythm Activities	97	(18)
Physical Development	98	(2)
Large Movement: Possible Outcomes and Activities	98	(1)
Skills: Possible Outcomes	99	(1)
Large Movement Activities	99	(1)
Small Movement: Possible Outcomes and Activities	99	(1)
Skills: Possible Outcomes	99	(1)
Small Movement Activities	100	(1)
Connecting Curriculum for Physical Development	100	(2)
Integrating Activities	101	(1)
Teaching Strategies	101	(1)
Physical Development with Health, Safety, and Nutrition	102	(5)
Healthy Habits for Young Children	102	(1)
Health: Possible Outcomes	102	(1)
Healthy Habit Topics and Activities for Young Children	103	(1)
Safety for Young Children	103	(1)
Safety: Possible Outcomes	103	(1)
Safety: Topics and Activities for Young Children	104	(1)
Nutritional Awareness and Cooking for Young Children	105	(1)
Nutrition and Cooking: Possible Outcomes	105	(1)
Nutrition Topics and Cooking Activities for Young Children	106	(1)
Physical Development with Movement	107	(2)
Movement and Perceptual Motor Development for Young Children: Possible Outcomes and Activities	107	(1)
Movement: Possible Outcomes	108	(1)
Movement Topics and Activities for Young Children	108	(1)
Physical Development with Music and Rhythm Activities	109	(4)
Music and Rhythm for Young Children: Possible Outcomes and Activities	109	(1)
Music and Rhythm: Possible Outcomes	109	(1)
Music and Rhythm Topics and Activities for Young Children	110	(3)
Review	113	(2)
Affective and Aesthetic Development: Art, Creative Dramatics, and Social Understanding Activities	115	(18)
Affective and Aesthetic Development	116	(4)
Emotional Development: Possible Outcomes and Activities	117	(1)
Skills: Possible Outcomes	117	(1)
Emotional Development Activities	117	(1)
Social Development: Possible Outcomes and Activities	118	(1)
Skills: Possible Outcomes	118	(1)
Social Development Activities	118	(2)
Aesthetic Development: Possible Outcomes and Activities	120	(1)
Skills: Possible Outcomes	120	(1)
Aesthetic Development Activities	120	(1)
Connecting Curriculum for Affective and Aesthetic Development	120	(1)
Integrating Activities	120	(1)
Teaching Strategies	121	(1)
Affective and Aesthetic Development with Art	121	(4)
Art for Young Children	121	(1)
Art: Possible Outcomes	122	(1)
Art Topics and Activities for Young Children	123	(2)
Affective and Aesthetic Development with Creative Dramatics	125	(2)
Creative Dramatics for Young Children	125	(1)
Creative Dramatics: Possible Outcomes	125	(1)
Creative Dramatics Topics and Activities for Young Children	125	(1)
Dramatic Play	125	(1)
Guided Drama	126	(1)
Puppetry	126	(1)
Sociodramatics	126	(1)
Affective and Aesthetic Development with Social Understanding	127	(4)
Social Understanding for Young Children	127	(1)
Social Understanding: Possible Outcomes	128	(1)
Social Understanding Topics and Activities for Young Children	128	(1)
Activities to Strengthen Connections	129	(2)
Review	131	(2)
Cognitive and Language Development: Literacy, Mathematics, and Science Activities	133	(20)
Cognitive and Language Development	134	(4)
Cognitive Development: Possible Outcomes and Activities	135	(1)
Skills: Possible Outcomes	135	(1)
Cognitive Development Activities	135	(1)
Language Development: Possible Outcomes and Activities	135	(1)
Skills: Possible Outcomes	136	(1)
Language Development Activities	136	(2)
Connecting Curriculum for Cognitive and Language Development	138	(2)
Integrating Activities	138	(1)
Teaching Strategies	138	(1)
Technology	139	(1)
Cognitive and Language Development with Communication and Literacy	140	(4)
Communication for Young Children: Possible Outcomes and Activities	140	(1)
Communication: Possible Outcomes	140	(1)
Communication Topics and Activities for Young Children	140	(1)
Literacy for Young Children: Possible Outcomes and Activities	140	(2)
Literacy: Possible Outcomes	142	(1)
Literacy Topics and Activities for Young Children	143	(1)
Cognitive and Language Development With Mathematics	144	(4)
Mathematics for Young Children	144	(1)
Mathematics: Possible Outcomes	145	(2)
Mathematics Topics and Activities for Young Children	147	(1)
Cognitive and Language Development With Science	148	(3)
Science for Young Children	148	(1)
Science: Possible Outcomes	148	(1)
Science Topics and Activities for Young Children	149	(2)
Review	151	(2)
Professional Growth: Success with Curriculum Management	153	(8)
Main Points of Curriculum Management	154	(2)
Benefits for Children, Families, and Staff	154	(1)
Will the Curriculum Plan Meet Program Guidelines?	155	(1)
Periodic Review---A Team Effort	155	(1)
Professional Preparation and Growth	156	(2)
Professional Commitment	156	(1)
Preparation	157	(1)
Professional Growth	158	(1)
Challenges for Early Childhood Educators	158	(3)
Appendix A: Curriculum Activity Guides	161	(72)
Appendix B: Reproducible Sample Forms	233	(6)
Developmental Focus Area Approach	234	(1)
Curriculum Area Approach	235	(1)
Curriculum Planning Form	236	(1)
Curriculum Activity Guide	237	(1)
Interest Center Guide	238	(1)
Glossary	239	(4)
Index	243