Reflecting Children's Lives: A Handbook for Planning Child-Centered Curriculum (Redleaf Press Series)

by Curtis, Deb; Carter, Margie; Redleaf Press

• ISBN13: 9780131727915
• ISBN10: 0131727915
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Table of Contents

Introduction
What You'll Discover	xv
A Work in Progress	xvii
Begin with Yourself
Welcome to the Journey	2	(2)
The Three Rs Aren't Enough	4	(4)
How Do the Children Feel?	8	(2)
Practice Analyzing Curriculum Plans	10	(6)
Melissa's October Curriculum	10	(3)
Sharon's October Curriculum	13	(3)
Notes About Your Current Approach to Curriculum Planning	16	(2)
Revitalizing the Environment
Environments Beyond the Basics	18	(8)
Cultivate Dreams and Imagination	20	(2)
Use Elements of Nature	22	(1)
Keep Flexible Space, Schedule, and Classroom Routines	23	(3)
Six Basic Guidelines for Transforming Your Teaching to a Child-Centered Approach	26	(2)
Loose Parts	28	(3)
Kitchen Curriculum	28	(1)
Rope, String, and Twine Curriculum	29	(1)
Farm Curriculum	29	(1)
Cardboard Box Curriculum	29	(1)
Fabric Curriculum	30	(1)
Junk Shop Curriculum	30	(1)
Food Packaging and Odd Items Curriculum	30	(1)
Reflecting Children's Lives	31	(3)
Me and My Family	32	(1)
Learning About Others	33	(1)
Places for Physical Developmental Themes	34	(1)
Collaborate for Another Look at Your Environment and Daily Schedule	35	(1)
Assess Your Environment and Daily Schedule	36	(3)
Notes About Your Current Environment	39	(1)
Our Dream Became Our Curriculum: A Story of an Outdoor Play Space, from Laurie S. Cornelius	40	(10)
Putting the Child Back in DAP
Teacher's Ideas versus Child's Interest	50	(2)
Ron's Color Curriculum	50	(1)
Lena's Color Curriculum	51	(1)
Observation Is the Heart of the Matter	52	(1)
Skills Required for a Child-Centered Curriculum	53	(4)
Practice Learning to Observe	53	(2)
Questions for Analyzing Observation Notes	55	(1)
Questions to Guide Interpretation and Planning	55	(2)
Observation and Recording Skills	57	(5)
Practice Interpreting Observations	58	(4)
Program Observations	62	(1)
Developing an Eye for Significant Play in Your Program	63	(1)
Notes About Your Current Observation Practices	64	(1)
A Curriculum of Discovery-For the Children and for Me, a story from Esther Swensen	65	(5)
Redefining Curriculum Themes
From Topical Themes to Developmental Themes	70	(2)
Children's Play Themes	72	(9)
Exploration	72	(2)
Construction Play	74	(1)
Pretend Role Plays	75	(4)
Games	79	(2)
Meaningful Work Themes	81	(2)
Clean-Up Kits	81	(1)
Mealtime Preparation and Set Up	81	(1)
Classroom Maintenance, Repair, and Replacements	82	(1)
Lesson Planning and Recording	82	(1)
Helping Your Classmates	82	(1)
Physical Development Themes	83	(3)
Body Themes	83	(3)
Creative Expression Themes	86	(8)
Painting Activities	89	(1)
Transformation Activities	90	(2)
Learning Skills	92	(2)
Practice Responding to Children's Themes	94	(5)
Samantha's Project	94	(2)
Mario's Project	96	(1)
LaToya's Project	97	(2)
Notes About Your Theme Planning	99	(1)
Our School's Not Fair: A Story About Emergent Curriculum, a story from Ann Pelo	100	(8)
Caring for Infants and Toddlers
What's the Curriculum?	108	(1)
Relationships Are the Curriculum	109	(4)
Use Children's Books	110	(2)
Make Friends with a Baby	112	(1)
Reading and Responding to Cues	113	(2)
Analyze Pictures	113	(1)
Observe Interactions Between Adults and Children	114	(1)
Principles for Reading and Responding to Children's Cues	114	(1)
Everyday Routines Are the Curriculum	115	(3)
Analyze Catalog Materials	115	(2)
Curriculum Theme Forms	117	(1)
Notes About Your Current Approach to Caring for Infants and Toddlers	118	(1)
Riding the Waves Again: A Journal Entry About Returning to Work with Toddlers, a story from Deb Curtis	119	(5)
Organizing and Communicating Your Approach to Curriculum Planning
Where Do You Begin?	124	(2)
Thematic Approaches to Child-Centered Curriculum	126	(3)
Topical Themes	127	(1)
Environmental Themes	127	(1)
Developmental Themes	127	(1)
Shifting Themes	128	(1)
Sustaining Themes	128	(1)
Getting Organized	129	(2)
A Planning Process	131	(6)
A Four-Step Planning Process	131	(4)
Practice the Planning Process	135	(2)
Representing the Curriculum to Others	137	(6)
Practice Becoming Articulate About Your Curriculum Approach	143	(2)
Notes About Your Planning and Communication	145	(1)
A Whale of a Good Time: A Story About Multiple Intelligences, from Connie Gassner	146	(5)
Curriculum Is Just One Big Spider Web: A Dialogue About Changing Our Head Start Classrooms, with Toni Washington and Frances Jones Baker	151	(7)
A Child Development Center's Journey Toward Emergent Curriculum: An Administrator's Story, from Barbara McPherson	158	(8)
Developing Yourself
A Journey of Personal and Professional Development	166	(1)
New Roles for Providers and Teachers	166	(4)
Self-Assessment	170	(1)
Cultivating Your Dispositions	171	(7)
Dispositions for Child-Centered Programs	172	(2)
Useful Dispositions to Acquire	174	(3)
Practice Identifying Dispositions	177	(1)
A Commitment to Ongoing Self-Evaluation and Growth	178	(4)
Learning from Children	178	(1)
Re-Awakening Your Senses	179	(1)
Cultivating Aesthetics	180	(1)
Practicing With Watercolors	181	(1)
Notes on Preparing Yourself	182	(1)
Look for Rikki Tikki at All Times: The True Story of the Runaway Bunny, from Sarah A. Felstiner	183	(8)
Recommended Resources
Environments, Curriculum Planning, and Teacher Roles	191	(4)
Infants and Toddlers	195	(1)
Observing Children	196	(2)
Observing the Natural World	198	(1)
Professional Growth and Inspiration	199	(1)
Personal Growth and Inspiration	200	(1)
Useful Supplies	201