Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  What curriculum are you using in public PREK?

    Posted 04-06-2021 05:12 PM
    Hi!  I'm researching what curriculums are out there.  Our program typically uses Tools of the Mind, however with current guidelines put in place due to COVID we have moved away Tools.  This year we did not follow a specific curriculum.  We are looking forward to the fall and wondering what other curriculums are out there.  What are people using and pros and cons.  Thanks in advance.

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    Sarah Enaire
    Teacher
    Head Start
    Sidney ME
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  • 2.  RE: What curriculum are you using in public PREK?

    Posted 04-10-2021 06:32 AM
    The NC Child Care Commission has a pretty extensive list of "approved" curriculum choices that may be used by public Pre-K programs in North Carolina. It was last updated in 2018. 
    https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Read/nc-curriculum-and-formative-assessment-review-process

    To be approved, curriculums had to be evidenced based, provide "Play/child-centered based activities or experience, to address each developmental domain in Foundations,"  and include a language/literacy component.

    "Foundations" refers to North Carolina's adopted "Foundations for Early Learning & Development" (FELD).
    Overview: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Foundations-for-Early-Learning-and-Development

    Access and download: North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development

    I would say, by far, most "NC Pre-K" funded programs in the state are using The Creative Curriculum by Teaching Strategies.

    You might also be interested in looking at the FELD aligned "Remote Learning Guide" which provides guidance to programs that had to shift to remote instruction due to COVID restrictions. It is available on the NC Dept. of Public Instruction website: https://sites.google.com/dpi.nc.gov/nck-3fap/home/foundations-support/foundations-remote-learning

    I do not work directly in a classroom, so I can not provide specific pros & cons, but thought the "narrowing of the list," as was done by the NC Child Care Commission, might be useful for you.





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    Deborah Musika
    Executive Director
    Montgomery County Partnership for Children
    Troy NC
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  • 3.  RE: What curriculum are you using in public PREK?

    Posted 04-10-2021 08:28 AM
    We choose Creative Curriculum which had all that you need to have well rounded classroom experience.  We started with a new teacher and the learning curve was far to great!  We only used theme names a limited items from the actual currículum.

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    Raquel Paulino
    Director of Education
    Education
    Atlanta GA
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  • 4.  RE: What curriculum are you using in public PREK?

    Posted 04-10-2021 11:43 AM
    I suggest looking at Susan Stacey's books on emergent curriculum.

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    Nora Krieger, PhD
    Associate Professor Emerita/Past Chair NJEEPRE
    Bloomfield College/NJ Educators Exploring the Practices of Reggio Emilia
    Highland Park, NJ
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