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Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

  • 1.  Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-05-2021 08:25 AM
    I am Head of a bilingual preschool in Paris, France for children ages 2 - 5.  We are updating our curriculum and I would like to know what curriculum standards others use as a basis for this age group of children.  I am familiar with the U.S. Common Core Curriculum Standards, but that only starts at kindergarten.  I need some standards for younger children beginning at age 2.

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    Carolyn Comfort
    Head of Preschool
    Lennen Bilingual School
    Paris
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  • 2.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-05-2021 11:58 PM
    In Vermont we use the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS). The indicators are all observable.

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    Ann Moore
    Membership Director
    VTAEYC
    St Johnsbury VT
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  • 3.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-07-2021 12:50 AM
    Hi, 

    I also have a hard time with mask indoor and outdoor. I'm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I've been doing a lot of outdoor activities with my class (preschoolers) where they have to spread out. Morning exercises, sidewalk chalk activities (writing numbers, letters, self portraits….) racing (obstacle courses)….just to name a few. This has been working pretty good. I like these activities because if their mask fall off they're still mostly separated. But all in all it's still challenging.

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    Nori Carter
    Milwaukee WI
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  • 4.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-06-2021 07:34 AM
    Good morning, 
    For 2 years old we use the creative curriculum.  






  • 5.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-06-2021 07:50 AM
    I always use Creative Curriculum. It is learning with play. It allows a teacher to use their creative minds while teaching children to learn. Everything thing I do with my students. I do it with play, because I know this is what they love to do, and it is on their level. I can easy build their trust and get them to learn and do most of what I ask from them. We learn with dacing, singing, rapping, jumping, eye spye, ect..., and making sure we cheer each other on. I always use 3 word sentences with them, slowing my words down to make sure they understand!

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    Paulette Liverpool
    Teacher
    KIds Are People Too
    Washington DC
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  • 6.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-06-2021 07:56 AM
    I have worked with a few curriculums, but the one I will suggest that gives you standards from birth and beyond clearly is the creative curriculum-Teaching Strategy. Also, with explicit prepared resources  


    The Creative Curriculum - Early Childhood Education Solutions (teachingstrategies.com)

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    ELIZABETH JACKSON
    Teacher
    WBCDC LAUREL
    Silver Spring MD
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  • 7.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-06-2021 10:11 AM
    I live in NJ. There are curriculum guidelines/standards for prekindergarten in NJ, but not for younger ages than that. I would suggest that you look at some of the Canadian guidelines - NovaScotia and Ontario. Also, Australia and New Zealand have guidelines that might help you. All of these are very well thought out.

    Reggio Emilia as an approach to ECE is probably your best bet since their programs started out serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Go to the website for Reggio Children.

    I would also caution you away from packaged curriculum and instead suggest you look at the concept of "emergent curriculum", where the topics children explore come from their questions and interests as well as what you feel, as a teacher, to introduce to them.

    Good luck.

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



  • 8.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-06-2021 10:37 AM

    Pennsylvania's Learning Standards for Early Childhood are research-based according to age and development, and form the foundation for curriculum, assessment, instruction and intervention within early care and education programs.
    There are standards for INFANT, TODDLER AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN  LEARNING STANDARDS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD

    You can find detailed information at this link:
    https://www.pakeys.org/pa-early-learning-initiatives/early-learning-standards/



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    Brian Lewis
    Reading PA
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  • 9.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-06-2021 09:02 PM
    Hello,  In Ct. we use the the  Early Learning and Developmental Standards (ELDS) .  We also use The Creative Curriculum both of which have standards for birth through 5.

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    Sharon Culbertson
    Head Teacher/Director
    Trinity Community Preschool
    Woodbridge CT
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  • 10.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-07-2021 04:48 AM
    One of the best curriculum to use would be the Creative Curriculum from Teaching Strategies . It is holistic comprehensive and has sound assessment systems.

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    Bochra Kaddoura
    Senior bilingual inspector
    KHDA Knowledge Human Authority
    Community
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  • 11.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-07-2021 08:09 AM
    In Tennessee we have the TN Early Learning Standards: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/standards/tnelds/std_tnelds_birth-4yo.pdf. It's a wonderful resource to drive developmental activities and classroom environments. Personally, as my church's preschool has morphed over the years to a more natural playscape classroom approach, the results have been so refreshing. The storyboards with images and explanations have been wonderful to see both for parents and church members who pass by each week. Teachers are allowing students to drive the activity and to keep it alive as long as they need it to be. Students are asked what materials they would like to add to this project and then it takes on new meaning and purpose. It's truly fascinating to watch. The Creative Curriculum is a resource well regarded for providing an emergent curriculum environment. It gives the how and the why, but educators provide the environment that encourages the learning and playful experiences. The Reggio philosophy is also inspiring educators to move to more natural environments for their classrooms. You won't find crafts and worksheets/coloring sheets happening in these environments. You will however, find art and hands-on exploration, and it's so much more meaningful to the child.

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    Cheryl Dillingham
    Office Administrator
    NAAEYC
    Nashville, TN
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  • 12.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-07-2021 09:50 AM
    Morning Carolyn,

    I hope this message finds you well. In IL we have the Illinois Learning Standards & Instruction. These are for 3-to kindergarten. There is also the IL Early Learning Guidelines for Children Birth to Age 3. I hope these resources will be helpful for you.

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    Melinda Young
    Assessor & Training Specialist
    McCormick Center
    Lansing IL
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  • 13.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-07-2021 10:08 AM
    Hello Carolyn, we use the Florida Early Standards and Creative Curriculum for Preschool.

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    [Dawne] [Morison]
    [Assistant Director Administration & Research]
    [University of Florida Child Development & Research Center]
    [Gainesville] [FL]
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  • 14.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-07-2021 12:51 PM
    Hi Carolyn,
    We use the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress.    Which is Minnesota's Early Learning Standards-Birth to age 5.

    Kim

    ------------------------------
    Kim Rosholt, TOSA 
    (pronouns: she, her, hers)
    Preschool Education Coordinator
    Kids Place 
    St. Louis Park Public Schools

     "In the rush to NORMAL use this time to consider, which parts of normal are worth rushing back to."
     -Dave Hollis
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-07-2021 04:23 PM
    North Carolina has statewide standards - The "NC Foundations for Early Learning" (NC FELD).

    Link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Portals/0/documents/pdf/N/NC_Foundations.pdf

    --

    Deborah S. Musika, MPA

    Executive Director


    Montgomery County Partnership for Children
    404-A North Main St., Troy, NC  27371
    Phone: (910) 576-2363    Fax: (910) 576-2562
    Email:
    mcpc@brighterfutures.org">mcpc@brighterfutures.org 

    "Ensuring every child's success by turning opportunities into realities!"

     

    Visit us on Facebook







  • 16.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-08-2021 12:54 AM
    I think Creative curriculum linked with teaching strategies GOLD for assessments go well together.


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    Shariya Dhammapala
    Olympia WA
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  • 17.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-08-2021 07:09 AM
    The state of Virginia offers standards for 0-5 that was just made available recently (I could be wrong about that, but I believe it's new for 2021).  Here is the link:

    https://www.doe.virginia.gov/early-childhood/curriculum/va-elds-birth-5.pdf

    Good luck!
    Stephanie Calabrese
    Graduate Student, College of Education and Human Development
    George Mason University

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    Stephanie Calabrese
    Mrs.
    Falls Church VA
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  • 18.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-08-2021 09:12 AM
    As someone who taught kindergarten many years ago at the United Nations School in Geneva, Switzerland, I would not just "borrow" standards from the United States to use in Paris. France is a different culture than the USA. I would start by taking account of the families you serve. Are they all French or do they come from other places? I would seriously look at the Reggio Emilia and the principles that guide teaching and learning there. I would also look at newer ways of assessing learning beyond checklists. Reggio uses documentation and collaboration and input from others who work in the school. This provides a broader perspective on what the children are learning.

    Learning Stories are another way to document children's learning and making decisions on what to do next. Read anything by Margaret Carr and Wendy Lee for a deeper understanding of this. Here is a PDF that they presented: http://newzealand.anniewhite.cikeys.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Documentation-of-Learning-Stories-Wendy-Lee-Margaret-Carr.pdf

    Susan Stacey's work is also focused on documentation as well as emergent curriculum, a curriculum that reflects the needs and interests of the children.

    For working with toddlers and 3 year olds, I would look lat NAEYC's older DAP books that provide descriptions of children's development on average for different ages. Again, development is not uniform for all children and it is often uneven across developmental domains. The third aspect that is important in deciding on what is taught has to do with cultural relevance, and culture, the cultures represented by your children, should play a role in your decision making.

    If you truly understand the development of children of different ages and what areas they are at work developing as well as their interests and individual needs, you will not need to spend money on expensive curriculum materials. I hope you will go this path.

    Best of luck.

    Nora

    ------------------------------
    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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  • 19.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-09-2021 09:32 AM
    Wow, that sounds like so much fun, what an amazing experience you are having. Many of the Academic Standards are based on the ELDGs (Early Learning and Development Guidelines) this could be a good start for you, I also believe that ERS (Environmental Rating Scales) are used across Europe as well as the US. Both of these guidelines could help to create a classroom climate. Build those relationships with children and their families to really know how you can best be a part of their community and provide for the needs of the children. I wish you the absolute best, it just sounds wonderful.

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    Terri Kelley
    Elizabeth CO
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  • 20.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-09-2021 01:07 PM
    Terry:

    It was many years ago - 1972-1973 that I taught in Geneva, Switzerland at the UN School. Still, it was an amazing experience that opened me to a new perspective on teaching and learning. One of the experiences I had that blew me away and which I implemented when I was a director of a coop nursery school was to move away from thinking that weekly lesson plans in advance of the following week were super important. The Directress who ran the school did not want lesson plans for the following week on a weekly basis. She said to me that a professional plans for their work, that a professional would not go into the classroom without thinking about and planning what they were going to do for the week. She was more interested in what I did over the week. We had to keep a journal of what we accomplished and any problems we were having. She read all of these journals from the teachers and based on what we wrote, she often visited our classrooms to work alongside us with a child who we had concerns about.

    We need to think of ourselves as professionals who are able to teach whether we have a curriculum prepared by a publisher or are on our own to use what we learned when we prepared to become teachers. We should not shut our brains down or hand ourselves over to big publishers because it is more expedient and efficient to do that.

    Once we know what the developmental standards are for very young children, each early childhood educator should have the knowledge to design a program that ensures children get what they need.

    Nora

    ------------------------------
    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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  • 21.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-10-2021 11:09 AM
    Nora:

    I salute your perspective on the idea that EC educators should be able to teach young children guided by the knowledge they have from their professional preparation to meet the educational needs of children, and not solely by implementing a prepared curriculum guide. Observation of children, beginning where they are, being able to use their current ideas, questions and activities to inform how we guide them  and encourage them to move forward is a big part of our profession. 

    It is true that published curricula can sometimes offer ideas or activities that are interesting and that we might not have thought of, and I think that sometimes in some settings parents seem to desire them to describe the work done in the classroom, but following those curricula alone does not take the place of skilled observation of the children in our specific classrooms, of tailoring curriculum to their needs and of seizing those "teachable moments." 

    Yes, we must be clear on typical developmental guidelines to be aware of when a child might benefit, for example, from some early intervention in a particular area of development.  But skilled early childhood education is neither the process of following a "canned" curriculum nor of putting a group of children in a room with a lot of materials and "letting them go."  Our observation and sense of "where they are" guides us to develop curriculum tailored for them.  

    Monica O'Gara

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    Monica Ogara
    Woodbine MD
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  • 22.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-10-2021 01:58 PM
    Dear Monica: 

    I agree. I also feel as professionals, we should be able to give a clear explanation of what we do in the classroom with each child and why. Of course, canned curriculum can offer some experiences that may dovetail with what children are interested as well as what they need developmentally.

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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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  • 23.  RE: Curriculum standards for Early Childhood

    Posted 09-10-2021 08:56 AM
    Hello Carolyn,
    It is a pleasure to have an International Conversation about Learning Standards! While there have been many great suggestions here from educators and leaders, it might be helpful to start with your Ministries who guide ECE in your country. When working with other countries, NAEYC staff are careful to ask what standards and priorities the country has for it's youngest citizens. This ensures that the learning guidelines are culturally relevant and appropriate for the community. If you don't see early learning standards within your country that support your program, it should be noted that Creative Curriculum Objectives and Dimensions are aligned to most, if not all, state learning standards, with the exception of those that have been recently updated. Another option is High Scope, which has learning standards for Infants, Toddler and Preschoolers.
    Very best of luck to you and your faculty on your journey supporting families and children! 
    We appreciate all you do!

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    Deanna Jackson
    Senior Assessor, NAEYC
    Upper Arlington, Ohio
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