Open Discussion Forum

  • 1.  Lesson Plans

    Posted 06-24-2019 02:11 PM
    Aloha Everyone!  Hope you are all having an awesome summer.  Of course, being admin, Iʻm at work during our one-week break!  I have a few questions regarding lesson plans.  I have been a preschool director since 2009.  My former school was accredited in 2013.  I moved to a new school this past November, which was also initially accredited in 2013.  They had just undergone their NAEYC visit in September, and received a deferred status.  I was given nine days to decide whether to dispute the status or reapply.  Needless to say I chose to reapply. 
    Upon further investigation, I found that there were some items that I would have disputed, but the issues with lesson plans was not one of them.  Every class portfolio failed the various standards that related to lesson plans.  I was hoping that someone could share an example of their lesson plans with me.  When we did our accreditation in 2013, we used monthly lesson plans that were simply outlines of what was going to be covered.  I donʻt think thatʻs going to cut it this time.  Here at my new school the teachers turn in weekly lesson plans, but they donʻt include the content areas.  When I was getting my Elementary Ed degree, we had to do very detailed lesson plans that included goals, objectives, materials, step-by-step presentation instructions, and standards being met.  Is this what I should be having my teachers do? I would truly appreciate any assistance anyone can give me!  Mahalo in advance for your help!

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    Catherine Awong
    Director
    Mililani Presbyterian Preschool
    Mililani, HI, USA
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  • 2.  RE: Lesson Plans

    Posted 06-25-2019 12:36 AM
    Catherine, you'll need to get a purchased curriculum to know how it works.  I use Creative Curriculum and totally love it!  You'll really understand once you see it. You can actually get a sample packet by going to Teaching Strategies.com.  Here is a link to the place where you can request a sample packet of the Creative Curriculum for preschool.https://teachingstrategies.com/solutions/teach/preschool-2/
    Click on "request a sample packet" and also search the website to learn more.  This is the curriculum most university on-campus child development centers use so Early childhood education students know what curriculum and lesson planning should be like.  I highly recommend it.  Let me know what you think of it once you get it.  You can also watch some training videos from Teaching Strategies.  If you wonder how you will fund it, you can find a business in your community that is good at giving donations (or find several of them to add up to the right amount you'll need) and then thank them by posting about their generous donation in your center's parent newsletter and give them a copy of the newsletter. It provides free advertising to their business and helps you out by getting the funding for the curriculum.  I think it is the best money I've ever spent.  I have obtained accreditation using it.

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    DeAnn Jones
    Discovery Place Child Care, LLC
    Bozeman, MT
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  • 3.  RE: Lesson Plans

    Posted 06-25-2019 07:59 AM
    Aloha Catherine,
    I have gone through NAEYC several times and I know lesson plans have to reflect and paint a picture of what is going on in the classroom everyday. I also think based on what type of curriculum you use will also determine how you will have your staff write up their lesson plans. We use High scope and we have to list domains and goal that also co-inside with NAEYC. Hopes this helps.



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    Jacquelyn Hemingway
    Center Managers/Teacher
    SHARE Head Start
    Greenville SC
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  • 4.  RE: Lesson Plans

    Posted 06-25-2019 03:42 PM
    Just a thought that I have regarding lesson plans.  I find that some lesson plans really are focused on the subject matter, processes by which it is taught, and expectations for the outcomes.  In so doing I think that the focus on relationship building, listening skills, and response to direct and observed experiences are not the core of teacher actions.  I think these process and the intended method of supporting them is essential to keep our teaching intent relevant to what each child is currently doing and interested in learning.  I try to incorporate these intentions into my lesson plans and frame them as general for the class as a whole or specific to a particular individual or group of children.  It helps me to stay on track with my teaching intentions.   Thanks for listening to my thinking about this topic.  Cary

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    [Cary [Larson-McKay, PhD]
    NAEYC Affiliate Advisory Council
    [Past President, California AEYC]
    [Consultant, Wonder Strength]
    [Morro Bay] [CA]Member of NAEYC Affiliate Advisory Council/Past President California AEYC/Chair of Chapter Relations and Development Committee
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Lesson Plans

    Posted 07-14-2019 08:33 AM
    I think what you call your intentions are one of the most important parts of addressing the needs and learning of children in an early childhood classroom. They are not just the support processes, they are essential to the learning process of whatever your intentions are in subject or skill experiences. Without them, a teacher is not approaching the whole child in their classroom planning. Therefore, I applaud you in incorporating these intentions as part of your lesson planning. They should be the umbrella to anything that is happening with the child/children.

    ". . .Relationship building, listening skills, and response to direct and observed experiences" are the core of teacher actions in connection to whatever experiences you plan. This is how we find out what to plan. We watch and listen to what interests the child or what questions they have and then we are able to plan the curriculum as a result. It is great that you keep these in mind but they should be shared with others, including parents/families, as part of how you decide what experiences to provide the children in your class. Bravo for you!

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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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  • 6.  RE: Lesson Plans

    Posted 06-28-2019 09:02 AM
      |   view attached
    Hi,

    We were accredited two years ago. I attached a copy of our lesson plans. The site visit staff seemed ok with them, since no mention was made.

    Good luck with figuring out what type of lesson plans work best for your school.




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    Barabara Klein
    Director
    Huguenot Nursery School
    Pelham NY
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    Attachment(s)

    docx
    Lesson Plans 2018.docx   22 KB 1 version


  • 7.  RE: Lesson Plans

    Posted 06-28-2019 02:28 PM
    Aloha Barbara,
    Thank you so much for sharing that template for lesson plans!  I love it!  I am definitely going to adapt that for our center.  As we say in Hawai`i, Mahalo Nui Loa!  Thank you very much!
    Aloha,
    Cat

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    Catherine Awong
    Director
    Mililani Presbyterian Preschool
    Mililani, HI, USA
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  • 8.  RE: Lesson Plans

    Posted 07-12-2019 05:13 PM
      |   view attached
    Hi Catherine,
    Our pubic preschool program recently had our NAEYC site visit - we just got word that we passed.  So, I'm assuming that our lesson plans were acceptable.  We do not have a purchased curriculum program and create our own activities and experiences that align with our state standards.  I don't think it is a requirement that a program use a purchased curriculum.  I think as long as your "plan" shows the details of your activity/experience, the related standards, and the ways they will be adapted for the differentiation of your students, then you should be good.

    I attached a copy of a lesson plan already filled out that I have used with my preschool class (mixed age 3-4).  My daily schedule and centers are listed separately.  The differentiation I typically hand write on my weekly plans, and then I will add reflections hand written during the week.

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    Jennie Morrell
    Andover Elementary School
    Andover CT
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    Attachment(s)



  • 9.  RE: Lesson Plans

    Posted 07-12-2019 06:04 PM
    Thank you so much Jennie!  I love the thoroughness!  I hope I can get our teachers to be this thorough!

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    Catherine Awong
    Director
    Mililani Presbyterian Preschool
    Mililani, HI, USA
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