Dear Maura,
I agree with those who suggest that an emergent approach to teaching preschool is ideal. However, I sense that, because you were asking about a recommendation for a purchased curriculum, you may see that task as daunting. If you are new to teaching, if you never have had any training in emergent curriculum, if you have no mentor to guide you and encourage you, then developing that style of teaching may seem like a very time consuming task with a high risk of failure. If that is true for you, or for others who might be reading this thread, I have a suggestion. Consider a "Hybrid". It's easy and quick to start, but allows you the flexibility to develop your skills as you learn more about the emergent style of teaching.
First, write your own curriculum
outline that will cover your teaching year. (Mine was for 9 months, but could easily be extended for 12 month programs). In your outline, consider what would make good, relevant "themes" for each month. I looked at seasons and relevant holidays first, (October= Autumn, December= Christmas, January= Winter, April= Easter, etc.) For the remaining months I added other ideas of popular topics that preschoolers usually think about and experience, (September= All About me, February= My Community, May= Growing Plants, etc.) After that I divided up the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes between the 9 months, considering how those pieces would best fit each theme. Then I also considered what "featured" author would work best, a science topic, etc. for each theme. I considered my learning centers, and how they could be customized each month to fit the theme, and which "general" items would just stay put. (I'm sure some of you are gasping by now...but just wait...)
Once I got started, I was then able to observe, reflect, and respond to how the children were receiving the activities. If the students seemed disinterested, and the topic felt forced, I could move on to the next topic sooner. Or tweek it a little. Or, as I became more skilled, I could identify more easily where the students were taking the material and how to support their interests and build on their natural curiosity. As an example, I may have started with the "All About Me" theme in September, but it could move in any number of directions that the children found interesting: my family, my pets, my home, homes around the community, or the world, homes of animals, my body, how I'm different or like my friends, my 5 senses, my name, feelings, etc. The curriculum gave me a starting point, but since I was the author, I was able to follow and support the interests of the children and allow the learning to, well,
emerge. :)
As time went on, I was also able to leave my "outline" to support interests of my group that were not included in the original draft. We had a summer playing "Olympic Games" during an Olympic year. We developed learning around "camping", and then "cowboys" because those ideas are relevant to the lives of kids raised in Cody, WY. We did a woodworking unit in December and called it "Santa's Workshop". I was able to leave my "letter, number, shape, and color" elements as I learned how to better support literacy and math with more wholistic methods incorporated into those themes. Because the curriculum was my own, it was able to evolve as I grew in my teaching capabilities.
Here is my point: Emergent curriculum may be considered the ideal, and is something to reach for. But some of us may have to compromise with a "hybrid" while we are learning and building the skills necessary to pull it off. If you feel overwhelmed with the idea of learning a whole new approach, i suggest you start with a simple outline, and incorporate what you learn from the books on the emergent approach as you go. :)
I hope this will help those who don't have the benefit of a college professor, university learning lab, or gifted mentor.
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Elizabeth Werner
Blessed Beginnings
Cody WY
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-10-2018 02:00 PM
From: Laurie Campbell
Subject: Curriculum for three year olds
Hi Maura,
I agree that emergent curriculum is the most appropriate and also, it's FREE. It's not a purchased curriculum, but more of a philosophy. In addition to the authors recommended by Nora Krieger, I'll also add Margie Carter and Deb Curtis. They have written extensively for Red Leaf Press and have a wonderful way of explaining the benefits of being a reflective teacher. The whole idea idea of emergent curriculum is to really know child development, and specifically the children in your classroom. Plan curriculum that is developmentally and culturally relevant to them and what they experience in their lives. For example, during the winter time we don't plan 'snow' curriculum because children in Costa Mesa, don't live in the snow. Emergent curriculum is not thematic, however interests do emerge and you will continue to extend those interests for as long as it is meaningful for the children. The curriculum is planned with the child in mind, not a theme that comes from a book or the teacher. I could go on and on about this :-) This is the philosophy that we teach our college students and what we practice in our campus Early Childhood Lab School. Best of luck finding the match that works best for you!
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Laurie Campbell
Professor- ECE
Orange Coast College
California
Original Message:
Sent: 12-07-2018 02:48 PM
From: Maura Surdyka
Subject: Curriculum for three year olds
I was wondering what curriculum people use and like? I live in New York and teach in a grant funded three year old program and we are looking to change our curriculum.
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Maura Surdyka
Teacher
Sodus Elementary School
Ontario NY
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