Open Discussion Forum

Expand all | Collapse all

Curriculum List

  • 1.  Curriculum List

    Posted 08-04-2022 04:23 PM
    I am just wanting to see what all curriculum options are out there for 3-5 year-olds. I know there are so many, so which ones have you followed, worked with, or heard of? **Mainly asking for private child care center environments.

    Ones I am familiar with: OWL, Creative Curriculum, Learning Without Tears, HighScope

    ------------------------------
    Madison
    Training and Technical Assistance Specialist
    Mississippi
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Curriculum List

    Posted 08-05-2022 12:30 AM
    I use Creative Curriculum and I love it. I also subscribe to the PreK Learning Without Tears curriculum, but I consider it a supplement. I would not use it as a stand-alone curriculum. It does not incorporate every state's early learning standards. In the State of Washington, it is not an approved curriculum. Creative Curriculum and High Scope are because they have incorporated each state's early learning standards. Owl is not really as rigorously tested and researched as Creative Curriculum and High Scope. I also know that of the states I have lived in and at Universities I have taught in, they usually use Creative Curriculum in the Early Childhood Education department's Child Development preschools where students learn how to teach. I personally like Creative Curriculum the best. I am an early childhood education instructor, and the textbook I am teaching out of includes Creative Curriculum and High Scope in the 6 curriculum models they highlight in the textbook. The others are Montessori, Bank Street, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia. I hope this helps.

    ------------------------------
    DeAnn Jones
    Co-Facilitator for the Family Child Care Interest Forum
    Discovery Place Preschool, LLC
    Stanwood, WA 98292
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Curriculum List

    Posted 08-05-2022 11:55 PM
    My center uses the Creative Curriculum as well. I like that the early learning standards of each state is included or coincides with the curriculum's domains. The assessment tools are straight, to the point and user friendly for teacher and student.

    Bernadette Elwin
    Early Childhood Education Coordinator 
    John Hope Early Learning Center
    Providence, RI

    ------------------------------
    Bernadette Elwin
    Warwick RI
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Curriculum List

    Posted 08-06-2022 09:23 AM
    Hi Deann (hope I spelt your name right), That textbook sounds great. Can you share title and publisher info?

    ------------------------------
    Margery Heyl
    Chicago IL
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Curriculum List

    Posted 08-06-2022 10:59 AM
    Margery,

    The textbook title is, "Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Curriculum and Development in Early Education" by Carol Gestwicki. It is published by Cengage. It is the 6th Edition. What I like about it is it goes through the entire process of curriculum development from observing the children, discovering their interests, abilities, etc., assessing where each child is developmentally, and then planning the curriculum based on that information. It also goes over all the main curriculum models. I reviewed a lot of textbooks, and I like this one the best. 

    It's pretty expensive, but you can find it in an earlier edition for much less. For example, at Thriftbooks.com, they have the 5th Edition of it available for $7.19. For used textbooks, I don't suggest Amazon because they always sell them for much more than used bookstores do. At Thriftbooks.com, the 4th Edition is available for $5.19, and the 1st Edition is available for $4.69. At Amazon, the price is $31.59 for a used one, but it is for the current 6th edition. For the 4th Edition, it is $6.82. Actually, that is not bad. So you can get it at either Amazon or a used book store. I know the publisher said they are going to update it to the 7th Edition in 2-3 years, and that will make the price of the 6th edition go down, but I don't think you'll want to wait that long. These prices might be different when you search because people are always buying, and usually, there are only one or two copies at that price. I hope this helps!

    DeAnn

    ------------------------------
    DeAnn Jones
    Co-Facilitator for the Family Child Care Interest Forum
    Discovery Place Preschool, LLC
    Stanwood, WA 98292
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Curriculum List

    Posted 08-06-2022 11:57 AM
    Thank you for all the info DeAnn!

    ------------------------------
    Margery Heyl
    Chicago IL
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Curriculum List

    Posted 08-05-2022 05:53 AM
    Beyond Centers and Circle Time for our PK3 classes deals with monthly themes the children can connect with to give them broad and relatable topics. It includes the basics - colors, shapes, letters minus the vowels and 'C', family, real/make believe, and lots of nature. All the topics are flexible and easily expandable (adding in the SEL) and fun to learn for connecting all those synapsis that give the child a large repertoire for future experiences. I am sure there are other curriculum that give the same capabilities.


    ------------------------------
    Benita Balingit
    Preschool Teacher/K-8 Aftercare Director
    St Paul Lutheran Church and School
    Lakeland FL
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Curriculum List

    Posted 08-05-2022 06:52 AM
    Scholastic's Big Day for PreK is a researched based curriculum for preschoolers.  I have used it and found it to be a good play based, literacy based curriculum framework.





  • 9.  RE: Curriculum List

    Posted 08-05-2022 08:19 AM
    Hi Madison,
    I am a Virginia Quality Specialist, and a month ago I did a presentation on creative curriculum for Pre-k. This curriculum offers many feature, from ‘first day of class’ ideas to assessment. I am more than happy to share with you my knowledge via virtual meeting.
    Sincerely,
    Tatiana M.Ed., M.Ed.

    Sent from my iPad




  • 10.  RE: Curriculum List

    Posted 08-05-2022 08:32 AM

    1. Positive Action Pre-K Kits
    2. Before Five in a Row
    3. Horizons
    4. Oak Meadow
    5. Time4Learning
    6. Let's Begin With the Letter People
    7. The Peaceful Press Preschool
    8. Mother Goose Time
    9. FunShine Express
    10. A Year of Playing Skillfully
    11. Opening the World of Learning
    12. Little Learning Box Program
    13. Winter Promise









    ------------------------------
    LaShonda McGill
    Lead Teacher
    Shonda's Little Blessings
    Saginaw MI
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: Curriculum List

    Posted 08-05-2022 09:02 AM
    Hi Madison,

    If you are interested in piecing together a whole curriculum, maybe give activity-based STEM a try. I do hands on enrichment for children that crosses early learning domains. The example resource guide book is free at books.thatsciencefairy.com.

    Happy learning,

    ------------------------------
    Laura Weilert
    Maker of Experiences, Owner
    that Science Fairy
    Colorado Spgs CO
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Curriculum List

    Posted 08-08-2022 03:44 PM
    Talk to Me Mama's parent support materials enhance all play-based curriculum for preK programs. The Gift of Words: How do Children Learn to Talk? and The Gift of Math: Twelve Math Conversation Starters for Parents and Young Children offer preK professionals and parents easy ways of increasing vocabulary development in children ages 0-4.




    ------------------------------
    Tammy Steele
    consultant
    Talk To Me Mama
    Chicago IL
    ------------------------------