Curri

• Curriculum

  A multi-levelled process that encompasses what happens in early education classroom each day, reflecting the philosophy, goals, and objectives of the programme
• Curriculum begins as soon as the child enters the classroom and lasts until the child returns home and involves every aspect of the child's day
• NAEYC definition of curriculum


  An organized framework that delineates the content that children are to learn, the process through which children achieve the identified curricular goals, what teachers do to help children achieve these goals and the context in which teaching and learning occur
• Curriculum

  A standards-based sequence of planned experiences where students practice and achieve proficiency in content and applied learning skills
• Curriculum


  The central guide for all educators as to what is essential for teaching and learning, so that every student has access to rigorous academic experiences
• Curriculum


  The structure, organization, and considerations created in order to enhance student learning and facilitate instruction
• Curriculum


  Includes the necessary goals, methods, materials and assessments to effectively support instruction and learning
• Curriculum


  A structured set of learning outcomes or tasks that educators usually call goals and objectives
• Curriculum


  The "what" of teaching
• Curriculum


  Listings of subjects to be taught in school
• Curriculum


  A document which describes a structured series of learning objectives and outcomes for a given subject matter area
• Curriculum


  Includes a specification of what should be learned, how it should be taught, and the plan for implementing/assessing the learning
• ECE curriculum


  Can mean a philosophy, a program, an approach, or a set of specific materials and activities that are purchased as a boxed curriculum
• ECE curriculum


  The knowledge and skills teachers are expected to teach, and children are expected to learn, and the plans for experiences through which learning will take place
• Every experience and interaction can facilitate or hinder the achievement of the child's curricular goals
• Factors that influence ECE


  • Physical environment: Outdoor and indoor surroundings
  • Social environment: Culture and interactions among people
  • Temporal environment: Timing for transitions, the routines and the activities
• Curriculum approach


  The content and composition of the EC programme which includes desirable learning experiences, organization of the learning environment, all routines which impact on the development of the whole child
• Elements/aspects of a curriculum approach


  • Guidelines on how to set up the physical environment
  • Provision of resources
  • Structure of activities
  • Organization of time, space and resources
  • Planned and spontaneous experiences
  • Teaching strategies
  • Interactions with children, families and support staff members in the initial on-going implementation of the programme
• The ECE approach will form the basis to determine the content of the programme as well as the parameters for assessment
• Johann Comenius


  A bishop from Holland who developed a system of education from infancy to university, advocated play, games, physical activities, music and fairy tales to teach children until age 6, and produced the first picture book 'Orbus Pictus'
• John Locke


  Believed that a person is not pre-formed at birth, but develops as a result of encounters via the senses with the environment, and advocated the importance of observing children and tailoring education to their needs
• Friedrich W Froebel


  Developed the first kindergarten in Germany in 1837, built his philosophy drawing ideas from Rousseau and Pestalozzi, advocated a child-centred curriculum including self-activity, music, outdoor activities and manipulative materials called 'gifts and occupations'
• John Dewey


  Started the child study, helped transform the role of the kindergarten, advocated students taking an active role to construct their own ideas, and emphasized questioning strategies and integrated curriculum
• Maria Montessori


  Believed that each child is born with unique potential to be revealed, and her main contributions were in preparing the most natural and life supporting environment for the child, observing the child living freely in this environment, and continually adapting the environment
• Most experts agree that the best curricula are organic, evolving with changing values, reflecting new philosophies, and adapting to current research about how we learn
• There appears to be a global trend towards developing children's curriculum based on the societal goals, while embracing philosophies that focus on the individual child as subject