Selecting Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum

When searching for a developmentally appropriate curriculum, keep in mind the philosophy behind the curriculum. Is the curriculum based on the works of an early childhood philosopher that exposes the children to early childhood development principles? Does the curriculum allow the teacher to implement those principles and apply them in a classroom that provides hands-on, center-based activities that promote the development of emerging skills for each individual child? The role of the teacher is to facilitate learning, allow children to make meaningful choices, and build self-esteem through staging "successes" that encourage further exploration and learning.Classroom management is often one of the most difficult skills for a new classroom teacher to master. Without proper planning and appropriate classroom materials, many teachers experience the frustrations caused by a classroom out of control. A teacher who fails to plan using a developmentally appropriate classroom curriculum, that includes an appropriate implementation plan, will quickly find it impossible to maintain an appropriate classroom environment.In a well organized classroom with pre-planned, developmentally appropriate activities, children are busy exploring and there will be less opportunity for conflict. A classroom that provides activities using a developmentally appropriate curriculum creates an environment that is less frustrating and as a result, the teacher will find joy in daily activities. Most importantly, a developmentally appropriate classroom environment will result in happy children and satisfied parents.Curriculums that include topics such as appropriate scheduling, creating a developmentally appropriate classroom, and making the most of learning centers, will help create a classroom environment that actively engages the child and keeps his or her attention. When implemented in the classroom, these components contribute to less discipline problems and a smoother day.When selecting a curriculum, teachers should consider the development of the children to ensure the suggested activities in the curriculum are adaptable to the varying skill levels of each child in the group. Developmentally appropriate curriculums offer open ended activities that allow children to make choices and include objectives for the activities offered.The foundations of a developmentally appropriate curriculum are the needs and interests of each individual child. These curriculums are filled with numerous activities to choose from on a daily basis, giving the classroom teacher the opportunity to incorporate a balance of teacher-directed and child-initiated activities. This allows for planned learning experiences as well as those guided by the children's interests and abilities. Curriculums that offer suggestions for field trips, community service projects, and special visitors in the classroom will help the children build a sense of belonging in the larger world around them.The curriculum should include opportunities for child initiated activities that are offset by opportunities for teacher directed activities. Child initiated activities allow children to learn independently through exploration and discovery with the guidance and supervision of the teacher. With teacher directed activities, children are given specific teacher instructions and are expected to follow a specific plan as outlined under the direction of the classroom teacher. In both teacher directed and child initiated activities, the curriculum selected should include objectives for the planned outcome of the activity and provide a well-rounded, engaging learning environment that stimulates children's growth in all developmental domains. Whether it's climbing, singing, painting, or spending quiet time in a cozy corner, children will delight in an atmosphere that allows them to explore, investigate, learn, and discover!Curriculum activities may often be repeated throughout the week. Repetition of daily routines and experiences helps reinforce learning and leads to the mastery of skills. Curriculum should be designed to allow for flexibility in modifying activities to meet the individual learning styles, abilities, and interests of each child. Activities should incorporate cultural awareness through integrated holiday themes, stories and legends, art projects, and musical experiences, including input from individual children and their family's culture, traditions, and rituals.A curriculum should incorporate a strong literacy component and academic options that meet the standards for school readiness and help support children's emerging skills in reading and writing in a developmentally appropriate manner. Character education built into a curriculum will allow a teacher to help children develop positive character traits and set the foundation for high moral character in adulthood. Recognizing that parents are partners in a young child's journey through education, suggestions should be made to keep them involved in the program, both at home and at school.Ongoing observation and assessment is crucial to meeting the constantly changing needs of young children. Look for a curriculum that contains an appropriate assessment component to help the teacher evaluate the children. An appropriate assessment component aids the teacher's efforts to meet the individual needs of each child and make program improvements as necessary. Once familiar with the curriculum, a teacher must continuously evaluate the needs of the children and decide which enrichments are best suited for each child. By using weekly objectives, paired with the child's needs, teachers will be able to offer opportunities for the maximum growth and development of each child. Because children's interests vary on a daily basis, a variety of activities must be planned for them to choose from. By recording daily observations about the children's interactions with the materials and activities in the learning centers and with each other, a teacher will become familiar with the children's interests and abilities. These anecdotal notes will provide the teacher with the information needed to make better decisions about which centers can be used to appropriately enrich the classroom and which activities to include or eliminate from future plans.Early childhood professionals who dedicate themselves to working with young children, find that each new day presents an opportunity to help them become all they can be. A child's natural curiosity and eagerness to explore combined with a nurturing teacher and a well-rounded curriculum provides a magical recipe for enhanced learning and growth in all areas of child development. A curriculum offering teachers a multitude of ideas in an easy-to-use format, makes the burden of program planning lighter and provides the classroom teacher more time to meet the individual needs of each child.Learn more about choosing a curriculum for your classroom. Visit ChildCare Education Institute to discover over 100 online child care training courses that meet the continuing education requirements of the child care industry. Register for a sample course and try online learning today!