Child-Centered Curriculum 

What is Child-Centered Curriculum? 

A child-centered curriculum for preschool-aged children revolves around the interests, needs, and developmental stages of the child. It emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning activities that encourage exploration, creativity, and problem-solving. This approach recognizes that young children learn best through play and active engagement with their environment. Child-centered curriculum often incorporates elements such as open-ended materials, sensory experiences, and opportunities for imaginative play. It also prioritizes social-emotional development by fostering positive relationships, empathy, and self-regulation skills. Teachers act as facilitators, observing and scaffolding children's learning experiences based on their individual interests and abilities. Overall, a child-centered curriculum in preschool aims to create a nurturing and stimulating environment where children can thrive and develop a love for learning.

What might these child-centered approaches look like at Early Childhood Academy? 

- Encourage child-initiated activities and play-based learning.

- Provide a variety of hands-on materials and resources for exploration.

- Design flexible learning spaces that accommodate different interests and learning styles.

- Incorporate children's interests and experiences into the curriculum.

- Foster a sense of autonomy and independence by offering choices and decision-making opportunities.

- Establish a supportive and inclusive classroom environment that values each child's unique contributions.

- Collaborate with children to co-create classroom rules and expectations.

- Use open-ended questioning and inquiry-based approaches to stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving.

- Offer opportunities for peer collaboration and cooperative learning.

- Continuously observe and assess children's progress, adjusting instruction and activities accordingly.

What is the Core Curriculum that is taught in Pre-K? 

We use Scholastic's Pre-K On My Way -- Scholastic's Pre-K On My Way curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive early learning experience for preschool-aged children. It focuses on fostering social-emotional, cognitive, language, and literacy development through engaging and interactive activities. The curriculum is organized around thematic units that incorporate children's interests and experiences, making learning meaningful and relevant. It includes a variety of hands-on materials, stories, songs, and games to support different learning styles and interests. Additionally, the curriculum emphasizes the importance of play-based learning and provides opportunities for children to explore, experiment, and express themselves creatively. Teachers are supported with resources, lesson plans, and guidance to create a nurturing and stimulating classroom environment where children can thrive and develop a love for learning.

What are supplemental curriculum supports that are taught? 

Heggerty Phonics -introduces young learners to foundational phonics skills through engaging activities and multisensory experiences. Designed to promote early literacy development, this curriculum focuses on phonemic awareness, letter-sound recognition, and oral language skills in a fun and interactive way.

Neuhaus -  provides a comprehensive approach to early literacy development, emphasizing phonological awareness, letter recognition, and phonemic skills. Through interactive activities and structured lessons, young learners are supported in building a strong foundation for reading and writing success.

Handwriting Without Tears - is a multisensory program designed to teach handwriting skills to pre-K children in a fun and developmentally appropriate way. With its unique approach that incorporates play-based activities and tactile materials, children learn proper letter formation and handwriting skills while promoting fine motor development and confidence in writing.

STEMscopes -  introduces young children to STEM concepts through engaging activities and hands-on exploration, fostering curiosity and critical thinking skills from an early age. With its age-appropriate curriculum and interactive digital resources, STEMscopes Early Explorers provides a foundation for future learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

My Math and My Reading Academy - Age of Learning's My Math Academy provides a dynamic and comprehensive math learning experience for young children, offering adaptive lessons and interactive activities tailored to individual needs. My Reading Academy's adaptive approach tailors learning experiences to each child's individual needs, ensuring effective instruction and fostering literacy skills development.

Why is tracking data important? 

- Personalized Instruction: Tracking data enables educators to identify each child's strengths and weaknesses, allowing for tailored instruction that meets individual needs.

- Early Intervention: Data tracking facilitates early identification of developmental delays or learning challenges, enabling timely interventions to support children's academic and social development.

- Curriculum Optimization: Tracking data over time provides insights into the effectiveness of teaching strategies and curriculum implementation, guiding educators in making informed decisions to enhance learning outcomes.

- Data-Driven Decision Making: By analyzing data, educators can make informed decisions about instructional practices, resource allocation, and program improvement, ultimately enhancing the quality of early childhood education.

PK Data Sources: 

CLI Circle Engage: CLI Circle collects various types of data for Pre-K4 students to support their literacy development.

- Phonological Awareness: Data related to students' abilities to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken language, such as rhyming, blending, segmenting, and deleting sounds.

- Letter Knowledge: Information on students' knowledge of uppercase and lowercase letters, letter-sound correspondence, and letter formation.

- Vocabulary Development: Data on students' understanding and use of vocabulary words, including receptive and expressive vocabulary skills.

- Oral Language Skills: Assessment of students' ability to express themselves verbally, engage in conversations, and use language effectively in different contexts.

- Comprehension: Data related to students' understanding of spoken language and ability to comprehend stories and informational texts.

- Print Concepts: Information on students' understanding of how print works, including concepts such as print directionality, spacing, and punctuation.

By collecting and analyzing this data, CLI Circle aims to provide targeted instruction and interventions to support Pre-K4 students' literacy growth and development.

For math concepts, CLI Circle may collect data related to various foundational mathematical skills and concepts for Pre-K4 students:

- Number Recognition: Data on students' ability to recognize and identify numbers, including both numeral symbols and number words.

- Counting Skills: Information on students' ability to count objects accurately, understand one-to-one correspondence, and grasp the concept of cardinality.

- Basic Operations: Assessment of students' understanding of basic mathematical operations such as addition and subtraction within a certain range.

- Shapes and Spatial Awareness: Data related to students' knowledge of two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes, as well as their understanding of spatial relationships and concepts.

- Measurement: Assessment of students' ability to compare and measure objects using non-standard units, such as length, weight, capacity, and volume.

- Patterns and Sorting: Information on students' ability to recognize and create patterns, sequences, and sets, as well as their understanding of attributes and classification.

iStation Reading: Istation Reading collects a wide range of data for Pre-K4 students to assess and support their literacy development:

- Phonemic Awareness: Data on students' ability to recognize and manipulate individual sounds in spoken words, including skills such as rhyming, blending, segmenting, and deleting sounds.

- Letter Recognition: Information on students' ability to identify and name uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as letter-sound correspondence.

- Vocabulary: Data related to students' understanding and use of vocabulary words, including receptive and expressive vocabulary skills.

- Comprehension: Assessment of students' ability to understand and interpret spoken language and written text, including comprehension of stories and informational texts.

- Fluency: Data on students' reading fluency, including accuracy, rate, and expression when reading aloud.

- Phonics and Word Recognition: Information on students' ability to decode and recognize words accurately and efficiently, including knowledge of phonics patterns and sight words.

Student data trackers are beneficial tools for educators, administrators, and students themselves. They serve several purposes:

1. Progress Monitoring: Student data trackers allow educators to monitor individual student progress over time across various academic areas. This helps identify areas of strength and areas needing improvement, enabling timely interventions and support.

2. Goal Setting: By tracking their own data, students can set goals for their learning and monitor their progress towards achieving those goals. This promotes a sense of ownership and accountability for their academic success.

3. Differentiation: Data trackers help educators tailor instruction to meet the specific needs of each student. By analyzing data trends, educators can adjust teaching strategies and provide targeted interventions to support diverse learners.

4. Communication: Student data trackers facilitate communication between educators, students, and parents/guardians. They provide a clear visual representation of student progress, allowing for meaningful discussions about academic growth and areas for improvement.

5. Evidence-Based Decision Making: By collecting and analyzing data, educators and administrators can make informed decisions about curriculum, instruction, and resource allocation. This promotes evidence-based practices that support student achievement.

Overall, student data trackers are valuable tools for promoting student success, fostering data-driven decision making, and facilitating collaboration among stakeholders in the education community.