Foundations of Early Childhood Curriculum

Course Description

This course provides a framework for organizing teaching and curriculum in early childhood education. It examines the purpose, function, and impact of curricular models in early childhood education. In addition, the course examines the educational objectives, content and structure, and assessment procedure for creating learning environments. The course also analyzes the role of the teacher in relation to curriculum development and implementation for early childhood education. The course ends with the development of a segment of a curriculum model.

Topics and Objectives

Foundations of Early Childhood Curriculum

• Define the terminology related to models, programs, and curriculum for early childhood education.
• Examine how educational theories impact the development of appropriate early childhood curriculum.
• Identify quality programs that integrate curriculum focusing on children with special needs and interests and family and cultural diversity.
• Explore the role of the teacher in developing curriculum for early childhood education in today's classroom.

Curriculum Models in Early Childhood Education

• Examine the Montessori Methods, Developmental-Interactive Approach, Direct Instruction, Kamii-DeVries, and High Scope curriculum models.
• Identify the similarities and differences of the models.
• Examine the educational objectives, content, structure, activities, procedures, materials, equipment, and evaluation of each model.
• Analyze how to adapt curriculum models in today's classrooms.

Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers

• Examine the elements to consider when developing curriculum models for infant and toddler learning environments.
• Analyze the characteristics of a quality infant and toddler curriculum model.
• Examine if infant and toddler curriculum supports appropriate physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional development.
• Analyze the role of assessment in infant and toddler curriculum.

Preschool Curriculum

• Examine the goals and characteristics of a quality developmental preschool model.
• Analyze the process of planning and managing instructional practices based on knowledge of individual children, the community, and the goals and content of developmental-thematic curriculum for preschool children.
• Examine if the preschool curriculum supports appropriate language, literacy, cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.
• Analyze the role of assessment in preschool curriculum.

Kindergarten Curriculum

• Examine the kindergarten curriculum for appropriate development of language arts and literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies skills.
• Analyze the role of play in kindergarten curriculum.
• Analyze the role of assessment in kindergarten curriculum.