Curriculum Development

Program Goals

• Program goals are broad statements of purpose that state desired end results.

Curriculum Development

• Teachers, directors, aides, parents, sometimes the center cook, etc. can all be involved in curriculum development.

Preplanned Curriculum

• Preplanning curriculum saves time and energy.

Processed-Centered Approach

• This approach is content centered. Learning is all about exploring and questioning.

• Materials and the environment are carefully planned for learning and the children assume responsibility for choosing their activities.

Direct and Indirect Learning

• Direct learning is planned with a specific goal in mind.

• Indirect learning is spur of the moment.

Covering Information

• Is the information worth knowing?

• Is it testable?

• Is it developmentally appropriate?

Field Sensitive

• These children like to work with others and often volunteer to help.

Field-Independent

• These children like to try new activities and work on their own.

Visual

• These learners enjoy looking at books and other objects.

Auditory

• These learners enjoy activities involving music, stories, and poems.

Spiral Curriculum

• The meaning of this is that as children grow, their circle of interests becomes larger.

Flowchart

• A flowchart outlines major concepts related to a theme.

Block Plans and Lesson Plans

• A block plan is an overall view of curriculum- usually for a unit.

• A lesson plan is detailed actions and activities that allow you to meet your goals or objectives for a specific day.

• The procedure part of a lesson plan gives step by step directions for the day.

Developmental and Program Goals

• Developmental goals are statements that tell the why of the activity. They are more specific than program goals.

Learning Objectives

• Part 1- Conditions of Performance (materials needed)

• Part 2- Level of Performance (minimum standards of achievement)

• Part 3- Behavior (visible actions)

Evaluating Activity Success

• Evaluate the learning experience

• Evaluate children and their responses

• Evaluate your own teaching strategies