Brief overview of different preschool curricula

1. PreSchool Curricula
an overview

2. Montessori
Maria Montessori: first
woman physician in Italy
1907: Casa di Bambini in
slums of Rome
Prepare retarded children
for productive work
http://www.monroemontessori.com/graphics/dr_maria_montessori_1.jpg

3. Montessori
Based on careful Self-correcting activities
observation
Mixed-age classrooms
Emphasis on practical
Emphasis on indoors, small
learning
motor activities
Prepared child-friendly
Solitary learning
environment
No dramatic play
Self-discovery and self-
pacing Not trademarked

4. Waldorf
Rudolf Steiner: scientist and
philosopher
Anthroposophy
1919: Die Freie
Waldorfschule for children
of cigarette factory
employees
http://www.peopleseconomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Rudolf-Steiner-211x300.jpg

5. Waldorf
Based on philosophical Teachers develop group
model harmony
Emphasis on natural Extensive use of fantasy,
environment dramatic play
Adults define daily, No academic learning until
seasonal rhythm milk teeth are lost (around
age 7)
Unstructured “natural”
materials and activities

6. High/Scope
David Weikart:
psychologist and educator
1970: Longitudinal study of
effects of high-quality
preschool
$15,000 saves $145,000 in
costs to schools, welfare,
prisons and potential crime
victims
http://secure.highscope.org/Content.asp?ContentId=410

7. High/Scope
Plan-do-review
15 minutes: children plan what they will do, where they
will go, materials they need, who they will be with
45 minutes: children carry out their plan, which includes
cleanup
15 minutes: review and recall with adults and other
children what they have done

8. Reggio-Emilia
Loris Malaguzzi: teacher
1945, Reggio Emilia: U.D.I.
(Union of Italian Women)
90% of preschool-aged
children are enrolled in
preschool
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/09/23/nyregion/thecity/regg02650.jpg

9. Reggio-Emilia
Child is protagonist Documentation is
communication: transcripts,
Child is collaborator
observations, photographs
Child is communicator
Parents are partners
Environment is third
Pedigogista: trains teachers
teacher
Atelierista: prepares
Teacher is partner
environment
Teacher is researcher

13. Models
Model Scales (Model to the Bay)
Horizontal: 1 foot = 1000 feet
Vertical: 1 foot = 100 feet
Velocity:
1 foot/ second =10 feet/second
Time
1 Minute = 1 Hour 40 Minutes
14.9 Minutes = 1 Lunar Day
7.2 Hours = 30 Lunar Days
http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/bmvc/bmjourney/the_model/walk_through/5_image.jpg

14. Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Based on universal and
predictable age group
characteristics and
behaviors
Reflects uniqueness of each
child
Sensitive to child’s family
culture

15. Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Create a caring community of learners
Teach to enhance development and learning
Plan curriculum to achieve important goals
Assess children's development and learning
Establish reciprocal relationships with families

16. Developmentally Appropriate Practice
What do you want children to learn?
How will children learn this?
What are the sensory aspects?
What values are you promoting (religious, commercial,
diversity, divergent thinking)?
How does this curriculum draw on children’s daily lives and
experiences?

17. Resources
Browne and Gordon. Beginnings and Beyond. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar National Association for the Education of Young Children,
Learning. 2004. Developmentally Appropriate Practice. http://www.naeyc.org/dap/core
Cook. 2010: Humanity’s Choice as Foreseen by Rudolf Steiner. The People’s North America Montessori Teachers’ Association, http://
Economics. http://www.peopleseconomics.com/?p=2328 www.montessori-namta.org/
Coulter. Montessori and Steiner: A Pattern of Reverse Symmetries. Montessori North American Reggio Emilia Alliance. http://www.reggioalliance.org/
Life. Winter 2003. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4097/
is_200301/ai_n9199632/?tag=content;col1 ReggioChildren, http://zerosei.comune.re.it
Davis. What is Montessori? http://www.monroemontessori.com/content/ The Online Waldorf Library, http://www.waldorflibrary.org
parents/what_is_montessori.html.
Association of Waldorf Schools of North America, http://
Edwards, Three Approaches from Europe: Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio www.whywaldorfworks.org
Emilia. Early Childhood Research & Practice. Vol 4, No 1. http://
ecrp.uiuc.edu/v4n1/edwards.html
Waldorf Early Child Association of North America, http://
www.waldorfearlychildhood.org
HighScope, http://highscope.org
Klein, Different Approaches to Teaching: Comparing Three Preschool Programs.
Early Childhood News. http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/
earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=367