Basic Steps in Designing a Preschool Curriculum

Designing an excellent preschool curriculum is extremely important for an early childhood education professional. It would create an environment that puts children in the right path ensuring a positive academic attitude and overall development. Moreover, it helps teachers love their job even more!

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Create a written framework

A written framework must list all the vital elements of the preschool education in relation to the early learning standards of the state. Updating the framework every year incorporates latest research and techniques into the curriculum.

While developing the structure, write down what you wish to achieve with the children. Define clearly all the early learning goals for the entire preschool program and take in relevant research findings, pertaining to childhood development.

The framework must work as a solid guideline and specify well-defined simple to complicated teaching methods, learner skills to be developed, intentional play, teacher attitude, and elements that promote essential social skills. The structure must also include evaluation procedures to measure learner progress. 

Define the teacher role

A very significant part of developing a written framework is defining the teacher role. It is the teacher who is responsible for: following age-appropriate teaching strategies; achieving engaging classroom interaction; inspiring learning on the part of the kids.

Parental, societal and governmental inputs and expectations go a long way in syllabus design, preparation of teaching/learning materials, formulation of teaching-learning strategies and techniques and evaluation procedures. Teachers have a definitive role to play in all these segments of the curriculum.

Identifying learner activities

Different kinds of learner activities have different objectives. Playing games aims at participation in fun activities – sharing, laughing, enjoying and relaxing. Small and whole group activities can promote social, emotional and psychological development. Art activities inspire kids in developing creativity and individuality. A right mix of all these activities facilitates all round development.

Creating appropriate learning environment

Kids are highly impressionable and easily affected by things and people around them. The preschoolers must therefore have a well thought out and secure learning atmosphere. Caring and responsive adults should recognize, respect and nurture their curiosity, creativity and individuality, and allow them to explore and learn on their own.

Room scheduling and structure, both outdoor and indoor activities, materials and supplies considered age-appropriate, interesting displays, alternative seating etc. are all factors that enrich learning environment.

A few more tips

Once the base of the curriculum framework is complete, professionals can work towards planning individual lesson plans. Present preschool education trends aim for an all-inclusive approach in respect of the following key areas.

1. Literacy
2. Language development, especially sounds and simple vocabulary of the language
3. Basic numeracy
4. Social studies
5. Science
6. Art
7. Physical development
8. Social development
9. Culture development

The aim of designing a strong preschool curriculum is to foster genuine love for learning in kids. In order to accomplish this, the kids must be able to feel at home all the time. All the teaching-learning objectives must always be achieved through stimulating fun way activities.

When the curriculum designers are clear about this general goal, the kids are sure to find the journey of learning quite enticing and highly enjoyable!