The Learning-Centered Kindergarten by Ehly Shari Y.;

Author:Ehly, Shari Y.; [Ehly, Shari Y.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 1994175
Publisher: Corwin Press
Published: 2008-08-06T00:00:00+00:00

Role of Curriculum and Instructional Practices

When creating a safe and engaging learning community, the teacher uses pedagogical knowledge as well as knowledge about individual students to develop and organize learning opportunities for the children where they will have time to explore their world and make connections between it and the content learned in the classroom. Often when the words explore or discover are uttered to kindergarten teachers, they conjure up images of free play (which sometimes translates into wasted time) and missed opportunities to teach the standards. It is important to understand that the standards and developmentally appropriate practices are not mutually exclusive. When the standards are investigated thoroughly and compared to developmentally appropriate practices as outlined by the NAEYC, it is clear that most state standards fit into that category.

The problem begins when teachers feel pressured to conform to more traditional modes of instruction such as workbooks, worksheets, and seatwork. While these resources are not bad, and often can reinforce concrete activities, they are just resources and should not be the focal point of instructional opportunities. Young children are active learners and need to relate as many sensory experiences as possible to each new concept. During these learning experiences, students need to make predictions, solve problems, ask questions, reflect upon their findings, and discuss what they know and what they have learned with others. The standards, as illustrated in the Classroom Snapshots, require students to do all of these things and more.

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