We chose these curriculums because they are research-based and developmentally appropriate for children aged 3-5 and they target the whole child (cognitive, language, literacy, physical, and social-emotional). We know that children develop and grow, but also know that all children develop in different ways and at different times. These curriculums allow us, as educators, to tailor our teaching so we meet the children where they are at developmentally.
Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG) is the assessment tool that we use in our Early Childhood Program. Teaching Strategies Gold is an authentic and formative observation-based assessment tool used throughout the school day. This means that the classroom teachers are assessing the students by observing them in their natural play-based state in their classroom.
The High Scope Curriculum states, "Play-based, child-centered, and grounded in research, the HighScope Curriculum features active learning at its core. In a HighScope classroom, children are guided to explore, interact, and exercise their creative imagination through purposeful play. Well-prepared teachers support and extend each child’s learning based on their developmental levels, so children enter school ready and eager to learn."
The Second Step website writes,
"Help your littlest learners harness their energy and potential by teaching them to:
Second Step Early Learning has been shown to improve young students’ executive-function skills—like attention, memory, and self-control—which are not only predictive of Kindergarten readiness but are essential for success in and outside the classroom."
On the Heggerty website it states, "Designed to supplement your existing literacy curriculum, the Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Pre-Kindergarten lessons easily integrate into half-day or full-day preschool programs. When lessons are taught consistently each day with explicit teacher modeling and scaffolded support, teachers see improvement in students’ reading, spelling, and writing, as the students learn to hear the sounds in words."
The Connecting to Learn website states, "Connecting to Learn is a comprehensive ECFE curriculum, training, and consulting, designed to equip parent and child educators.
We provide research-based, adaptable, transformative and user-friendly lessons for new and experienced teachers.
Our early childhood family education curriculum empowers teachers, school districts, and community groups to build healthy families."
On the Teaching Strategies Gold website it states, "The assessment model used in GOLD follows widely held expectations for children from birth through third grade and enables a whole-child approach to assessment. Color-coded progressions guide teachers toward selecting and adapting activities that support each child’s development and learning. Meaningful reports inform classroom practices and individualized instruction."
