Developmentally Appropriate Practices and Environmentally Based Curriculum

Three Areas of Knowledge that Inform DAP Knowledge of child development and learning Knowledge of individual children’s strengths, interests and needs Knowledge of the social and cultural context in which children live

Guidelines for Practice Creating a caring community of learners Teaching to enhance development and learning Constructing appropriate curriculum Assessing children’s learning and development Establishing reciprocal relationships with families

Curriculum Description “An organized framework that delineates the content that children are to learn, the process through which children achieve the identified curricular goals, what teachers do to help children achieve these goals, and the context in which teaching and learning occur.” Bredekamp and Rosegrant (1995)

The curriculum content is determined by: The subject matter The social or cultural values Parent input The age and experience of the children

Guidelines for Constructing Appropriate Curriculum Provides for all areas of a child’s development Includes a broad range of content areas across disciplines Builds upon what children already know and are able to do Supports children’s home culture and language Curriculum goals are realistic and attainable Flexible so that teachers can adapt to individual children or groups

Definition of Environmentally Based Curriculum A curriculum focus in which children interact with materials, each other, and adults in a planned and well-organized environment. Dodge, Colker & Heroman

The environment is the textbook from which children learn An Environmentally Based Curriculum Uses the Environment as the Curriculum Focus The environment is the textbook from which children learn

An Environmentally Based Curriculum Should Include A framework of philosophy and goals Objectives for learning Guidelines for teachers

Brainstorm a list describing the relationship between DAP and EBC Activity Brainstorm a list describing the relationship between DAP and EBC

Relationship between DAP & EBC Active Exploration Prepare the Environment Child Select Room Arrangement All Areas of a Child’s Development Activities all Children can Participate Opportunities for Interactions