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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 433 939 PS 027 921 AUTHOR Mulhearn, Gerry TITLE Youngest Learners First: One System's Experience in Planning a Curriculum Continuum for Learners from Birth to Eighteen Years. PUB DATE 1999-09-00 NOTE 22p.; Paper presented at the Annual European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) Conference (9th, Helsinki, Finland, September 1-4, 1999). PUB TYPE Reports Descriptive (141) Speeches/Meeting Papers (150) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Curriculum Design; *Curriculum Development; Foreign Countries; Integrated Curriculum; *National Curriculum; *Preschool Curriculum; Preschool Education; Program Descriptions IDENTIFIERS *Australia (South Australia) ABSTRACT This paper documents the background of a curriculum framework, the Foundation Areas of Learning, for children from birth to age 3 in South Australia. The paper examines some of the dilemmas in creating such a framework and some of the rewards as the system coped with the challenge of including its youngest learners in a clearly articulated curriculum framework for learners aged birth to 18 while striving to maintain the integrity of quality programs for this age group. Foundation Areas of Learning was designed to: (1) assist child care professionals in observing children and using the information in planning, implementing, and evaluating programs; (2) identify and articulate a range of developmental outcomes for children aged birth to 3 in center-based care; (3) define best practice and the competencies required by child care professionals to achieve the desired outcomes for young children; (4) encourage child care professionals to reflect on their beliefs and practices; (5) provide a framework for working in partnership with families and other caregivers and for providing them with detailed and specific feedback on each child's individual development; (6) provide caregivers with a tool for self-assessment; (7) support caregivers in the clear articulation of the importance of the first 3 years of life; and (8) promote the South Australia Department of Education Training and Employment's policies of social justice and reflect current understanding of cultural diversity, gender, access and equity, and the needs of Aboriginal children and children with additional needs. After discussing the context of early childhood education in South Australia and the development of Foundation Areas of Learning, including a trial implementation in 31 child care centers, the paper elaborates on the development of the South Australian Curriculum, Standards and Accountability framework for learners, aged birth to 18. Issues encountered in trying to design one framework which can provide continuity for the learner and which can allow for particular needs at identified points along the way are discussed. The complete Foundation Areas of Learning framework is included. (EV)

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Page 1: DOCUMENT RESUME Mulhearn, Gerry · DOCUMENT RESUME. ED 433 939 PS 027 921. AUTHOR Mulhearn, Gerry TITLE Youngest Learners First: One System's Experience in Planning. a Curriculum

DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 433 939 PS 027 921

AUTHOR Mulhearn, GerryTITLE Youngest Learners First: One System's Experience in Planning

a Curriculum Continuum for Learners from Birth to EighteenYears.

PUB DATE 1999-09-00NOTE 22p.; Paper presented at the Annual European Early Childhood

Education Research Association (EECERA) Conference (9th,Helsinki, Finland, September 1-4, 1999).

PUB TYPE Reports Descriptive (141) Speeches/Meeting Papers (150)EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.DESCRIPTORS *Curriculum Design; *Curriculum Development; Foreign

Countries; Integrated Curriculum; *National Curriculum;*Preschool Curriculum; Preschool Education; ProgramDescriptions

IDENTIFIERS *Australia (South Australia)

ABSTRACTThis paper documents the background of a curriculum

framework, the Foundation Areas of Learning, for children from birth to age 3in South Australia. The paper examines some of the dilemmas in creating sucha framework and some of the rewards as the system coped with the challenge ofincluding its youngest learners in a clearly articulated curriculum frameworkfor learners aged birth to 18 while striving to maintain the integrity ofquality programs for this age group. Foundation Areas of Learning wasdesigned to: (1) assist child care professionals in observing children andusing the information in planning, implementing, and evaluating programs; (2)

identify and articulate a range of developmental outcomes for children agedbirth to 3 in center-based care; (3) define best practice and thecompetencies required by child care professionals to achieve the desiredoutcomes for young children; (4) encourage child care professionals toreflect on their beliefs and practices; (5) provide a framework for workingin partnership with families and other caregivers and for providing them withdetailed and specific feedback on each child's individual development; (6)

provide caregivers with a tool for self-assessment; (7) support caregivers inthe clear articulation of the importance of the first 3 years of life; and(8) promote the South Australia Department of Education Training andEmployment's policies of social justice and reflect current understanding ofcultural diversity, gender, access and equity, and the needs of Aboriginalchildren and children with additional needs. After discussing the context ofearly childhood education in South Australia and the development ofFoundation Areas of Learning, including a trial implementation in 31 childcare centers, the paper elaborates on the development of the South AustralianCurriculum, Standards and Accountability framework for learners, aged birthto 18. Issues encountered in trying to design one framework which can providecontinuity for the learner and which can allow for particular needs atidentified points along the way are discussed. The complete Foundation Areasof Learning framework is included. (EV)

Page 2: DOCUMENT RESUME Mulhearn, Gerry · DOCUMENT RESUME. ED 433 939 PS 027 921. AUTHOR Mulhearn, Gerry TITLE Youngest Learners First: One System's Experience in Planning. a Curriculum

YOUNGEST LEARNERS FIRST: ONE SYSTEM'S EXPERIENCE IN PLANNING ACURRICULUM CONTINUUM FOR LEARNERS FROM BIRTH TO EIGHTEEN YEARS

I wish to acknowledge the work of Professor Marjory Ebbeck, Pam Winter, Elspeth Harley and child carepractitioners in 31 centres in South Australia for their commitment and determination in the development ofFoundation Areas of Learning birth - three.

Introduction

Curriculum for the under threes is an area of controversy and potential difficulty. When we considertraditional notions of curriculum and what we now know about the powerful learning that can occur at thisearly age, we are faced with some real dilemmas which some fear could lead us down paths we may not wishto go.

This paper documents a journey of travelling down the path of a curriculum framework for children frombirth to three years of age. It looks at some of the dilemmas in doing this and some of the rewards as onesystem grapples with the challenge of including its youngest learners in a clearly articulated curriculumframework for learners from birth to eighteen, yet strives to maintain the integrity of quality programs forthis age group.

This conference has as its theme: How does early childhood education lead to lifelong learning? It includesas one of its aims: To encourage the clear articulation and communication between research and practice inthe early years. That is really what this paper is about. Often the academic and the education administratorset out from similar starting points with common goals but somewhere along the journey different pathwaysare taken. Sometimes we get to similar destinations. On other occasions we do not end up in the same place.What I want to do is to describe a shared journey where academics, practitioners, providers andadministrators are travelling together to improve the quality of learning and development for our youngestlearners. We haven't yet covered the full course. We have a map with some main roads marked out, but weare still drawing in the highways and byways.

The paper describes the process for developing a birth to three framework, the Foundation Areas of Learningthat has been designed to:

assist child care professionals in observing children and use the information in planning, implementingand evaluating programsidentify and articulate a range of developmental outcomes for children aged from birth to 3 years incentre based caredefine best practice and the competencies required by child care professionals to achieve the desiredoutcomes for young childrenencourage child care professionals to reflect on their beliefs and practicesprovide a framework for working in partnership with families and other caregivers, and for providingthem with detailed and specific feedback on each child's individual developmentprovide caregivers with a tool for self - assessmentsupport caregivers in the clear articulation of the importance of the first three years of lifepromote the Department's policies of social justice and reflect current understanding of culturaldiversity, gender, access and equity and the needs of Aboriginal children and children with additionalneeds.

The paper then goes on to elaborate upon a new challenge - the development of the South AustralianCurriculum, Standards and Accountability framework for learners from birth to eighteen years of age. Issuesencountered in trying to design one framework which can provide continuity for the learner and which canallow for the particular needs at identified points along the way are discussed.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATIONCENTER (ERIC)

This document has been reproduced asreceived from the person or organizationoriginating it.

D Minor changes have been made to improvereproduction quality.

e Points of view or opinions stated in this docu-ment do not necessarily represent official NIEposition or policy.

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2 1

1

PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE ANDDISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS

BEEN GRANTED BY

Mu\ 1440.NrYNTO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)

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ContextSouth Australia is one of the smallest of the eight states and territories within Australia. With a population ofapproximately 1.4million and an aging population, one million of the total population live in the capital cityof Adelaide. The state is characterised by very few regional centres, only two of which have populations in

excess of 20,000. There are many very small rural and isolated communities.

In a country of 19 million people, South Australia is a very small, but very significant player in the earlychildhood field.

However it is a player with some unique issues that impact on the lives of young children. High levels ofunemployment especially amongst youth and low average income are the reality for a large proportion of thepopulation. Approximately 21% of the population are born overseas and therefore many have no extendedfamily nearby. Approximately 1.5% of the population is indigenous. (Australian Bureau of Statistics 1998)

The multilingual, multicultural makeup of the community provides a richness of experiences and alsodemands that early childhood practitioners know how to work towards maintaining children's homelanguages and know about a diversity of child rearing practices. After English, Italian, Greek CantoneseArabic and Vietnamese are the main languages spoken. Altogether in Australia there are about 200languages spoken, 48 of which are indigenous languages.

Children's Services in South AustraliaAs in many countries there is a complex multi model approach to service delivery for young children andtheir families. Parents find themselves often confronted with having to put together a patchwork of child carearrangement especially for very young children. Historically there has been a shortage of places for under 2'sin long day care although the supply is higher than in some other states. In small rural communities it is oftendifficult to maintain children's services because of the high costs involved. A recent model in South Australiahas been the development of integrated services that combine child care and preschool largely in those ruralareas.

Added to the issue of cost is the supply of highly trained staff, often a particular difficulty in rural areas.Preservice training occurs through two avenues - A four year university degree in Early Childhood Education(birth - eight) or through a diploma vocational education course offered by registered training organisations.Cutting costs due to recent changes in funding arrangements has often amounted to the demise of ongoingprofessional development, ultimately affecting the quality of care.

One of the features of the children's services system in South Australia is its growth in the past eight years.The following show the extent of the growth.

Number of services June 1990 June 1998

Government preschools 420 407Playcentres 21 36Occasional care in preschools 14 65Licensed child care centres 152 237Family Day Care schemesOut of school hours care servicesVacation care servicesMobile toy libraries

TotalTable 1: number of children's services 1990,1998. (SA)

15 1291 18176 15114 17

803 1106

(Department of Education Training and Employment 1998)

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A decline in numbers of four year olds in the past four years has meant the closure of some smallerpreschools and the recent changes in funding arrangements by the Commonwealth government have led tothe closure of a number of child care centres. While approximately 95% of children attend preschoolprograms for four-year-olds there is a much smaller percentage using child care services. The level ofunemployment and lack of family financial resources have meant that some families who would like to usechild care centres cannot afford to do so.

The South Australian Department of Education Training and Employment has responsibility for the planningand delivery of early childhood and school aged services, such as preschool, child care, family day care, toylibraries, playgroups, playcentres, and outside school hours care, and for the licensing of child care centresand baby sitting agencies and the approval of family day careproviders. The department has responsibilityfor care and education from birth to adulthood - lifelong learning. Included also as part of its responsibilitiesare employment, youth and training.

This range of responsibilities puts the department in a unique position to bring consistency to the existingdiversity and to assist in the improvement of quality for all young children who access programs. Theseopportunities are limited however because funding responsibilities are divided between the State (whosemajor responsibility is educational services) and the Commonwealth (whose major responsibility is childcare services)

Underpinning program quality in child care centres are two major legislative bases. Regulation provides thebottom line of minimum standards while the national Quality Improvement and Accreditation System forlong day care centres builds on regulations, pays attention to quality practices and sets standards forimprovement.

For example the regulations under the Children's Services Act specify that the centre must have a curriculumpolicy and implementation strategies in the following areas

Statement of philosophyparent and staff participation in the development of the centre curriculumIndividual developmental needs of childrenCultural relevanceChild self reliance self esteemChildren with disabilitiesGender equityExcursions

The Quality Improvement and Accreditation System is more specific and directive in that principle 16, forexample, states

The program is planned to reflect the centre's philosophy and goalsand defines high quality as indicated by

staff make regular observations of all children's learning and development keeping well detailedrecords of how they are progressing against stated goals and using this information in furtherplanningstaff use strategies that significantly influence children's learning and development.There is continuous monitoring and evaluation of the program in consultation with parents.

(National Childcare Accreditation Council 1993)The advent of the accreditation system along with the publication of the Foundation Areas of Learning forchildren from 3-5 stimulated an interest in practice improvement in child care settings. Questions were raisedabout programs for the under 3's. Practitioners were aware that they were watering down programs for olderchildren and that was not what they wanted to do. People were wanting a way of planning for the youngestlearners that built upon the unique characteristics of under threes as a group and could meet individual needs.They wanted a guide to help them to build the curriculum out of the caregiving practices that they felt wereright for children of this age.

46

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The State government, in recognition of the importance of the early years in terms of lifelong learning,implemented its Early Years Strategy and a decision was made to develop a curriculum framework for

children from birth to three in centre based care.

Foundation Areas of LearningFoundation Areas of Leaming is not a core curriculum nor a syllabus but, rather, a curriculum framework. Itis a document that individual practitioners and teams will expand upon to suit their children, their centres,

and their community.

In the development of the Foundation Areas of Learning for 3 to 5 year olds, curriculum is defined as "all ofthe interactions. experiences and routines that are part of each child'sday" (D1;..U.S'. 1996:13)

Interactions: are all of the interpersonal communications that promote learning, caring relationships and

positive self-esteem.Experiences: are the results of opportunities that consolidate learning and provide new exciting challenges;

they can be active or passive, planned or spontaneous.Routines: are the regular activities associated with the comfort, health and well being of the children;routines promote a sense of belonging and security when they are sensitive and responsive to the needs of

each child.Curriculum is constructed and delivered within the concept of the three 'Cs' ofearly childhood the child, the

context and the content.An outcomes planning model, (Table 1), adapted from Bruce (1991 in DECS 1996) has been used in the

birth to three framework to explicate all the important elements of the curriculum cycle identified in the

framework.

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Great importance is placed on a play based curriculum and the development of a positive self concept foreach child, as this is seen to lay the foundation for learning. The framework uses three foundation areas oflearning:

The development of the psychosocial self: which includes the development of trust, secure attachment, selfconcept, identity (including cultural, racial and gender), autonomy, self-regulatory behaviour, warmrelationships and social connections with others.

The development of the physical self: which includes perceptual motor and sensory development, health andhygiene, gross and fine motor development, self help and care routines.

The development of the thinking and communicating self: which includes language, early literacy andnumeracy, creativity, abilities and dispositions to play, to plan, reason, explore, experiment, communicate,persist and cope with transitions.

The framework is arranged with the following components:

Development, Skills and Attitudes: which describe what could be reasonably expected of children within theage range. This section provides a significant amount of the curriculum content.

The Role of the Early Childhood Educator: which identifies the important attitudinal as well as practicalaspects of the caring behaviour of adults, which is seen as fundamental to children's success as learners.

Best Practice: which requires a sound understanding of child development and practice and describesexperiences through which children may achieve

Outcomes with Indicators:Outcomes identify the observable developmental milestones and leamings that are part of the development ofeach child. They are the results of sound planning and practice that take into consideration individual needsand potential.Indicators are the elements of the broader outcomes. They are observable signs that progressive developmentis occurring. The indicators are neither prescriptions nor prescriptive, but they can been used in a diagnosticway when planning individualised programs for young children. They represent the stepping off point for thenext aspect of development.

In constructing the framework a range of theoretical perspectives were drawn upon. Child development withreference to the NAEYC 12 Principles of Child Development and Learning (Bredekamp and Copple 1997:10-13) was emphasised. In particular, dynamic systems theory and its implications for physical developmentwas considered. Berk and Greenspan caused us to focus on attachment and the need for very young childrento develop a sense of trust in his/her caregiver. This led to the promotion of a primary caregiver model,something that a number of centres had difficulty implementing. However once it was tried the centresremarked on the difference it made in providing a settled and relaxed atmosphere.

It was important to base the framework on current knowledge of child development within a socio-culturalcontext. Vygotsky's work and Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory gave a foundation for this andprovided an approach which is consistent with departmental policies and approaches to emphasise inclusivityand reflect the needs of different groups within the community. While the framework highlights to thetremendous growth that occurs in the early period of life, especially in relation to the development of thebrain, it was very important to focus on the caregiving practices because

It is through responsive interactions with families and a few other special caregivers that infants develop asense of a safe interesting and orderly world where they are understood and their actions bring pleasure tothemselves and others."

Lally, 1998:11

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Development of the framework

The department has a defined process for the development of curriculum initiatives, underpinned by a strongbelief that the success of any curriculum innovation will depend, largely, on how well it is introduced. Theprocess for the birth - three curriculum project included the following steps:

Clearly identifying the needs for the projectestablishing a Steering/Reference Group comprising key stakeholders to guide the project. For the birth -three project this included professional expertise from the community, childcare practitioners and theteaching institutions.conducting a generative conference with practitionersdeveloping a trialing strategyestablishing a small writing teamengaging an expert as the major writercompleting a first draft and circulating it to both targeted and general audiences for critical analysis andfeedback. This included cross curricular groups (Gender Equity, Equity, Aboriginal Education,Multiculturalism and Children with Special Needs)implementing the trial, gathering and analysing feedback and redrafting the frameworkproviding professional development to explore the theories and approaches of the framework

and still to be completed...professional publication of the documentaccess to training for all staff with the implementation of the framework.

The trial

31 childcare centres were selected to participate in the trial of the framework through an Expression ofInterest process. Participating centres included

16 community based child care centres4 private centres5 integrated services5 preschools with occasional care1 community occasional care.

The trial commenced with a training day, with release time for 2 qualified staff from each of the participatingcentres. Curriculum Officers from the Department and staff from the Lady Gowrie Child Centre (Resourceand Advisory Program) provided support for staff during the ten week trial. Support included telephoneconsultations via a Help Line, site visits, newsletters, circulation of professional readings, site to site visits,group meetings and professional development sessions.

100% of the questionnaires, distributed at the initial training day were completed at the end of the trial. 44responses were received from the 31 centres as 13 centres trialed the framework in two rooms.

7 9

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The practitioners who trialed the framework were extremely positive about its effectiveness. Their responses

are shown in Figure 3.

FOUNDATION AREAS OF LEARNING, BIRTH TO THREEUSEFULNESS OF COMPONENETS OF FRAMEWORK

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Practitioners identified the strengths of the framework asproviding strength and directionsound, relevant and appropriateproviding a strong focus on individualseasy to usechallengingtime savingcomprehensive having everything in one documentencouraging reflectionsupporting staff to talk with parents about their child's development, strengthened these partnerships

improving curriculum decision making

One team leader from a trial centre summed up her feedback with

"It significantly reduced stress on staff as they moved away from activities towards a more natural andrelaxed program. Staff now feel more secure that children are being well cared for and their needs are being

met."

Reflections of Practitioners.

Twelve months after the trial, the participating centres have reflected on their practices and the difference theframework has made. Staff from the Lady Cowrie Child Centre have identified the challenges the frameworkpresented to a number of centres when aiming for a high quality program for infants and toddlers. One of thegreat strengths of the framework has been its power to support practitioners to reflect on, and change theirpractices. A number of staff say that they are also much more able to articulate why they areworking in a

particular way and can share better information with parents about their child's development.

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Taking it on from birth to three - where are we going next?

A recent policy direction within the Department of Education Training and Employment has caused us totake an exciting and challenging new turn the development of the South Australian Curriculum, Standardsand Accountability framework - a framework for learners from birth to eighteen.

The new framework builds on the existing frameworks and aims to provide continuity of learning at the sametime as retaining the program integrity at a local level and in an age appropriate way. While nationalrequirements must guide the curriculum in the compulsory years of schooling in the eight areas of study adecision has been made that a group of essential leamings will form the basis of the curriculum and will beclearly visible in the learning for all. A set of new national goals for schooling places new importance onareas such as the development of analysis and problem solving skills, the qualities of self confidence, activeand informed citizenship, creativity and stewardship of the natural environment. The essential leanings willaddress these goals but will also recognise the existing focus of the early years curriculum.

The essential leamings aim to provide learners withskills and dispositions to be active informed citizenscapacities and design skills to develop new ways of thinking, solving problems and making decisions for

a socially just societyability to make informed choices about their lives and their learning.

The essential leamings are about values, dispositions, skills and understandings that are consideredcrucial inthe education and development of all learners in our care. They recognise that development ofthese takeplace in every context of a learner's life.

Work is in progress.At this point in time the essential leamings encompass

identitiesinterdependencethinkingcommunicationsfutures.

The framework will describe the entitlement for all learners and will consist ofcurriculum scopeindicative outcomes and standardsaccountability mechanisms.

Initial issues have arisen as the compulsory schooling sector determines how to incorporate nationalrequirements such as literacy and numeracy benchmarks. The first curriculum standard is identified atapproximately seven years of age. (year2)

Lively discussions have occurred about the notion of standards and benchmarks as part of the deliberations.There has been much debate about the ways of organising curriculum with suggestions for total consistencygiving way to the preservation of diversity within a united framework. There is a growing recognition that inthe very early years the curriculum comes from the child, is centred on interactions, and is built around thecaregiving practices.

The writing phase is about to begin. It will be carried out by a consortium of academics and practitioners.Already the advice that is being provided from a range of reference groups is reflecting aspects of strongpractice already evident in the early years. Comment has included the need to build on from what the childalready knows and can do and the important place of play and self directed activity in the curriculum. TheFoundation Areas of Learning birth to three will provide a strong base from which to build the learning of all

91i

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children as they progress through the range of educational services that are available to them, and throughlifelong learning.

Bibliography

Bredekamp, S. and Copp le, C. (Eds). 1996 Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhoodprograms Revised edition. Washington DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Department of Education and Children's Services, South Australia (1996) Foundation areas of learning:curriculum framework for early childhood settings. Curriculum Resources Australia

Department of Education Training and Employment Annual Report 1997/98 (1998) Adelaide SouthAustralia

Department of Education Training and Employment, (1999) (unpublished) Foundation areas of learning:birth to three

Lally J.R. (1995). The impact of child care policies and practices on infant/toddler identity formation YoungChildren 51(1), 58-69.

National Childcare Accreditation Council (1993) Putting Children First National childcare qualityimprovement and accreditation system handbook. Sydney:NCAC

6)6i/ij AiLitikext,67-,

1012

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sing

inde

pend

ence

in to

ilctin

g

For

2 -

3 y

ear

olds

(cu

mul

ativ

e an

d)

sens

ory

awar

enes

s an

d pr

efer

ence

sre

fined

han

d-ey

e co

-ord

inat

ion

clim

bing

ski

llsha

nd-t

o-ha

nd c

o-or

dina

tion

incr

easi

ng a

bilit

y to

seq

uenc

e m

ovem

ents

and

beh

avio

urs

into

co-

ordi

nate

d pa

ttern

sst

eerin

g be

havi

ours

(de

mon

stra

te s

patia

l aw

aren

ess,

man

oeuv

ring

thro

ugh

spac

e)in

depe

nden

ce in

toilc

ting

1.3

Rol

e of

Ear

ly C

hild

hood

Edu

cato

r

The

Ear

ly C

hild

hood

Edu

cato

r w

ill:

have

kno

wle

dge

and

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

chi

ldre

n's

phys

ical

dev

elop

men

tha

ve k

now

ledg

e an

d un

ders

tand

ing

of th

e ro

le o

f pla

y in

phy

sica

lde

velo

pmen

t

prov

ide

a ph

ysic

ally

saf

e en

viro

nmen

t tha

t inv

ites

activ

e ex

plor

atio

nan

d m

anip

ulat

ion

prov

ide

inte

ract

ions

and

exp

erie

nces

that

enc

oura

ge c

urio

sity

and

prob

lem

sol

ving

thro

ugh

phys

ical

act

ivity

obse

rve,

rec

ord,

inte

tpre

t and

pla

n fo

r th

e ph

ysic

al d

evel

opm

ent o

fin

divi

dual

chi

ldre

nar

rang

e th

e en

viro

nmen

t to

chal

leng

e ch

ildre

n at

diff

eren

t lev

els

ofph

ysic

al c

ompe

tenc

e

enco

urag

e ph

ysic

al c

ompe

tenc

e th

roug

h ac

tive

enga

gem

ent w

ithch

ildre

n an

d eq

uipm

ent

supp

ort c

hild

ren

in le

arni

ng a

ran

ge o

f phy

sica

l ski

lls a

nd te

chni

ques

mod

el a

nd te

ach

soun

d nu

triti

on a

nd h

ealth

pra

ctic

espo

sitiv

ely

ackn

owle

dge

child

ren'

s at

tem

pts

and

achi

evem

ents

inph

ysic

al a

ctiv

ities

resp

ond

to c

hild

ren

in a

rel

axed

man

ner

spen

d un

hurr

ied

time

with

indi

vidu

al c

hild

ren

inco

rpor

ate

lear

ning

exp

erie

nces

into

rou

tines

obse

rve,

inte

rpre

t and

impl

emen

t chi

ldre

n's

indi

vidu

al fe

edin

g, c

are

and

slee

p ro

utin

es a

nd r

itual

sac

tivel

y se

ek in

form

atio

n fr

om th

e pa

rent

abo

ut a

chi

ld's

tem

pera

men

t,ne

eds,

inte

rest

s an

d pr

efer

ence

s

allo

w c

hild

ren

time

to a

ttem

pt p

erso

nal c

are

task

s an

d en

cour

age

child

ren'

s ef

fort

sen

cour

age

child

ren

to fe

el p

ositi

ve a

bout

thei

r ow

n ef

fort

sbe

sen

sitiv

e an

d re

spon

d to

the

child

's e

xpre

ssio

n of

hun

ger,

thirs

t and

need

for

rest

spen

d si

gnifi

cant

tim

e in

tera

ctin

g w

ith c

hild

ren

at g

roun

d le

vel (

eg. o

nth

e ca

rpet

, in

the

sand

pit)

set t

he e

nviro

nmen

t to

prov

ide

a va

riety

of e

xper

ienc

es to

fost

er s

enso

ryex

plor

atio

n an

d de

velo

pmen

t

Bes

t Bra

dlee

Out

com

es fo

r C

hild

ren

Indi

cato

rs

Chi

ldre

n w

ill h

ave

the

oppo

rtun

ity to

exp

erie

nce:

bein

g su

ng to

bein

g da

nced

with

bein

g ea

rned

in a

rms

twta

king

gam

esw

alki

ng w

ith h

ands

hel

dbe

ing

sulk

ed to

laug

hter

/ a

sens

e of

fun

cons

iste

nt c

areg

iver

s

flexi

ble

rout

ines

that

are

inco

rpor

ated

into

the

prog

ram

oppo

rtim

ities

to h

elp

with

rou

tine

task

s (e

g se

tting

tabl

es)

an e

nviro

nmen

t whi

ch p

rom

otes

exp

lora

tion,

cur

iosi

ty a

nddi

scov

ery

the

exte

nsio

n of

thei

r de

velo

ping

phy

sica

l com

pete

ncie

spr

actic

e in

, and

opp

ortu

nitie

s to

bui

ld u

pon

thei

r em

ergi

ngph

ysic

al s

kills

sens

ory

activ

ities

: pai

nt, w

ater

, san

d, c

lay

and

mud

diffe

rent

nut

ritio

us fo

ods

for

tast

ing

at m

eal a

nd s

nack

tim

esch

oice

stim

e an

d sp

ace

and

adul

t sup

port

to a

ccep

t cha

lleng

esin

divi

dual

rou

tines

and

ritu

als

whi

ch a

re u

nder

stoo

d, r

espe

cted

and

unhu

rrie

dfa

mili

es w

ho a

re in

volv

ed in

pla

nnin

g ca

re a

t the

cen

tre

educ

ator

who

mod

el h

ygie

ne a

nd h

ealth

pra

ctic

es

BE

ST

CO

PY

AV

AIL

AB

LE

Chi

ldre

n w

ill d

evel

op:

1.M

uscl

e st

reng

th a

nd c

ontr

olan

d in

depe

nden

t loc

omot

ion

2.A

sen

se o

f bal

ance

and

bod

yin

spa

ce

3.H

ealth

y ea

ting

patte

rns,

res

t,re

laxa

tion

and

slee

p ro

utin

esan

d rit

uals

tIn

crea

sing

inde

pend

ence

inpe

rson

al c

are

&T

heir

5 se

nses

to in

terp

ret

thei

r w

orld

Out

com

e I:

Chi

ldre

n w

ill d

emon

stra

te d

evel

opin

g m

uscl

e st

reng

th a

nd c

ontr

olan

d In

depe

nden

t loc

omot

ion

whe

n th

eysi

t, cl

imb,

cra

wl,

pull

up to

sta

nd, w

alk,

pus

h / p

ull o

bjec

ts, k

ick

inde

pend

ent l

ocom

otio

ncl

imb

up s

teps

, ont

o eq

uipm

ent

run,

sto

p, s

tart

use

pinc

er g

ripho

ld o

wn

cup

scrib

ble

draw

a v

ertic

al li

nem

anag

e si

mpl

e pu

zzle

s an

d ot

her

man

ipul

ativ

e eq

uipm

ent

pour

wat

er w

ithou

t spi

lling

bala

nce

obje

cts

(eg.

blo

ck b

uild

ing)

unw

rap

parc

els

tear

pap

er, s

crun

ch p

aper

Out

com

e 2:

Chi

ldre

n w

ill d

emon

stra

te a

dev

elop

ing

sens

e of

bal

ance

and

body

In s

pace

whe

n th

eym

ove

arou

nd fu

rnitu

re/e

nviro

nmen

t saf

ely

mov

e to

mus

ic a

nd d

evel

ops

sim

ple

rhyt

hmic

pat

tern

sw

alk

alon

g pl

ank

on g

roun

dsp

in a

roun

d to

mak

e se

lf di

zzy

expl

ore

spac

e w

ith b

ody

(eg.

cra

wl t

hrou

gh tu

nnel

, rol

ling)

jum

p, ju

mpn

ff ob

ject

sus

e eq

uipm

ent c

reat

ivel

y w

ith a

dult

supp

ort (

eg. d

esig

n ow

n ob

stac

le c

ours

esh

ow e

njoy

men

t in

mov

emen

tcl

imb

over

/und

er/b

etw

een

slid

esw

ing

Out

com

e 3:

Chi

ldre

n ha

ve h

ealth

y ea

ting

patte

rns,

res

t,re

laxa

tion

and

slee

p ro

utin

es a

nd r

itual

s w

hen

they

expr

ess

hung

er a

nd th

irst

enjo

y fo

odtr

y di

ffere

nt fo

odtr

y to

feed

sel

fin

dica

te n

eed

for

rest

settl

e w

ith o

wn

ritua

Vro

utin

een

gage

in s

elf c

omfo

rtin

g ro

utin

esre

spon

d to

cal

min

g te

chni

ques

, mus

ic e

tc

Out

com

e 4:

Chi

ldre

n m

ove

tow

ards

Inde

pend

ence

In p

erso

nal c

are

whe

n th

eyfe

ed s

elf

help

with

dre

ssin

gta

ke o

ff ow

n cl

othe

sw

ash,

dry

face

and

han

dsar

e aw

are

of e

limin

atio

nus

e to

ilet o

r po

tty w

ith h

elp

put t

hing

s in

ow

n ba

g, g

et o

wn

thin

gs fr

om b

agre

cogn

ise

own

clot

hes

/ pos

sess

ions

indi

cate

toile

ting

need

use

toile

t ind

epen

dent

lyca

n ta

ke o

ff ow

n cl

othe

s

Out

com

e 5:

Chi

ldre

n w

ill d

emon

stra

te d

evel

opm

ent o

f the

ir fiv

e se

nses

and

use

them

to in

terp

ret t

heir

wor

ld w

hen

they

:er

e cu

rious

abo

ut s

enso

ry s

timul

ants

expl

ore

with

touc

h, m

outh

, eye

s, e

ars,

han

ds. f

eet,

nose

seek

s to

!ant

i}, s

enso

ry n

eeds

resp

ond

to s

mel

lsre

cogn

ise

fam

iliar

sou

nds

resp

ond

to u

nfam

iliar

sou

nds

reco

gnis

e fa

mili

ar o

bjec

tsin

quire

abo

ut u

nfam

iliar

obj

ects

dem

onst

rate

tast

e pr

efer

ence

ssh

ow p

refe

renc

es fo

r te

xtur

esus

e se

nsor

y vo

cabu

lary

, cg

hot,

soft,

loud

, dar

k

14

Page 13: DOCUMENT RESUME Mulhearn, Gerry · DOCUMENT RESUME. ED 433 939 PS 027 921. AUTHOR Mulhearn, Gerry TITLE Youngest Learners First: One System's Experience in Planning. a Curriculum

TA

BL

E 2

Dev

elop

men

t, Sk

ills

& A

ttitu

des

Chi

ldre

n w

ill h

ave

the

oppo

rtun

ity to

dev

elop

:

For

babi

es:

secu

re a

ttach

men

tsou

st in

adu

ltstr

ust i

n fa

mili

ar e

nvir

onm

ent

a se

nse

of s

elf

(thr

ough

sen

sitiv

e &

res

pons

ive

cari

ngan

d st

imul

atio

n eg

. cud

dled

, roc

ked,

str

oked

, coo

ing)

a se

nse

of b

eing

spe

cial

(va

lued

as

an in

divi

dual

)aw

aren

ess

of th

eir

body

(th

roug

h se

nsor

y st

imul

atio

nan

d ex

plor

atio

n)se

lf id

entit

ybec

ome

awar

e of

sel

fa

sens

e of

ord

er a

nd b

elon

ging

(th

roug

h co

nsis

tent

peop

le a

nd p

redi

ctab

le r

outin

es

For

todd

lers

in a

dditi

on to

the

abov

e.:

conf

iden

ce to

initi

ate

verb

al, n

on-v

erba

l and

soc

ial

inte

rpla

y (e

g pe

ek a

boo

)co

nfid

ent b

ehav

iour

pref

eren

ces

in th

eir

need

s an

d w

ants

a se

nse

of b

eing

spe

cial

(va

lued

as

an in

divi

dual

)aw

aren

ess

of th

eir

body

(th

roug

h se

nsor

y st

imul

atio

nan

d ex

plor

atio

n)a

sens

e of

aut

onom

y (t

hrou

gh m

akin

g ch

oice

s an

dat

tem

ptin

g to

do

thin

gs f

or th

emse

lves

)se

lf m

otiv

atio

n (d

rive

to d

o th

ings

for

them

selv

es)

self

iden

tity

posi

tive

self

est

eem

stra

tegi

cs f

or d

ealin

g w

ith th

eir

own

frus

trat

ions

the

abili

ty to

cop

e w

ith m

inor

cha

nge

a se

nse

of f

una

sens

e of

aw

e an

d w

onde

r in

thei

r w

orld

For

2 -

3 ye

ar o

lds

In a

dditi

on to

the

abov

e:

self

mot

ivat

ion

self

iden

tity

imag

inat

ive

beha

viou

r in

clud

ing

role

pla

y an

d pr

eten

dst

rate

gies

for

dea

ling

with

thei

r ow

n fr

ustr

atio

nsse

lf-r

egul

atin

g be

havi

our

and

cont

rol o

f im

puls

esan

und

erst

andi

ng o

f ca

use

and

effe

ct (

thei

r ac

tions

will

elic

it a

resp

onse

)w

arm

, tru

stin

g re

latio

nshi

ps w

ith o

ther

chi

ldre

n an

dad

ults

empa

thy

and

com

pass

ion

conc

entr

atio

n TA

BL

E 2

CO

NT

INU

ED

15

FOU

ND

AT

ION

AR

EA

S O

F L

EA

RN

ING

0-3

Rol

e of

the

Ear

ly C

hild

hood

Edu

cato

rT

he E

arly

Chi

ldho

od E

duca

tor

will

:

resp

ect i

ndiv

idua

l tem

pera

men

ts, p

refe

renc

es a

ndth

resh

olds

deve

lop

mea

ning

ful r

elat

ions

hips

with

chi

ldre

npr

ovid

e a

war

m, s

afe,

fac

ilita

ting

envi

ronm

ent

be a

war

e of

thei

r ow

n fe

elin

gs, v

alue

s an

d at

titud

esan

d th

eir

impa

ct o

n ch

ildre

nun

ders

tand

the

role

of

tran

sitio

nal o

bjec

ts in

em

otio

nal

deve

lopm

ent

unde

rsta

nd th

e ro

le o

f ri

tual

in c

hild

ren'

s em

otio

nal

deve

lopm

ent

assi

st c

hild

ren

in m

anag

ing

chan

ges

and

tran

sitio

ns -

smal

l and

larg

eun

ders

tand

obj

ect p

cmun

ence

dev

elop

men

tun

ders

tand

chi

ld-

stra

nger

anx

iety

and

sep

arat

ion

anxi

ety

unde

rsta

nd th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

fear

s fo

r to

ddle

rsun

ders

tand

the

role

of

play

in th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

the

child

's s

ense

of

self

prov

ide

adeq

uate

uni

nter

rupt

ed ti

me

for

child

ren

to

deve

lop

thei

r pl

aybe

have

in a

way

that

pro

mot

es tr

ust a

nd s

ecur

ity a

ndre

spon

d to

the

child

's e

mot

iona

l sta

tere

spon

d co

nsis

tent

ly, p

ositi

vely

and

qui

ckly

toch

ildre

n's

need

sbe

sen

sitiv

e an

d pe

rcep

tive

to c

ues

and

chan

ges

inch

ildre

nre

spec

t chi

ldre

n an

peo

ple

(not

talk

ing

abou

t the

min

appr

opri

atel

y)be

rea

listic

in th

eir

expe

ctat

ions

of

child

ren'

sde

velo

pmen

tal n

orm

sbe

ava

ilabl

e an

d ac

cess

ible

to c

hild

ren

(wor

king

on

the

child

's le

vel,

incl

udin

g si

tting

on

the

floo

r)es

tabl

ish

cons

iste

nt li

mits

and

gui

delin

es f

or c

hild

ren'

sbe

havi

our

and

play

be p

erce

ptiv

e an

d se

nsiti

ve in

sup

port

ing

child

ren

inse

ekin

g an

swer

sac

cept

chi

ldre

n's

indi

vidu

al p

erso

nalit

y in

clud

ing

thei

rte

mpe

ram

ent

acce

pt a

nd a

ssis

t chi

ldre

n to

man

age

frus

trat

ion

prov

ide

oppo

rtun

ities

for

chi

ldre

n to

suc

ceed

mod

el a

ppro

pria

te e

mot

iona

l res

pons

es to

oth

er a

dults

resp

ect i

ndiv

idua

l chi

ldre

n by

giv

ing

rye

cont

act a

ndun

divi

ded

atte

ntio

nlis

ten

to c

hild

ren

atte

ntiv

ely

valu

e ch

ildre

n's

emer

ging

sen

se o

f re

spon

sibi

lity

ensu

re th

at c

hild

ren

are

not c

ritic

ised

, sha

med

or

mad

eto

fee

l gui

ltyre

spon

d to

chi

ld's

dis

com

fort

sw

iftly

scaf

fold

the

child

's in

tera

ctio

ns to

pro

mot

eac

com

plis

hmen

tfa

cilit

ate

and

supp

ort c

hild

ren'

s pl

ay w

ith o

ther

sob

serv

e, r

ecor

d, in

terp

ret a

nd p

lan

for

child

ren'

sde

velo

pmen

ten

gage

in ta

m-

taki

ng g

ames

cons

iste

ntly

inte

rpre

t and

res

pond

to b

oys

and

girl

s'be

havi

our

and

achi

evem

ents

resp

ect t

he d

iver

sity

in c

hild

ren'

s le

arni

ng s

tyle

sav

oid

inac

cura

te a

nd s

tere

otyp

ic r

esou

rces

enri

ch a

nd e

xten

d ch

ildre

n's

play

prov

ide

time,

pro

ps a

nd r

esou

rces

for

chi

ldre

n's

play

prov

ide

oppo

rtun

ities

and

tim

e fo

r re

petit

ion,

pra

ctic

e,de

velo

pmen

t of

mas

tery

and

a n

ose

of s

atis

fact

ion

wor

k w

ith p

aren

ts a

nd f

amili

es to

dev

elop

com

mon

unde

rsta

ndin

gs a

bout

opt

imal

exp

erie

nces

for

ear

lyle

arni

ng a

nd d

evel

opm

ent

Bes

t Pra

ctic

eC

hild

ren

will

hav

e th

e op

port

unity

to e

xper

ienc

e:in

divi

dual

ised

pro

gram

sin

divi

dual

or

smal

l gro

ups

care

in a

pri

mar

y gr

oup

with

a p

rim

ary

care

give

rop

port

uniti

es to

exp

erie

nce

obje

ctpe

rman

ence

exp

lora

tion

supp

ort a

t sep

arat

ion

time

from

par

ent

care

give

r on

the

floo

r w

ith th

e ch

ildre

npr

ogra

ms

that

ref

lect

the

inpu

t of

thei

r

pare

nt/a

priv

acy

and

secu

rity

thro

ugh

the

prov

isio

nof

thei

r ow

n sl

eepi

ng s

pace

, bed

ding

and

com

fort

toys

prol

onge

d co

nver

satio

ns a

nd p

roac

tive

inte

ract

io n

sbe

ing

held

, cud

dled

, nur

ture

d, r

ocke

d if

cong

ruen

t with

the

child

's n

eeds

and

inte

rest

sth

eir

phys

ical

nee

ds b

eing

met

daily

one

-to-

one

feed

ing

for

babi

es a

nd,

whe

re a

ppro

pria

te, f

or to

ddle

rsop

port

uniti

es to

fee

d in

depe

nden

tly a

t the

irW

WII

pac

e

choi

ces

in p

lay

mat

eria

ls a

nd e

xper

ienc

esca

regi

ver

ackn

owle

dgm

ent o

f th

eir

mas

tery

and

nee

d fo

r in

depe

nden

ceac

know

ledg

men

t and

res

pect

for

thei

r lik

esan

d di

slik

essu

ppor

t in

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f th

eir

asse

rtiv

enes

s sk

ills

reco

gniti

on o

f th

eir

chan

ging

em

otio

nstim

e an

d su

ppor

t to

settl

e in

to r

outin

es a

nd

cmgo

ing

expe

rien

ces

acce

ptan

ce a

nd p

ride

in th

eir

effo

rts

oppo

rtun

ities

for

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f th

eir

imag

inar

y pl

ayop

port

uniti

es to

imita

te a

nd r

ole

play

reso

urce

s th

at r

efle

ct a

nd s

uppo

rt th

edi

vers

ity in

fam

ily b

ackg

roun

ds &

sty

les

a st

ruct

ure

and

plan

ned

settl

ing

-in

peri

odun

inte

rrup

ted

time

to o

bser

ve, e

xplo

re a

ndpl

ay bala

nce

of im

ages

of

wom

en a

nd m

endo

ing

jobs

in a

nd o

utsi

de th

e ho

me

child

-siz

e m

irro

rsim

ages

of

diff

eren

tly-s

hied

and

eld

erly

peop

le o

f va

riou

s ba

ckgr

ound

s do

ing

aco

mpr

ehen

sive

ran

ge o

f ac

tiviti

esca

rers

who

are

pre

dict

able

in th

eir

resp

onse

sco

nsis

tent

pos

itive

chi

ldre

arin

g pr

actic

espr

ogra

ms

adju

sted

to th

e pa

rtic

ular

nee

dsof

the

indi

vidu

al c

hild

cons

tanc

y of

car

egiv

er, m

inim

al s

taff

chan

ges

DE

VE

LO

PME

NT

OF

TH

E P

SYC

HO

-SO

CIA

L S

EL

FO

utco

mes

for

Chi

ldre

nC

hild

ren

wW

dev

elop

:

Indi

cato

rs

I.a

seta

e of

sel

fO

utco

me

Chi

ldre

n w

ill d

emon

stra

te a

dev

elop

ing

sens

e of

sel

f w

hen

they

Rec

ogni

se o

wn

nam

eB

egin

to c

ontr

ol th

eir

envi

ronm

ent e

g cr

y fo

r at

tent

ion

Rec

ogni

se s

elf

in m

irro

r, p

hoto

Dis

play

sel

f co

nsci

ous

emot

ions

Are

intr

igue

d w

ith o

ther

peo

ple'

s na

mes

desc

ribe

per

sona

l cha

ract

eris

tics

eg h

air

colo

ur &

text

ure,

phy

sica

l abi

litie

s.ge

nder

, ana

tom

yD

irec

t act

ions

of

othe

rs, a

sser

ts s

elf

Self

reg

ulat

e so

me

beha

viou

rsB

egin

to s

elf

eval

uate

(eg

goo

d/ba

d)B

egin

to u

se 'm

e', '

you"

I'

Out

com

e 2:

Chi

ldre

n w

ill s

how

a d

evel

opin

g se

nse

of tr

ust w

hen

they

reco

gnis

e fa

mili

ar a

dults

smile

, coo

, gur

gle

gest

ure

tow

ards

an

adul

tgr

eet f

amili

ar a

dults

appr

oach

fam

iliar

adu

ltsap

proa

ch n

ew s

ituat

ions

with

con

fide

nce

resp

ond

to a

nd in

itiat

e in

tera

ctio

nsex

plor

e th

e en

viro

nmen

t and

be

fam

iliar

with

trus

ted

adul

tsex

pres

s th

eir

need

s an

d w

ants

settl

e in

to r

outin

esar

e co

mfo

rtab

le in

the

pres

ence

of

thei

r pr

imar

y ca

regi

ver

in u

nfam

iliar

envi

ronm

ents

feed

eas

ily, c

omfo

rtab

ly, a

uton

omou

sly

slee

p de

eply

are

rela

xed

and

com

fort

able

with

toile

t rou

tines

stay

rel

axed

whe

n a

care

give

r le

aves

the

room

Out

com

e 3:

Chi

ldre

n w

ill d

evel

op a

uton

omou

s be

havi

our

whe

n th

eyat

tem

pt to

do

thin

gs f

or th

emse

lves

prac

tice

skill

s sp

onta

neou

sly

choo

se a

dults

they

Wan

t to

be w

ithm

ake

choi

ces

of e

xper

ienc

es a

nd e

quip

men

tex

pres

s th

eir

need

s an

d w

ants

dem

onst

rate

sel

f-ca

lmin

g te

chni

ques

(cg

thum

b-su

ckin

g, h

uggi

ng to

y)as

sert

thei

r ri

ghts

(eg

. say

ing

"no"

, tan

trum

s ar

e ag

e-ap

prop

riat

e)de

mon

stra

te f

rust

ratio

n at

thei

r ow

n lim

itatio

nsac

quir

e ag

e-ap

prop

riat

e bo

wel

and

bla

dder

con

trol

disp

lay

bois

tero

us b

ehav

iour

whe

n pu

rsui

ng p

erso

nal n

eeds

/ in

tere

sts

show

an

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

ow

ners

hip

begi

n to

occ

upy

them

selv

esbe

gin

to s

ee th

emse

lves

as

a se

para

te id

entit

y

Out

com

e 4:

Sec

ure

atta

chm

ents

out

side

the

fam

ily a

re e

vide

nt w

hen

child

ren

appe

ar c

omfo

rtab

le w

hen

left

with

a f

amili

ar a

dult

expl

ore

thei

r en

viro

nmen

t con

stru

ctiv

ely

dem

onst

rate

aff

ectio

n w

ith th

eir

prim

ary

care

give

rna

me

sign

ific

ant a

dults

, chi

ldre

n an

d pe

ts (

hom

e an

d ce

ntre

env

iron

men

t)en

gage

in s

ome

peer

pla

yse

ek th

e pe

rson

they

are

atta

ched

tosh

ow s

tran

ger

anxi

ety

with

unk

now

n pe

rson

sde

mon

stra

te th

e ab

ility

to le

ave

thei

r pr

imar

y ca

regi

ver,

exp

lore

and

ret

urn

(sec

ure

base

beh

avio

ur)

Out

com

e 5:

Chi

ldre

n de

mon

stra

te o

n ap

prec

iatio

n of

the

begi

nnin

gs o

f so

cial

conn

ectio

ns w

ith o

ther

s w

hen

they

reco

gnis

e fa

mili

ar p

eopl

eac

tivel

y ex

plor

e fa

ces

resp

ond

to c

ues

from

adu

lts a

nd p

eers

obse

rve

othe

rsm

imic

beh

avio

ur o

f ot

hers

initi

ate

inte

ract

ions

play

alo

ngsi

de o

ther

sna

me

whe

n in

gro

upre

cogn

ise

othe

rs th

roug

h m

irro

r im

ages

and

pic

ture

sdi

stin

guis

h st

rang

ers

and

enqu

irie

s ab

out t

hem

dem

onst

rate

aff

ectio

n to

adu

lts a

nd c

hild

ren

and

resp

ond

to a

ffec

tion

from

2.A

sen

se o

f tr

ust

3.A

uton

omou

s be

havi

our

4.Se

cure

atta

chm

ents

out

side

the

fam

ily

5.A

n ap

prec

iatio

n of

the

begi

nnin

gs o

f so

cial

conn

ectio

ns w

ith o

ther

s

BE

ST

CO

PY

AV

AIL

AB

LE

othe

rsso

met

imes

join

in w

hat o

ther

s ar

e do

ing

16

Page 14: DOCUMENT RESUME Mulhearn, Gerry · DOCUMENT RESUME. ED 433 939 PS 027 921. AUTHOR Mulhearn, Gerry TITLE Youngest Learners First: One System's Experience in Planning. a Curriculum

TA

BLE

6B

:F

OU

ND

AT

ION

AR

EA

S O

F L

EA

RN

ING

0-3

Dev

elop

men

t, S

ki lb

and

Atti

tude

s

Chi

ldre

n w

ill h

ave

the

oppo

rtun

ity to

:F

or b

abie

s:m

ake

dist

inct

sep

arat

e so

unds

babb

le

repe

at v

owel

sou

nds

imita

te s

ound

sin

tera

ct b

y re

peat

ing

soun

d af

ter

adul

tus

e an

d re

act t

o in

tona

tion

laug

h

turn

to m

entio

n of

ow

n na

me

beco

me

quie

t upo

n vi

sual

or

voic

e co

ntac

t with

peo

ple

begi

n to

see

k at

tent

ion

and

cont

act w

ith p

eopl

ere

spon

d to

spe

ech

by lo

okin

g at

spe

aker

resp

ond

with

ges

ture

repl

icat

e so

unds

from

mem

ory

dem

and

by p

oint

ing/

voca

lisin

g

For

todd

lers

in a

dditi

on to

the

abov

e:re

spon

d to

men

tion

of o

wn

nam

eus

e si

mpl

e w

ords

unde

rsta

nd p

repo

sitio

ns -

in, u

nder

, ove

run

ders

tand

sim

ple

inst

ruct

ions

, phr

ases

labe

l fam

iliar

obj

ects

refe

r to

sel

f by

nam

eun

ders

tand

que

stio

n fo

rms

- w

here

, whe

n, w

hyen

joy

sim

ple

stor

ies,

rhy

mes

, son

gssp

eak

in s

impl

e ph

rase

s

For

2 -

3 y

ear

olds

in a

dditi

on to

abo

ve:

spea

k in

sen

tenc

esus

e pl

ural

s, p

rono

uns

(me,

I, y

ou)

atte

mpt

to d

escr

ibe

actio

nsde

velo

p an

und

erst

andi

ng o

f the

func

tion

of p

rinte

d m

ater

ial

17

DE

VE

LOP

ME

NT

OF

TH

E T

HIN

KIN

G A

ND

CO

MM

UN

ICA

TIN

G S

ELF

LAN

GU

AG

E

Rob

ot &

early

CbO

dim

oi E

duca

te

The

Ear

ly C

hild

hood

Edu

cato

r w

ill..

enga

ge w

ith c

hild

ren

inap

ositi

ve m

anne

r th

roug

hout

the

day

resp

ond

to c

hild

ren'

s em

ergi

ng la

ngua

ge (

eg. t

hrou

ghpe

ek-a

-boo

gam

es),

rep

eat s

ound

s, b

abbl

ing,

coo

ing,

turn

-ta

king

(eg

pla

ying

lang

uage

gam

es, r

epea

t nin

es)

inte

ract

pos

itive

ly w

ith c

hild

ren

ensu

ring

adul

t's v

erba

lan

d no

n-ve

rbal

mes

sage

s ar

e co

nsis

tent

be p

roac

tive

in p

rom

otin

g ch

ildre

n's

arcr

ging

lang

togo

supp

ort t

he d

evel

opm

ent o

f dol

drar

s fa

st la

ngua

ge

use

refle

ctiv

e te

chni

ques

to p

rom

ote

lang

uage

deve

lopm

ent,

liste

n re

spec

tfully

to th

e ch

ild/a

nd p

rovi

de o

ppor

tuni

ty fo

rth

e ch

ild to

be

liste

ned

topl

an la

ngua

ge e

xper

ienc

es to

occ

ur th

roug

hout

the

day

incl

udin

g ro

utin

e tim

es (

eg. f

eedi

ng, n

appy

cha

nge)

prov

ide

reso

urce

s an

d co

nver

satio

ns th

at li

nk h

ome

life

with

cen

tre

life

(eg.

pho

to a

lbum

, sec

urity

toys

)m

odel

app

ropr

iate

lang

uage

and

str

uctu

res

mod

el d

escr

iptiv

e la

ngua

gepr

ovid

e a

wid

e ra

nge

of r

esou

rces

and

exp

erie

nces

that

prom

ote

lang

uage

dev

elop

men

t (eg

. boo

ks, p

hoto

s,po

ster

s, m

usic

, pic

ture

s, ta

pes,

vis

its a

nd v

isito

rs)

read

boo

ks to

the

child

ren

draw

chi

ldre

n's

atte

ntio

n to

prin

t, sy

mbo

ls, p

ictu

res

prov

ide

writ

ing

and

draw

ing

mat

eria

lsgi

ve s

impl

e cl

ear

inst

ruct

ions

- a

ppro

pria

te to

eac

h ch

ild's

leve

l of u

nder

stan

ding

prov

ide

oppo

rtun

ities

to d

escr

ibe,

rec

all,

reci

te a

nd r

etel

lex

perie

nces

and

sto

ries

acce

pt a

nd s

uppo

rt c

hild

ren'

s at

tem

pts

in r

ole

play

prov

ide

mod

els,

pro

ps a

nd r

esou

rces

for

child

ren

toen

gage

in r

ole

play

supp

ort a

nd fo

ster

chi

ldre

n's

effo

rts

to c

omrm

mic

ate

with

each

oth

er

prov

ide

oppo

rtun

ities

for

child

ren

to p

lay

alon

e, n

ext t

o or

with

ano

ther

chi

ldun

ders

tand

and

sup

port

fam

ily e

xpec

tatio

ns r

egar

ding

bi-

lingu

alis

m

Bes

t Pra

ctic

e

Chi

ldre

n w

ill h

ave

the

oppo

rtun

ity to

exp

erie

nce

Ext

ensi

ve, p

ositi

ve o

ne-t

o-on

e in

tera

ctio

ns

Ear

ly c

hild

hood

edu

cato

rs w

ho a

re a

war

e of

the

impo

rtan

ce o

fth

eir

role

in th

e de

velo

pmen

t of c

hild

ren'

s la

ngua

geth

e va

luin

g of

thei

r em

ergi

ng la

ngua

geea

rly c

hild

hood

edu

cato

rs w

ho s

pend

tim

e w

ith th

erm

list

enin

gan

d co

nver

sing

res

pect

fully

and

pro

vidi

ng a

ppro

pria

te la

ngua

gem

odel

sea

rly c

hild

hood

edu

cato

rs w

ho e

xten

d kn

owle

dge

from

thei

rce

men

t und

erst

andi

ngsu

ppor

t for

thei

r ve

rbal

and

non

-ver

bal l

angu

age

lang

uage

inte

grat

ed in

to a

ll th

eir

daily

exp

erie

nce

incl

udin

gro

utin

es

qual

ity la

ngua

ge in

clud

ing

stor

ies,

rhy

mes

, son

gs, f

inge

r pl

ays,

poet

ry, h

umou

r, jo

kes

sens

ory

stim

ulat

ion

incl

udin

g m

usic

, dan

ce, d

ram

a, a

rtth

e le

gitim

isat

ion

of fe

elin

gsau

then

tic r

espo

nses

and

exp

ress

ion

situ

atio

ns a

nd e

vent

s in

whi

ch th

ey c

an d

evel

op a

nd p

ract

ice

skill

s of

rec

olle

ctio

na

rang

e of

qua

lity

liter

atur

e w

hich

is c

ultu

rally

app

ropr

iate

and

gend

er in

clus

ive

adul

t mod

els

incl

udin

g vi

sito

rs a

nd r

eal l

ife e

xper

ienc

es (

cg.

fath

er b

athi

ng b

aby)

time,

spa

ce, p

rops

and

adu

lt su

ppor

t for

imita

tion

and

role

pla

yla

ngua

ge w

hich

hel

ps to

mak

e se

nse

of th

eir

wor

ldea

rly c

hild

hood

edu

cato

rs w

ho u

se p

ositi

ve la

ngua

ge/li

tera

ture

adul

ts w

ho r

ecor

d ev

ents

and

exp

erie

nces

spe

cial

to th

em (

eg,.

scrib

ing

on p

aint

ings

, pho

to a

lbum

s, p

oste

rs)

early

chi

ldho

od e

duca

tors

who

mod

el p

ositi

ve c

onfli

ct r

esol

utio

nst

rate

gies

and

who

sup

port

them

in m

anag

ing

thei

r ow

n co

nflic

tsw

orki

ng a

lone

, in

pairs

or

in s

mal

l gro

ups

smal

l gro

up p

artic

ipat

ion

in th

e co

urse

of t

he d

ayre

petit

ion

for

prac

tice

and

plea

sure

adeq

uate

mat

eria

ls n

o th

at th

ey d

o no

t hav

e to

sha

re (

can

wor

kal

ongs

ide

each

oth

er w

ithou

t fru

stra

tion)

disc

ussi

on a

nd p

robl

em s

olvi

ng in

cre

ativ

e w

ays

a ra

nge

of e

nviro

nmen

ts o

utsi

de th

e ce

ntre

a pr

int-

rich

envi

ronm

ent

BE

ST

CO

PY

AV

AIL

AB

LE

Out

com

es fo

r C

hild

ren

Chi

ldre

n w

ill:

Beg

in to

und

erst

and

the

role

of l

angu

age

2.C

omm

unic

ate

usin

g ve

rbal

and

non

-ve

rbal

lang

uage

3.D

evel

op li

sten

ing

beha

viou

rs

4.D

evel

op e

arly

lite

racy

ski

lls, r

espo

ndpo

sitiv

ely

to a

ran

ge o

f lite

ratu

re a

ndsh

ow in

tere

st in

prin

t

5.B

egin

to d

emon

stra

te p

roso

cial

inte

ract

ions

incl

udin

g em

path

y, c

onfli

ctre

solu

tion

6.R

emem

ber,

rec

all a

nd r

etel

l exp

erie

nces

and

info

rmat

ion

1.B

egin

to p

lay

with

oth

ers

- m

ovin

gto

war

ds c

o-op

erat

ive

play

Indi

cato

rs

Out

com

e I:

Chi

ldre

n de

mon

stra

te a

n un

ders

tand

ing

of th

e ro

le °

Am

ur u

heno

beco

me

quie

t upo

n vi

sual

and

voi

ce c

onta

ct w

ith p

eopl

ebe

gin

to s

eek

atte

ntio

n an

d co

ntac

t with

peo

ple

give

/res

pond

to c

ues

begi

n to

use

lang

uage

con

vent

ions

(eg

. tur

n-ta

king

, plu

rals

, app

lyin

g ru

les)

talk

with

incr

easi

ng v

ocab

ular

yso

met

imes

mod

ifies

talk

, lis

teni

ng a

nd p

lay

for

diffe

rent

situ

atio

ns

Out

com

e 2:

Chi

ldre

n co

mm

unic

ate

usin

g ve

rbal

/non

-ver

bal l

angu

age

whe

n th

eus

e ge

stur

es a

nd v

ocal

isat

ions

(eg

. wav

ing,

cry

ing)

use

com

mun

icat

ion

purp

osef

ully

acr

oss

a ra

nge

of e

xper

ienc

es (

eg. e

xpre

ssne

eds,

gre

et, q

uest

ion,

exp

ress

em

otio

ns, r

eque

st)

faci

al e

xpre

ssio

ns, i

nton

atio

n an

d bo

dy la

ngua

gepe

rsis

t in

mak

ing

self

hear

d an

d un

ders

tood

play

s w

ith la

ngua

ge

Out

com

e 3:

Chi

ldre

n de

mon

stra

te li

sten

ing

beha

viou

rs w

hen

they

stay

qui

et w

hen

anot

her

pers

on v

ocal

ises

take

turn

s

mai

ntai

n ey

e co

ntac

t, fa

cial

exp

ress

ion

follo

w in

stru

ctio

nsre

spon

d to

que

stio

nsm

imic

sas

k qu

estio

ns fo

r cl

arifi

catio

nus

e no

n-ve

rbal

sig

nals

to in

dica

te u

nder

stan

ding

(eg

. hea

d no

ddin

g)id

entif

y fa

mili

ar e

nviro

nmen

tal s

ound

s

Out

com

e It

Chi

ldre

n de

mon

stra

te e

arly

Nem

, ski

lls, r

espo

nd p

ositi

vely

to a

rang

e of

lite

ratu

re a

nd s

how

inte

rest

in p

rint w

hen

they

liste

n ttong

s'n

d re

spon

d po

sitiv

ely

to r

ead/

told

sto

ries,

rhy

mes

, cha

nts,

jing

les,

poe

nan

d

requ

ests

sto

ries,

son

gs, r

hym

esin

tera

ct w

ith te

xts

pret

end

to r

ead,

'rea

d' p

ictu

res

choo

se to

look

at a

boo

k an

d ot

her

prin

ted

mat

eria

l and

ask

for

a st

ory

to b

e it

reco

gnis

e so

me

envi

ronm

enta

l prin

t (eg

: MA

CD

ON

ALD

S.)

mak

e co

nnec

tions

bet

wee

n fa

mili

ar te

xts

and

own

expe

rienc

elo

ok a

t pic

ture

boo

ks in

depe

nden

tlyid

entif

y fa

mili

ar o

bjec

ts in

pic

ture

sre

cogn

ise

a fa

mili

ar p

rodu

ct b

y its

labe

lde

mon

stra

tes

book

kno

wle

dge

(eg

hold

a b

ook

up th

e rig

ht w

ay, t

urn

the

page

tells

ow

n st

ory

for

scrib

ing

scrib

bles

Out

com

e 3:

Chi

ldre

n be

gin

to d

emon

stra

te p

roso

cial

inte

ract

ions

whe

n th

eygr

eet,

fare

wel

l oth

ers

say

own

nam

e, r

ecog

nise

pho

to o

f sel

f and

fam

ilysm

ile a

t fac

es, r

eact

to d

iffer

ence

, to

emot

iona

l ton

es o

f voi

ces

show

aw

aren

ess

of s

ocia

l app

rova

Vdi

sapp

rova

len

joy

getti

ng a

nenr

ion

and

crea

ting

soci

al e

ffect

sjo

in in

soc

ial o

ppor

tuni

ties

show

em

path

y fo

r ot

hers

use

othe

rs' n

ames

appr

oach

oth

ers

to e

ngag

e in

com

mon

act

ivity

initi

ate

soci

al in

tera

ctio

nsch

oose

to h

elp

in r

outin

es (

eg. s

et ta

ble)

co-o

pera

te w

ith o

ther

sjo

in s

mal

l gro

ups

(cg.

lunc

h)ne

gotia

te a

nd m

anag

e co

nflic

t

Out

com

e 6:

Chi

ldre

n re

mem

ber,

rec

all,

rete

ll ex

perie

nces

/inf

orm

atio

n ni

uset

here

cogn

ise

fam

iliar

obj

ects

find

and

repl

ace

obje

cts

from

whe

re th

ey b

elon

gan

ticip

ate

know

n en

ding

s (e

g. r

hym

es, s

tory

lines

)re

cite

jing

les,

poe

ms,

rhy

mes

talk

abo

ut r

ecen

t eve

nts

rete

ll / a

ct o

ut fa

mili

ar s

torie

sde

scrib

e fa

mili

ar p

lace

s / l

ocat

ions

in th

e =

IR, a

nd c

omm

unity

irrh

olin

g fa

rmly

eve

Out

com

e 7:

Chi

ldre

n be

gin

to p

lay

with

oth

ers

whe

n th

eyob

serv

e ot

hers

play

alo

ngsi

de o

ther

sin

tera

ct a

nd u

se c

omm

on r

esou

rces

enga

ge in

rol

e pl

ayas

sum

e a

role

in a

pla

y ep

isod

e w

ith o

ther

sgi

ve a

nd ta

ke d

irect

ion

with

oth

ers

18

Page 15: DOCUMENT RESUME Mulhearn, Gerry · DOCUMENT RESUME. ED 433 939 PS 027 921. AUTHOR Mulhearn, Gerry TITLE Youngest Learners First: One System's Experience in Planning. a Curriculum

6.A

sen

se o

f th

eir

own

com

pete

nce

and

abili

tyto

reg

ulat

e th

eir

wor

ld

7.C

ompe

tenc

e to

eng

age

in r

ole

play

19

reco

gnis

e ge

nder

dif

fere

nces

(bo

ys/g

irls

)be

gin

to c

o-op

erat

ere

cogn

ise

and

talk

abo

ut d

iffe

renc

e in

phy

sica

l cha

ract

eris

tics

ask

abou

t oth

ers'

phy

sica

l cha

ract

eris

tics

Out

com

e 6:

Chi

ldre

n sh

ow a

dev

elop

ing

sens

e of

thei

r ow

n co

mpe

tenc

e an

d ca

paci

tyto

reg

ulat

e th

eir

wor

ld w

hen

they

expl

ore

and

expe

rim

ent w

ith o

bjec

ts a

nd p

eopl

e in

thei

r en

viro

nmen

tac

cept

cha

lleng

es a

nd a

ttem

pt n

ew e

xper

ienc

essh

ow p

ride

in a

chie

vem

ents

pers

ever

e w

ith ta

sks

and

beha

viou

rsas

k fo

r he

lp/r

efus

e he

lpre

sist

doi

ng s

omet

hing

they

don

't w

ant t

o do

dem

onst

rate

a s

kill

to p

eers

or

adul

tsde

fend

the

self

whe

n th

ey f

eel u

nder

thre

atde

mon

stra

te in

itiat

ive

empl

oy o

wn

com

fort

ing

tech

niqu

es (

eg a

sk f

or d

umm

y)de

mon

stra

te a

sser

tive

beha

viou

rm

ake

choi

ces

abou

t peo

ple,

foo

d an

d eq

uipm

ent

reco

gnis

e an

d cl

aim

per

sona

l pos

sess

ions

Chi

ldre

n w

ill d

emon

stra

te c

ompe

tenc

e to

eng

age

in r

ole

play

whe

n th

ey:

expl

ore

thei

r en

viro

nmen

t

enga

ge in

sol

itary

pla

yin

tera

ct w

ith o

bjec

ts a

nd p

eopl

epr

ojec

t rol

es in

to p

lay

mat

eria

ls (

eg p

layd

ough

bec

omes

cak

e)im

itate

obse

rve

and

play

alo

ng s

ide

othe

rsdr

ess

up a

nd a

ct o

ut r

oles

20

Page 16: DOCUMENT RESUME Mulhearn, Gerry · DOCUMENT RESUME. ED 433 939 PS 027 921. AUTHOR Mulhearn, Gerry TITLE Youngest Learners First: One System's Experience in Planning. a Curriculum

TA

BL

E 6

A: F

OU

ND

AT

ION

AR

EA

S O

F L

EA

RN

ING

0-3

DE

VE

LO

PME

NT

OF

TH

E T

HIN

KIN

G A

ND

CO

MM

UN

ICA

TIN

G S

EL

F T

HIN

KIN

G

Dev

elop

men

t, Sk

ills

& A

ttitu

des

Chi

ldre

n w

ill h

ave

the

oppo

rtun

ity to

:

For

bab

ies:

wat

ch fa

ce

follo

w m

ovin

g ob

ject

s w

ith e

yes

reco

gnis

e fa

mili

ar p

eopl

ere

spon

d to

and

imita

te fa

cial

exp

ress

ions

hold

and

sha

ke r

attle

resp

ond

to s

impl

e di

rect

ions

put s

mal

l obj

ects

in a

nd o

ut o

f con

tain

ers

sear

ch fo

r ob

ject

s no

long

er v

isib

lehi

t obj

ects

toge

ther

and

dro

p th

emm

atch

obj

ects

For

todd

lers

:

reco

gnis

e fa

mili

ar p

eopl

ere

spon

d to

and

imita

te fa

cial

exp

ress

ion

resp

ond

to s

impl

e di

rect

ions

put s

mal

l obj

ects

in a

nd o

ut o

f con

tain

ers

mat

ch o

bjec

tsna

me

obje

cts

ask

ques

tions

acco

mpl

ish

own

lear

ning

thro

ugh

prac

tice,

expe

rimen

ting

and

expl

orin

gkn

ow n

ame

of fa

mily

mem

bers

and

oth

er c

hild

ren

choo

se a

ssoc

iate

d ob

ject

s m

eani

ngfu

l (eg

.bu

cket

/spa

de)

sele

ct a

nd lo

ok a

t pic

ture

boo

ks, l

iste

n to

sto

ries

desc

ribe

own

actio

ns

use

prop

s in

pla

y (s

ymbo

lic p

lay)

(eg

. cup

s an

dsa

ucer

s, u

se b

lock

s as

tele

phon

e)un

ders

tand

use

s of

obj

ects

and

bod

y pa

rts

part

icip

ate

in a

ctiv

ities

with

oth

ers

(eg

shar

edbo

ok)

use

repr

esen

tatio

nal o

bjec

ts (

eg. d

olls

, ted

dies

,st

uffe

d an

imal

s) in

thei

r pl

ay

dem

onst

rate

boo

k kn

owle

dge,

fron

t, ba

ck, p

ictu

re,

prin

t, pa

ge tu

rnin

g

For

1 -

1 ye

ar o

lds:

nam

e ob

ject

s

ask

ques

tions

acco

mpl

ish

own

lear

ning

thro

ugh

prac

tice,

expe

rimen

ting,

exp

lorin

gkn

ow n

ames

of f

amily

mem

bers

and

oth

erch

ildre

n

choo

se a

ssoc

iate

d ob

ject

s m

eani

ngfu

lly (

eg.

buck

et/s

pade

)se

lect

and

look

at p

ictu

re b

ooks

, lis

ten

to s

torie

sde

scrib

e ow

n ac

tions

use

prop

s in

pla

y (s

ymbo

lic p

lay)

(eg

.cu

ps/s

auce

rs, u

se b

lock

s as

tele

phon

e)im

itate

act

ions

from

mem

ory

unde

rsta

nd a

nd u

se o

bjec

ts a

nd b

ody

part

sre

call

even

ts fr

om r

ecen

t pas

t

use

mak

e-be

lieve

pla

y, b

egin

to r

ole

play

begi

n to

und

erst

and

basi

c co

ncep

ts -

mor

e, n

om

ore,

big

/sm

all

part

icip

ate

in a

ctiv

ities

with

oth

ers

(eg,

sha

red

book

)

use

pupp

ets

in im

agin

ativ

e w

ays

use

repr

esen

tatio

nal o

bjec

ts (

eg. d

olls

, ted

dies

,st

uffe

d an

imal

s) in

thei

r pl

ay 21

Rol

e of

the

Ear

ly C

hild

hood

Edu

cato

r

The

Ear

ly C

hild

hood

Edu

cato

r w

ill:

prov

ide

an e

nviro

nmen

t and

tim

e/sp

ace

for

curio

sity

, exp

lora

tion,

exp

erim

enta

tion

and

prac

tice

prov

ide

an e

nviro

nmen

t whi

ch e

ncou

rage

sch

ildre

n to

que

stio

n an

d su

ppor

t the

m in

see

king

answ

ers

prov

ide

oppo

rtun

ities

for

sens

ory

expl

orat

ion

(eg.

tast

e, to

uch,

sm

ell,

look

, lis

ten)

supp

ort c

hild

ren

to d

evel

op s

kills

to s

olve

prob

lem

spr

esen

t chi

ldre

n w

ith a

ltern

ativ

es

prov

ide

an a

esth

etic

ally

ple

asin

g en

viro

nmen

tw

ith te

xtur

e, c

olou

rs, s

ound

s, li

ghtin

g an

d na

tura

lm

ater

ials

obse

rve,

rec

ord

and

inte

rpre

t chi

ldre

n's

lear

ning

,de

velo

pmen

t, di

spos

ition

s an

d in

tere

sts

give

chi

ldre

n pe

rson

al s

pace

and

tim

epr

ovid

e op

port

uniti

es fo

r ch

ildre

n to

initi

ate

and

deve

lop

play

and

idea

s w

ithou

t dire

ct a

dult

inte

rven

tion

or b

efor

e of

ferin

g ad

ult s

uppo

rtkn

ow w

hen

and

how

to in

terv

ene

in c

hild

ren'

spl

aysc

affo

ld c

hild

ren'

s un

ders

tand

ing

by a

skin

gqu

estio

ns to

hel

p ch

ildre

n so

lve

prob

lem

spr

ovid

e op

poer

tuni

ties

for

child

ren

to c

lass

ify,

sort

and

seq

uenc

e ob

ject

s (e

g he

lp s

et ta

ble)

prov

ide

oppo

rtun

ites

for

child

ren

to e

xplo

re a

ndcr

eate

pat

tern

s (a

udito

ry a

nd v

isua

l)pr

ovid

e op

port

uniti

es fo

r ch

ildre

n to

see

cau

sean

d ef

fect

rel

atio

nshi

ps

will

enc

oura

ge c

hild

ren

to m

ake

deci

sion

s an

dm

ake

choi

ces

enco

urag

e ch

ildre

n to

ver

baliz

e th

eir

thou

ghts

and

refin

e th

eir

logi

cpl

an e

xper

ienc

es th

at b

uild

on

each

chi

ld's

act

ions

and

inte

rest

s

Bes

t Pra

ctic

e

Chi

ldre

n w

ill h

ave

the

oppo

rtun

ity to

expe

rienc

e:tim

e an

d sp

ace

and

reso

urce

s to

expl

ore,

exp

erim

ent,

disc

over

and

man

ipul

ate

early

chi

ldho

od e

duca

tors

who

are

sens

itive

to a

nd fo

ster

thei

r in

divi

dual

and

chan

ging

inte

rest

s

repe

ated

opp

ortu

nitie

s to

pra

ctis

ede

velo

ping

ski

lls a

nd u

nder

stan

ding

sa

clim

ate

for

posi

tive

inte

ract

ions

that

enco

urag

es c

hild

ren

to 'h

ave

a go

'

BE

ST

CO

PY

AV

AIL

AB

LE

Out

com

es f

or C

hild

ren

Chi

ldre

n w

ill:

Indi

cato

rs

1.B

egin

to u

se r

epre

sent

atio

n In

man

yO

utco

me

I: C

hild

ren

begi

n to

use

rep

rese

ntat

ion

whe

n th

eyfo

rms

use

purp

osef

ul g

estu

res

use

a ra

nge

of s

ymbo

lic c

odes

, scr

ibbl

ing,

dra

win

gre

cogn

ise

som

e co

mm

on e

nviro

nmen

tal s

ymbo

ls, n

umbe

rs, l

ette

rs (

not

nece

ssar

ily in

seq

uenc

e)us

e ob

ject

s to

rep

rese

nt o

ther

obj

ects

enga

ge in

firs

t im

itativ

e pl

ay in

clud

ing

imita

tion

of a

dult

task

s, e

spec

ially

care

taki

ng a

nd h

ouse

keep

ing

task

slik

e be

ing

read

to a

nd lo

okin

g at

pic

ture

boo

ks

reco

gnis

e pi

ctur

es o

f com

mon

obj

ects

enga

ge in

imag

inat

ive

fant

asy

play

, con

tinue

d in

tere

st in

car

e ta

king

and

hous

ekee

ping

take

a h

igh

inte

rest

in d

ram

atic

pla

y, r

ecre

ates

adu

lt oc

cupa

tions

, use

s

obje

cts,

cos

tum

es/p

rops

, inc

reas

ed in

tere

st in

gro

up p

rete

nd p

lay

begi

n to

bui

ld s

truc

ture

s (e

g bl

ocks

, box

es. L

ego)

reco

gnis

e di

ffere

nces

in s

cale

bet

wee

n to

y an

d re

al li

fe o

bjec

ts (

eg to

yca

r, d

oll's

hou

se)

Out

com

e 1:

Chi

ldre

n be

gin

to d

emon

stra

te in

depe

nden

t tho

ught

whe

n th

eyin

itiat

em

ake

choi

ces

/ dec

isio

nsfo

cus

on ta

skch

oose

to c

o-op

erat

e or

not

able

to p

lan

and

carr

y ou

t a s

eque

nce

to c

ompl

ete

a ta

sk3.

Beg

in to

dem

onst

rate

logi

cal t

houg

ht,

Out

com

e .1

: Chi

ldre

n be

gin

to d

emon

stra

te lo

gica

l tho

ught

whe

n th

eypr

oble

m s

olvi

ng, c

ause

and

effe

ct, a

ndfo

llow

sim

ple,

dev

elop

men

tally

app

ropr

iate

inst

ruct

ions

a cu

riosi

ty a

bout

pat

tern

s an

dgr

oup

obje

cts

that

are

sim

ilar

(eg.

mat

chin

g po

stin

g bo

x, s

ound

s)re

latio

nshi

ps a

nd th

e co

nnec

tions

sort

ing/

orde

ring

betw

een

them

expe

rimen

t with

cau

se/e

ffect

, rec

ogni

se c

onne

ctio

n be

twee

n ow

n ac

tion

and

resu

lt

disc

rimin

ate

- sh

ow p

refe

renc

es &

rec

ogni

se d

iffer

ence

s -

sam

e/di

ffere

nt,

acco

rdin

g to

text

ure,

col

our,

siz

e, s

hape

, fun

ctio

nhy

poth

esis

e (g

uess

)ex

perim

ent t

o fin

d an

swer

s, u

se o

f tria

l and

err

or, w

illin

gnes

s to

pers

ever

ew

ork

out s

olut

ions

for

own

prob

lem

ssh

ow in

tere

st in

and

pla

y w

ith p

atte

rns

copy

sim

ple

patte

rns

(eg.

cla

p, c

lap,

san

d, s

hells

in li

ne, n

o st

enci

ls!)

unde

rsta

nd s

eque

nce

of a

task

and

com

plet

e it

com

plet

e si

mpl

e pu

zzle

sO

utco

me

Chi

ldre

n be

gin

to d

emon

stra

te a

bstr

act t

houg

ht w

hen

they

sear

ch fo

r hi

dden

obj

ects

antic

ipat

e ev

ents

and

dem

onst

rate

a d

evel

opin

g se

nse

of ti

me

have

a b

egin

ning

sen

se o

f fea

rhe

lp r

etur

n ob

ject

s to

thei

r pl

ace

5.B

egin

to d

emon

stra

te c

reat

ive

thou

ght

Out

com

e 5:

Chi

ldre

n be

gin

to d

emon

stra

te c

reat

ive

thou

ght w

hen

they

(eg.

mus

ic)

are

curio

us a

nd e

xplo

re a

nd u

se e

nviro

nmen

t

2.B

egin

to d

emon

stra

te in

depe

nden

tth

ough

t, In

itiat

e an

d m

ake

choi

ces

4.B

egin

to d

emon

stra

te a

bstr

act t

houg

ht

6.E

ngag

e In

imag

inar

y pl

ay

use

all s

ense

s to

exp

lore

env

ironm

ent

have

a d

evel

opin

g se

nse

of fu

nus

e id

eas

and

obje

cts

imag

inat

ivel

y

resp

ond

to m

usic

, art

, dra

ma

in th

eir

own

way

crea

te o

wn

mus

ic, v

ocab

ular

y, p

erfo

rman

ces,

art

expl

ore

diffe

rent

way

s of

mov

ing

body

part

icip

ate

in im

agin

ary

play

alo

ne o

r in

sm

all g

roup

sex

perie

nce

and

use

a ra

nge

of m

ater

ials

in in

nova

tive

way

sm

odify

idea

s an

d re

sour

ces

prov

ided

initi

ate

thei

r ow

n ac

tivity

from

idea

s an

d re

sour

ces

sugg

est c

reat

ive

solu

tions

to e

very

day

prob

lem

sO

utco

me6

: Chi

ldre

n en

gage

in im

agin

ary

play

whe

n th

eyac

t out

rhy

mes

, fin

ger

play

sdr

ess

up, u

se p

rops

imita

tero

le p

lay

use

obje

cts

to r

epre

sent

oth

er o

bjec

tsus

e pu

ppet

s22

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