Early Child Hood Education Essay

Early Childhood

A Guide to Early Childhood Program Development
State of Connecticut State Board of Education 2007

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Mark K. McQuillan Commissioner of Education George A. Coleman Deputy Commissioner of Education

Division of Teaching and Learning Programs and Services
George P. Dowaliby Interim Associate Commissioner

Bureau of Early Childhood, Career and Adult Education
Paul F. Flinter Bureau Chief

Early Childhood Programs and Instruction Unit
Deborah Adams Yemi Onibokum Gerri Rowell Joyce Staples Maria Synodi

Office of Communications
Donald G. Goranson, Jr., Editor Janet Montague, Desktop Publisher Andrea Wadowski, Graphic Designer

A GUIDE TO EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

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CONTENTS
Acknowledgments – vi Foreword – vii Introduction –viii

Chapter 1: Professional Roots And Current Research – 1
OUR PROFESSIONAL ROOTS – 2 Current Research – 3

Chapter 2: Curriculum – 7
CURRICULUM PLANNING – 9 HOW PLAY CONTRIBUTES TO DEVELOPMENT – 10 TYPES OF PLAY – 12 THE PROJECT APPROACH FRAMEWORK – 13 TEACHER BEHAVIORS – 15 TEACHER STRATEGIES – 16 CURRICULUM PLANNING – 17 PLAY-BASED LEARNING CENTERS – 20 THEMATIC/PROJECT APPROACH – 21 TEACHER BEST PRACTICES – 22 ADMINISTRATOR BEST PRACTICES – 23 EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM MODELS – 23

Chapter 3: Decisions About Practice: Environment, Scheduling, Materials And Climate – 33
MAKING DECISIONS – 34 PLANNING QUESTIONS – 34 INDOOR ENVIRONMENT – 34 Children’s Interests And Cultures – 34 Climate And Comfort – 34 Curriculum Focus And Content – 36 Safety And Accessibility – 36 Independence And Movement – 36 OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT – 36 LIST OF SUGGESTED MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES – 37 TIME: SCHEDULING THE DAY – 40 Sample Schedule: Full Day – 40 Sample Schedule: Half Day – 40 BEST PRACTICES: SCHEDULING – 40 ESTABLISHING A POSITIVE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT – 41 MAKING THE MOST OF CIRCLE TIME – 42 Suggested Circle Time Procedure – 42 Tips For Successful Circle Time –...