Early Childhood Work Product

Early Childhood Work Product

a Work Product in which you will design a set of learning experiences that could be implemented as part of an effective curriculum for preschool children (ages 3–4). Ideally, curriculum planning is a collaborative process. For this Work Product, you will interview a teacher to learn more about his or her curricular goals and find out how you can collaborate with one another to achieve those goals. You will also observe in the teacher’s classroom in order to learn more about the children in the setting. If you are currently working as an early childhood teacher, collaborate with a colleague in your setting to complete this Assessment.

You will collaborate with a colleague or early childhood teacher to design three learning experiences that are appropriate for the children in the preschool classroom that you observed. (Implementation is not required, but it is important that you have a real setting in mind as you plan.)

Curriculum Planning (EP002 Work Product)

Identify a preschool setting that provides educational programs for 3- and 4-year-olds. Arrange to visit and interview a teacher and to observe in his or her classroom for at least two hours. Use the “Interview Guide” document to inform your questions during your scheduled interview.

Keeping in mind all you have learned about the context of the preschool program and the standards that inform its curriculum, plan three learning experiences around a central theme chosen in collaboration with the teacher you interview. Use the template provided in the “Learning Experience Plan Template” document.

Taken together, the learning experiences must include all content areas addressed in the Rubric (literacy; math, science, and technology; health; and the arts) and must address all domains of development (cognitive, social, emotional, and physical). Remember that, because your learning experiences are designed around an integrated theme, multiple content areas and domains of development will be represented within each learning experience.

Work Product Assignment:

Write a 7- to 10-page narrative analysis of your Learning Experiences Plan that includes a brief description of the central theme and explanations of the following:

1. How the learning experiences, taken as a whole, reflect at least three indicators of effective curriculum

2. How the learning experiences reflect appropriate learning standards and the goals identified by the early childhood teacher you interviewed

3. How knowledge of the children and families informed the learning experiences

4. How the learning experiences promote language and literacy

5. How the learning experiences promote math, science, and technology learning

6. How the learning experiences promote learning in the arts

7. How the learning experiences promote social, emotional, and physical development

8. How the assessment strategies used in the learning experiences informed your understanding of children’s learning and development

9. How play is incorporated into your learning experiences and why this is a vital component of the early childhood curriculum

10. How the learning experiences you planned can be differentiated to meet the needs of individual children, including those with exceptionalities (Note: Include a description of at least two strategies.)

11. How you collaborated to develop the learning experiences, including:

12. An explanation of the value of collaborating in the curriculum planning process

13. A description of any challenges you experienced

14. An example of ways you compromised, demonstrated respect, and/or shared responsibility to develop the learning experiences

Note: Include the “Learning Experience Plan Template” documents as a /Reference and also use it and the interview guide to complete this work product assignment.

Interview Guide

Ideally, curriculum planning is a collaborative process. For this Work Product, you will interview a teacher to learn more about his or her curricular goals and find out how you can collaborate with one another to achieve those goals. If you are currently working as an early childhood teacher, collaborate with a colleague in your setting to complete this Assessment.

Share the list of Indicators of Effective Curriculum (Bredekamp, p. 316) with the teacher in the preschool setting you have chosen. Ask him or her to share information about their curriculum design process, including:

· Examples of how their curriculum reflects the Indicators of Effective Curriculum

· Any standards that guide their curriculum and why these are important

· An explanation of specific curricular goals for the children in the classroom across content areas and developmental domains

· Information related to cultural and linguistic characteristics of the children, family, and community, as well as socioeconomic background, family structures, and children with exceptionalities who may attend the school

· Examples of how knowledge of the children, families, and community helps to inform certain indicators and provides a context for learning

· Examples of how learning experiences are differentiated to meet the needs of individual children

· The teacher’s perspectives on collaboration in curriculum development

· How you and the teacher can collaborate to design effective learning experiences for the children in the classroom

Reference: Bredekamp, S. (2014). Effective practices in early childhood education: Building a foundation (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Learning Experience Plan Template

Foundations of Lesson Plan

Content Areas and Developmental DomainsIdentify the content area(s) and developmental domain(s) you will address in this learning experience.1–2 paragraphs

State/District/Professional StandardsIdentify one early learning standard that informed your planning of this learning experience.1–2 sentences

Learning GoalsBriefly describe your goal(s) or desired outcome(s) of the learning experience.1 paragraph

Materials/Technology/Equipment/ResourcesList texts, websites, writing/art supplies, props/artifacts, assistive technology, computer software, Internet resources, audio/visual media, and other tools and materials needed for this experience.Length will vary.

Lesson Sequence Align all activities with the standard(s), goal(s), and context.

Introduction/Anticipatory Set

Describe initial teacher-and-child activities that establish a warm connection and capture children’s attention. Answer the following:· How will you build a sense of relationship and connection with children during the introduction?· How will you relate the lesson to children’s interests, prior knowledge, and families/communities?2–3 paragraphs

Building/Applying Knowledge and Skills

Describe specifically, and in a step-by-step fashion, what you and the children will do in all activities and transitions that are part of this learning experience. Make sure each activity is meaningful and supports your goal(s). Be sure to consider specific content areas and developmental domains that are relevant to the learning experience.For each activity, explain how the activity might be differentiated to meet the needs of individual children, including children with exceptionalities. Give specific examples related to particular children in the classroom that you observed.3–5 paragraphs

Assessment

Assessment is the process by which early childhood professionals gain understanding of children’s development and learning. Describe strategies you will use to assess children’s learning. Consider how you will:· Utilize and document observation to assess children’s learning.· Make sure all assessments are aligned with your goal(s) for the lesson.2–3 paragraphs

Closure

Learning Activities:Closure is the conclusion of your learning experience. It is a time to wrap up the experience by summarizing, reviewing, and/or reflecting on the learning that has taken place. Describe all activities and strategies you will use in the closure of your learning activity.1–2 paragraphs