Play and Pedagogy (Early Childhood Education) Assignment

Play and Pedagogy (Early Childhood Education) - Assignment Example What is a curriculum, do we really grasp its meaning, or have we mistaken it for some other related terms Now is the time to know. 'Curriculum' came from the Latin word 'curere' which literally means 'to run'. In educational context, it is 'the course of the race'. As the word evolves, it has now come to mean 'the course of study.' (Wikipedia,2008 )A 'curriculum' is the sum total of all learning activities, content, experiences and resources that are deliberately chosen organized in such a way that learning is maximized and goals are achieved. Therefore, a curriculum is not only a plan for what will happen in the classroom but also a long ranged scheme of the events, activities and practices to achieve the total learning goal set at the start of school year. As much as spontaneous learning is encouraged in preschool, there should a set of learning priorities to be followed. It is important that learning is well planned, suited for the age and physical development of the child, as well as the physical set up of the school. Each school varies in physical and temporal set ups, learning goals, resources and many others; it is vital to program activities around available resources (but not limited to), weather conditions, environment, people and routines. These factors are adjusted to suit the individual and communal needs of the learners to achieve the ultimate goal set by the school. (Zaslow,1991) "Children in well run program acquire a wide range of social skills and become more competent as a result of their frequent interactions with other children." Curriculum Planning Guide When planning a curriculum, there are many things to consider. Carefully think about the following elements when planning: Age appropriateness. Consider the ages of the students involved in the program and organize activities suited to their developmental growth. Individual appropriateness. Children, though of the same age level has different developmental speed or ability. One can distinguish a symbol faster than the other; consider the individual differences and plan activities wherein all children can participate. Family and Culture. Plan activities with respect to individual family and cultures. Do not discriminate, alienate or make fun of differences. Transition periods. Transitions are times that occur between activities; a good maneuvering technique should be developed in order to maximize transition period. Teacher values. What the teacher believes in is also an integral part of the curriculum. What are her interests, personal philosophies and