Curriculum
Eanes CDC curriculum is age- and developmentally-appropriate based on quality standards of early childhood education / development. Eanes CDC implements the High Scope Curriculum. The High Scope Curriculum is a frame work based on the active learning approach.
- Children develop awareness and understanding through active involvement with teachers, materials, events, and ideas.
- Learning is most effective when the child plans, carries out and reflects on the intentional activities.
- A variety of developmentally appropriate active leaning experiences contributes to the child’s intellectual, social, emotional and physical development.
- When a teacher provides consistent support for the child initiated learning it strengthens the child’s confidence, self-control and sense of identity.
Teachers facilitate the curriculum through the classroom environment, learning centers, lesson plans, schedules, assessments and adult–child interactions. Children benefit when the curriculum enhances their language, cognitive, fine/gross motor and social/emotional skills.
Learning occurs throughout the day as children actively participate in a variety of experiences. Play is the foundation of these experiences and the curriculum provides productive play where the fun is in the doing. Research indicates that intrinsic motivation, when we learn something primarily because we find the task enjoyable, is a more effective and satisfying way to learn.
The High Scope Curriculum is based upon Developmentally Appropriate Standards set forth by NAEYC which in turn focus on the following areas:
- Relationships with Caregivers and Families
- Environment
- Exploration and Play
- Teaching/Planning/Assessing to Enhance Developmental Learning
- Routines/Policies
- Creating a Caring Community
HighScope website: http://highscope.org/
The preschool classrooms also implement the Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) curriculum which has been adopted by EISD. HWT provides preschool age children with a hands-on method of learning pre-writing skills and letter recognition. This curriculum is used as an addition to Developmentally Appropriate Practices in the classrooms and activities will be carried out during small and large group times.
Handwriting without Tears website: http://www.hwtears.com/
