Cost Difference Between Own Curriculum And Prepackaged?

[MarinaVanessa]

I think I probably save at least a grand a year by not ordering pre-made kits.

I do everything open-ended, emergent curriculum, and it doesn't cost me anything except for the supplies and equipment I would supply whether I had a curriculum or not.

100% play based with art being process oriented and the "teacher" there to facilitate and ask open-ended questions and answering children's inquiries is my curriculum. I don't even have an ABC poster in my program and ALL of my kids start kindy reading, writing, and socially-emotionally ready to be in "real school"

I want your curriculum. Sell it to me. ::.
I love open ended process oriented activities. All of the early childhood development courses I take teach that this is more beneficial to the child so I want a curriculum like this.

[itlw8]

I find it much cheaper and better to do your own. I would rather put my money into books both for ideas and chilerens books and the supplies. Granted I am not going out and buying a years worth or art supplies. We paint a tons but nly a few colors like red do I need to buy each year.

Use the library and internet for idea. start theme boxes and collect ideas, materials , books then add to that theme each year.

my kids still go home with a finished product but they did all the work not me.

Those cute craft kits are great for S/A but not preschoolers. I do use some worksheets or coloring pages the kids right before kindergarten love them. BUT they are a choice not a group activity. they prefer plain paper or paper put together in a book.

following directions is important but they can learn that in other ways than glue this there.

so cheaper is do it yourself or with a friend. It does help when your dh builds you an art closet to hold all the materials you collect and use.

[itlw8]

I believe both crafts and art have a place. I was a graphic design major and I had both fine art and graphic "craft" classes. Art is an expression, a process but if you don't have the "craft" end to teach you other ways to use that process, develop it and to complete a done project your missing out on a bunch!
)

I think you can teach to different processes without matching projects that the teacher actually completed the work. Crafts for older children are different. They do the work not the adult. I have no problenm giving a child a precut project but if a 2 or 3 year old project looks like the ones people post on pinterest the child did not do the work.kinda like all the hand print and foot print projects. great gift for the parents but what did the child learn.

It does help when you are vreative because you parents and teachers believed in process art but I think everyone can still learn even as adults.

[CedarCreek]

I do my own curriculum. I basically go down the line of abcs every week and we do activities that start with that letter.

As far as crafts, we do child led and the prepackaged ones. The prepackaged ones we mostly do as keepsakes for their parents. Like the Christmas ornaments that have their pictures in it.

[ksmith]

I think you can teach to different processes without matching projects that the teacher actually completed the work. Crafts for older children are different. They do the work not the adult. I have no problenm giving a child a precut project but if a 2 or 3 year old project looks like the ones people post on pinterest the child did not do the work.kinda like all the hand print and foot print projects. great gift for the parents but what did the child learn.

It does help when you are vreative because you parents and teachers believed in process art but I think everyone can still learn even as adults.

I've never completed a child's artwork, and I'm a little surprised at those that said they do. Obviously there can be parts that need to be completed by the teacher, like hot gluing something, pre-cutting, etc. But I don't consider that doing the project for them. I also don't tell children how they should do it. I will show them what I created as an example, but not necessarily a guide. If they glue the legs of a duck on top of it's head so be it.

[melskids]

I think I probably save at least a grand a year by not ordering pre-made kits.

I do everything open-ended, emergent curriculum, and it doesn't cost me anything except for the supplies and equipment I would supply whether I had a curriculum or not.

100% play based with art being process oriented and the "teacher" there to facilitate and ask open-ended questions and answering children's inquiries is my curriculum. I don't even have an ABC poster in my program and ALL of my kids start kindy reading, writing, and socially-emotionally ready to be in "real school"

This!

Other then basic supplies, my curriculum costs are minimal.

[mrspreval323]

Weekly Reader

I am finding that weekly reader is great as far curriculum:hug:. The kids have something to take home at the end of the week to show what they worked on.

[AmyKidsCo]

I always did my own curriculum, but last year I beta-tested a new online curriculum created specifically for family child care providers - Gee Whiz Education. http://www.geewhizeducation.com/

There are things I like about it and things I don't, but I liked it enough to subscribe for now. It's $12/month and everything is online. The things I like best about it are:
1.) Because it's specifically for family child care the materials they call for are things you can find in your home, like a sheet instead of a parachute, balled up socks instead of bean bags, so you save money on supplies.
2.) There are activities for all age groups, Infants, Young Toddlers, Older Toddlers, School-Age, and additional School Readiness activities.
3.) Their learning goals are aligned with the learning standards of many states, including Wisconsin's WMELS.

Each theme is 2 weeks long, and they have a free sample unit you can try for free: http://www.geewhizeducation.com/try-...duct-for-free/

BTW, I don't receive any commission for promoting the program, I just think it's a better alternative to the other "canned" curriculums out there... At least for me it is.