Those Of You Who Do Curriculum..(Sorry Kinda Long..)

[My3cents]

I am at the same point. I am stressed to the point of tears and overload trying to make everything perfect and fit everything into our schedule. And I always feel like I am failing.

The kids certainly don't have a great time when I am that stressed, and I definitely don't.

At bare minimum I am going to ease up my schedule so I and the kids are happier.

Blandino-

Are you your own boss? I think this makes a difference. If your not, you have protocol that you have to follow and own up to. I don't have that pressure. I am my critic and I hold myself high to what I do because I love it. I don't sit on my fanny all day and do nothing- I am constantly trying to figure out ways to make my daycare better and what I can do with these kiddo's while they are in my care. When you are doing something because you want to do it, it makes a big difference then when it is being pushed down your throat to do. Just as some kids don't do well with a regular structured day in school. I don't either. I like keeping things real and balanced at least aiming for the balance. I think we are complex little people and people and one way of doing something is not the answer as the states are trying to push onto us. I see tons of people that are book smart but lacking in several other areas- I see this so much when I go to trainings.

You would be smart to ease your days so that both you and the kiddo's are not stressed. I know that is hard to do when your following someone elses guide lines of what is "right"

best-

[MarinaVanessa]

Why? Mainly because the state is pushing the preschool down our throats, star ratings that are linked to subsidized payments, quality score ratings, parents being brainwashed into educational chide care, and I'm not tallking early childhood development, they want a full blown curriculum by the minute even for 3 month old children. And they still send them to centers by the age of 2, that is mostly the trend in California .

I know this particular response is 2 months old but I just wanted to clarify that CA is not enforcing a preschool type setting for infants, in fact the State is pushing the CA foundations. For infants it is solely developmental and encourages positive social interactions. Even for preschool age children the CA Preschool Foundations are all about learning certain things but how you teach these things is up to you. They just want some type of a curriculum ... that does not translate to worksheets even though sadly a lot of preschools go this route. They're about a positive learning environment and development reflecting age-appropriate competency through "Encouraging play-based active learning" <--- straight from the Preschool Frameworks (Volume 1).

The CA Foundations will all be tied in with the QRIS program. Here are the Foundations themselves.

What the kids should know:
California Infant/Toddler Learning & Development Foundations PDF

What the "teacher" should know:
California Infant/Toddler Curriculum Framework PDF

And just for reference, here is where you can find the preschool foundations (all three volumes in PDF) and the Frameworks.

California Preschool Learning Foundations

California Preschool Curriculum Frameworks

[misslori50]

we dont do curriculum we are a play based center. The kids are let explore, imagine, do art figure out on their own what THEY want to do. We do no formal learning. We use the surroundings to learn counting and letters. Set up a learning environment and let them have at it. http://www.playcountsdenitadinger.blogspot.com/

http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/643130139044874/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7y6ZgQCnvw&feature=share

[sunlight]

I have been providing a boxed curriculum for the last 5-6 years. When I first started I was using Funshine Express and really liked it. I was charging an extra $25 a month from parents and they had no problem paying it. The last couple of years I have switched my preschool curriculum to Early Start Fun Learning. The parents like it more because it is more kid friendly. With Funshine I had to make most of the crafts myself because it was to hard for the kids. With my new curriculum it is easy for the kids and all the projects look like the kids made them not me. I don't charge extra for this curriculum because for the last couple of years with the economy changing parents don't want to pay extra for anything. What I can tell you is that when I get a call almost every single parent I do talk to asks me if I provide a preschool curriculum and that they are looking for that in a daycare. So, I do feel pressure to provide that. Because I am a Family Child Care and take care of different age groups it's hard to focus on preschool daily. I am not a center so do the very best I can. So far everyone seems happy. Plus its a nice addition to our day to do some school work.

Hope this helps Black Cat

[Unregistered]

Most parents see daycare as a business transaction. Service provided and paid for. It's so much more. There's a huge emotional attachment taking an infant all the way through to preschool years- you spend more time with that child than their own grandparents. I often find parents don't get it- but the children do! All the spintaneous I love yous and amazement in their eyes as they learn and laugh - it's a magical job! Look to the parents for payment - look to the children for appreciation !

In MA a curriculum is required for family childcare educators. Simply done I cover common core concepts in every theme and incorporate several themes per month. For example Arctic animals... Stories based on the Arctic, science with ice and water and small figures, polar bear math - matching numbers, polar bear hokey pokey- put your polar bear paws in, etc babies enjoy songs, poems movement (usually in my arms) and stories. Hopefully a am nap coincides with a messy table project- if not then its time for baby to enjoy sensory play in highchair- maybe "paint" with squash - safe if baby decides to eat - as I simultaneously watch the messy station. Daily I provide a sheet listing meals served, stories, fine motor, gross motor, craft/theme and individual interests(areas they were interested in most). I never watch tv however when our theme allows it I love a 5 min bbc you tube video on our topic- live polar bears video in their environment - awesome learning tool. Some children will learn quicker than others - it's the exposure to authentic learning environments that prepares the children.

I provide quality care but I am not a babysitter - I rarely sit - and really hate being referred to as one. In my opinion your rates should reflect the high end of daycare center fees. In a home the curriculum is tailored to specific children enrolled.

I pride myself in knowing the children that enroll as babies and leave for kindergarten Are prepared for the next phases of education. Parents have brought their children to formal prek at 4 and I'm very happy for them. I know I've done well and I am sad to see them go. Some children need a larger group of children. Home care of 6 and then attend kindergarten with 25 can be difficult.

Best of luck!