Lets Do a Curriculum Poll

[NightOwl]

1. Yes
2. Preschool prep and abcmouse.com
3. 3 to 5
4. Preschool prep is awesome, but this particular group prefers abcmouse.com. Preschool prep was pricey to start, but you get sooooo much! It's an awesome tool. Abcmouse.com is more fun, I think, because they get to use the computer and they dislike worksheets.

[LoraJenkins]

1. do you use a cirriculum, yes
2. if you do which one I use Carol's Affordable Curriculum
3. age group you use it. Two 2.5 year olds, a 5 year old and a 5.5 year old
4. any dislike or likes about it. I like that the projects for each age group are similar. I don't like that there isn't "themes" longer than 1 day.

[Laurel]

I replied in read above

Me too!

Laurel

[jenboo]

**RANT WARNING**

I hate the word CURRICULUM! I hate boxed curriculum. I think too many people are caught up in "old school"ways of teaching "preschool". Worksheets, hours of prep time, etc. It drives me nuts.

I advertise as having developmentally appropriate curriculum for all age. I say that because everyone these days are so focused on formal learning from birth.

Here is an example of my day of curriculum:
Circle time: read stories, sing songs, and play "guess that food"
guess that food: put a fruit or vegetable under a thin kitchen towel. Let the kids feel it and guess that it is. Then talk about which food group it belongs in. The younger children had a blast uncovering the food and covering it back up.

Small group: some kids used the towel and the pretend food to keep playing our game. The younger ones had fun picking up the food item that I named and pointing to certain colors.

Outside activity: have 3 cups with different amounts of water. Talk about which one has more, less, the same etc. Have the younger ones help count how many cups there are. talk about why our bodies need water. then put different sized cups in the water table to explore with.

Doing your own "curriculum" can be very easy if you don't over do it. Children will learn best exploring and being asked open ended questions, etc. I think too many people over think the whole curriculum thing.

Ok rant over. This isnt pointed towards anyone. Just people in general. I want people to know that they don't have to spend hours preparing or spend tons on curriculum. The activities that I plan are the same type of curriculum I used while working in high end centers. BASIC IS BETTER. i have never had a child not fully prepared for kindergarten.

[TwinKristi]

My crew is all too young to do this, 18-30mos, but I've been scoping stuff out as a mom has asked me about it and would rather keep him here and do preschool then send him elsewhere. I have a DS the same age so it's something I've considered for awhile now. Probably wouldn't start until next Fall, maybe even the following Spring depending on how these guys do. Of course our own kids have a harder time listening to mama and the other DCB has developmental delays and sensory issues among other things. He's cute as a button but not at all able to understand most of what's going on. I often suspect ASD but I'm not a dr so who knows.

[Blackcat31]

"The crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career."


"One should guard against preaching to young people success in the customary form as the main aim in life. The most important motive for work in school and in life is pleasure in work, pleasure in its result, and the knowledge of the value of the result to the community."


"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere."

“I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.”

~Albert Einstein

[NoMoreJuice!]

1. do you use a cirriculum
2. if you do which one
3. age group you use it.
4. any dislike or likes about it.

1. Yes, just started last month
2. Mother Goose Time
3. 3rs - 5rs
4a. I don't really like the cost, but I increased my tuition to offset it.
4b.I like that the parents LOVE it. Every one of them believes their child is destined to go to Harvard, and that they need a rigid curriculum starting at birth! I also ordered the extra (optional) "More Reading and Writing" and "More Math" workbooks. I make copies from them every day and send "homework" home with the kids. The parents requested homework, so this is an easy option that coincides with the day's lesson. I was annoyed at first that they were pushing for homework, but then I realized, it's a great thing to make the parents try to teach their own kids! (Bonus: half of them have apologized to me and told me they now understand how difficult it is to make children learn and I'm so awesome...laying on the praise super thick) I also like the variety of games, music, poems, and crafts. It is making my life SO MUCH EASIER.

Sorry for the lengthy response. To sum up: happy parents=happy me.

[jenn]

I agree with Blackcat

1. Do you use a curriculum? No boxed, purchased curriculum

2. if you do which one? Self made, called "Go Play!" or "Go Play Toys!", supplemented with the occasional book, game, and crafts that I feel like doing spur of the moment.

3. Age group you use it? 6 weeks-school age

4. Any dislike or likes about it? Love it! I have creative children that learn to use their imagination, learn to interact, and learn to self entertain.

[MarinaVanessa]

1. do you use a curriculum?
Yes
2. if you do which one
I make my own up
3. age group you use it.
All age groups have their own. I do different activities with infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Sometimes I group them all up together, group up the infants and toddlers or group up the toddlers and preschoolers, depending on what it is.
4. any dislike or likes about it.
Can take longer to plan but I love that I am only doing what is appropriate for each of the children. It's also a $ saver this way. I can plan activities that are low cost that I used to pay more money for before when I was buying a boxed curriculum

[midaycare]

1. do you use a cirriculum
2. if you do which one
3. age group you use it.
4. any dislike or likes about it.

Where I live, our schools are rated in the top 5% in the country - and that's our public schools. Our private schools are out-of-this-world good. If I don't use a curriculum, I will have no business. People move to our area because of the schools, and they want their children to have the best. With that said ... I offer a curriculum (Funshine Express for ages 2-6), but I don't follow it to the letter. I also don't do it all day long. That would be boring! I believe in free play as a great way to learn. If the kids are interested in learning about something, we do that instead. I have a teaching degree, and spent a lot of time as a substitute teacher, so I know well how to come up with things on the fly.

[countrymom]

its interesting how many don't use cirriculum, well not a boxed one. Here I thought I was the only one who used the "new" play cirriculum !!

do you think that unless we advertise as a preschool we should use boxed cirriculum. I just want the kids to learn not to pick their nose, we can't pull our pants down and show our underware to every one and licking toys is gross. I don't think you get that in a box do you.

[Laurel]

I agree with Blackcat

1. Do you use a curriculum? No boxed, purchased curriculum

2. if you do which one? Self made, called "Go Play!" or "Go Play Toys!", supplemented with the occasional book, game, and crafts that I feel like doing spur of the moment.

3. Age group you use it? 6 weeks-school age

4. Any dislike or likes about it? Love it! I have creative children that learn to use their imagination, learn to interact, and learn to self entertain.

Laurel

[spinnymarie]

1) yes
2) home-made - circle/calendar time where we sign songs and look at the calendar and schedule for the day + sometimes do a craft that I make up on the spot + the project approach, which I recommend everyone look into -- you let the children decide what they are interested in, and then ask them how they would like to learn more about it, and then help them do that.
3) everyone does it, but aimed at 2+
4) how can I dislike my own stuff? I do as much or as little as I think we need/want

[Cradle2crayons]

I'm a previous homeschooling mom but I don't use any type of formal curriculum for daycare kids at all. We do all play based learning and things kids are interested in. Lots of outdoor and science type learning since we live in the woods.

I don't do worksheets at ALL. Crafts we do occasionally but they aren't planned just spontaneous type things depending on what the kids like to do.

[melskids]

1. do you use a cirriculum yes
2. if you do which one play based and child led
3. age group you use it. infant through school age
4. any dislike or likes about it. I like that is allows the children to learn the way they were meant to. Through play.