Focused Early Learning

This guide provides field-tested frameworks for planning and for reflection to assist preschool teachers in integrating popular curricular approaches. Chapter 1 of the guide describes the key components of a good preschool curriculum related to learning, a rich classroom environment, respectful caring relationships with children and families, observation and reflection, and adjustments and accommodations. Chapter 2 introduces the planning and reflection frameworks, discussing how they are used and offering tips for creating such frameworks. Chapter 3 focuses on creating a rich classroom environment and discusses setting up the learning areas, planning with learning goals in mind, and deciding how to change materials and activities. Chapter 4 explores building relationships with individual children and making individual adjustments to help, support, and challenge each child. Chapter 5 focuses on incorporating academic and developmental learning activities, and determining how to make academics developmentally appropriate for preschoolers. Chapter 6 deals with planning for physical activities and outdoor explorations. Chapter 7 focuses on balancing child choice with teacher-led activities, examining the classroom environment and how to use it effectively with preschoolers. Chapter 8 explores planning for ongoing projects and studies, and being responsive to the emerging interests of the children. Finally, chapter 9 demonstrates how to integrate the above areas into focused observations and assessing children's learning. The guide's two appendices contain the focused early learning forms and 14 references. (KB).