Preschool Curriculum aren’t words that are heard in the same sentence very often, let alone in relation to each other. For many people the thought of any rules or guidelines for a preschool seem to be an abomination, an obstacle in the path of natural learning. However, researchers across the world today realise that if there’s one thing that children love, it’s a routine. Have you ever played ‘pick up’ with a child who continuously drops the same object? Or seen a child throw a tantrum when not given his milk and cookies at the regular time? If you have, then you will know that repetition or routine do not bore children as much as you may think! In fact, children love it as it gives sense and meaning to this crazy world and equips them with confidence as they know what’s happening next.
Dr. Maria Montessori put it beautifully in her tenet – ‘Freedom within limits’. For many this may seem as an antithesis, but in reality, it’s exactly what little children need. More importantly, it’s exactly what adults who teach little children need! Giving children the freedom to learn in their own way while ensuring that they do, in fact, learn, is no mean feat. It takes extensive research, planning and creating well defined activities to enhance authentic learning.
Indicators of a Good Preschool Curriculum:
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- Easy to Understand
- Easy to Implement
- Child Centric
- Covers all areas of development
- Promotes Authentic Learning
At Kreedo, we take curriculum very seriously. But we’re also not trying to reinvent the wheel. That’s why we have anchored our curriculum in Montessori ideology and introduced best practices from the most successful schools of thought in early childhood learning. Friedrich Froebel’s Kindergarten, Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence and Rudolf Steiner’s Waldorf Approach are a few schools of thought that have contributed to this eclectic mix.
The result is well-defined activities that are child-centric, easy to implement and most importantly, lead to authentic learning. And that’s basically what a curriculum is. Well-defined activities that promote learning and lead learners to higher levels of understanding.
Can you imagine starting a journey without a map? Or beginning to cook an intricate dish without a recipe? You know of your end goal, or how the dish eventually tastes, but you have no idea about how to get there. This is the same dilemma individuals face when they begin to run a preschool without a well-defined curriculum. They want all their children to learn authentically, but they aren’t sure about the best way to ensure this happens. A strong preschool curriculum contributes to the smooth running of the school as, like the children, the teachers know what should happen next and have ample time to plan for it. Daily, weekly monthly and even yearly plans are no longer a burden on the teachers since they can very easily refer to the curriculum to plan the same. Calmer teachers lead to calmer classrooms and a more conducive environment for all students to learn in.
A well-defined and easy-to-execute curriculum, then, is pivotal to the success of any preschool. Does your preschool have the right curriculum?
