New Features in Preschool Curricula

The demand for high quality has caused preschool curricula to move beyond the traditional model. For one thing, curricula now have a scope and sequence. Teachers are given direction in what they are to teach as well as how to teach. Other innovations include:

• Focusing on assessment—Measuring children’s progress is now considered a vital part of teaching. Knowing children’s strengths and challenges is crucial to planning what and how to teach. Effective curricula include assessment of all children as part of their approach. For those children who do not meet the curriculum’s targeted benchmarks, intensive individualized programming is offered. Assessment is used throughout to guide decision making about needed services.

• Equipping children to approach learning on their own—Besides learning basic skills, young children need to know the skills involved in unlocking learning. Known as “approaches to learning,” these foundational skills include persistence, engagement, curiosity, and initiative. Modern curricula focus on teaching children to be problem solvers. Children are encouraged to be curious, to observe, to make predictions, and to figure out solutions. Knowing how to learn makes children lifelong learners.

• Making the curriculum accessible to everyone—Today’s society is diverse. To be effective, preschool curricula must meet the needs of all learners. Curricula now strive to accommodate the needs of every student, not just the middle class or the average learner. Two groups that were historically ignored by mainstream curricula are now specifically courted. These include children with special needs and children who are English Language Learners (ELL). By law and design, curricula are inclusive.

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