When people ask “What is your curriculum?,” is that our printed resource and book?

The short answer is no. A curricular resource or textbook is not a complete curriculum. They are excellent places to start and are often very comprehensive resources for the early childhood classroom, but they are not complete curricula on their own. The primary reason that curriculum is made up of many different components is that schools have unique identifies that should be represented and highlighted in the curriculum.

During the mapping process, use the parts of these resources that are helpful and align to the curricular and learning goals of the school, but be wary of the potential of working exclusively from one curricular resource. Don’t let one resource limit you and your goal of providing an engaging social and physical learning environment for the children in your classroom. Let your creativity, experience, and expertise shine!

Context, school and community identity are additional important factors to consider when documenting any curriculum. Yes, education is meant to expand children’s understanding of the world, but young children need to explore the world around them first before they are yet able to imagine a world they can’t see or experience directly.

Context Matters

Consider the concept of transportation and the exploration of how people move from place to place. Exploration and conversation for children in a big city will sound different than children living in a rural environment. The big ideas might be the same, but the specific experiences depend on the local context. All of these details or considerations should be included in your early childhood curriculum, leveraging the unique characteristics of your school and broader community.