Child, Youth, and Family Studies, Department of
Document Type
Article
Date of this Version
2020
Citation
Schachter, R. E., Piasta, S. B., & Justice, L. M. (2020) An Investigation into the Curricula (and Quality) Used by Early Childhood Educators. NHSA Dialog, The Research-to-Practice Journal for the Early Education Field, 23(2), 21-50. https://journals.uncc.edu/dialog/article/view/1021
Abstract
Most preschool-aged children spend time in Head Start and other center-based care. Thus, early educators’ use of a quality curriculum is essential to maximizing children’s learning. We examined the curricula utilized by educators working in diverse settings with children ages 3 to 5, focusing on key features of quality curriculum identified from the literature. Most educators (75%) reported using formal curricula. Creative Curriculum and HighScope were the most common; 6% of educators reported no curriculum use. There was a lack of consensus regarding what constitutes curriculum with 16% of participants reporting the use of materials generally not considered curriculum (e.g., learning standards). Although most educators were using a curriculum that included some key features, less than 15% were using curricula with evidence of effectiveness for supporting children’s learning. Findings have important implications for supporting practice and future research.
Included in
Developmental Psychology Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Other Sociology Commons
Comments
Creative Commons Attribution License