I had the opportunity to visit High Scope in Ypsilanti Michigan today!!  What an experience!  It is one classroom with a huge observation area. There are two teachers with 13 students currently.  All their equipment was donated by Constructive Playthings, so it's high quality.   I was a little uncertain about the plan-do-review aspects of the curriculum, but after seeing it in action today it all made sense to me.  It helps children focus on their decisions and allows them to control their learning.   It is also very personalized as the teachers evaluate each of the students at the end of the day and plan for the following day.  The conflict resolution techniques are wonderful too.  There was little conflict since at this point in the year, children have learned how to work things out.  It was a calm, very relaxed classroom.  Parents were welcomed in the morning and many sat on the rug reading books to the children or talked with the teachers.  The parents also picked the children up from the playground and talked with each other.  I noticed that the families were still there and the teachers had returned to the classroom.  Very relaxed and very welcoming for a parent!  They have trainings or field trips every month for parents.  They ASK the parents what times will work for parent meetings and also provide child care!  They work with the parents to make these events happen. 

I will be posting pictures when I return to Illinois, but am super charged about this curriculum.  Very stimulating environment for children who are empowered in their own learning experiences.  I'm returning for one more day tomorrow!  I can't wait to share my pictures with my students next semester! 

Gifted Education

I had the opportunity to visit Quest Academy in Palatine, Illinois, which is a school for gifted children last week.  It was a wonderful experience and reminded me of the special needs of gifted students!  I was introduced to the Principal of the school through LinkEd!  So it really does work as a networking experience.  While we were visiting, he recommended a book called Outliers by Malcom Gladwell.  I started reading it and am enjoying it very much.

I had the opportunity to visit their prekindergarten classroom which was quite stimulating.  They were visiting a rainforest and were quite engaged with learning about the different animals.   I saw some of the activities they do in their small groups and it was very interesting.  They have enough materials for three groups - one is the head teacher and the other two are assistants.  They evaluate how the children do with the materials and then work from where the children are.  I enjoyed this visit!

I started my studies into the various curriculum models! I began by learning more about High Scope, which is actually my first visit scheduled for January 30-February 1st in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Although I'm familiar with the curriculum it shocked me to learn that it got it's start by David Weikart who as a public school teacher was told that african-american children could only learn so much. This came from the perspective of the 1950s in a segretated Detroit area, but it made me realize how far (but still have far to go) in 60 years. So many of the curriculum models began with a focus on a particular segment of the population in an attempt to "catch up" with the rest of the population - I'm thinking of Montessori, Head Start, and direct instruction also.

I was also reminded of the similarities of this curriculum with adult learning. How we plan what we're doing, we do it, but often forget that important part of reflecting about exactly what we did! Going through the motions, but not really comprehending why we are doing those motions and what we learned. That is one aspect that I have seen enter adult education - reflection. I think it is a critical component in the learning process.

So now I'm really excited about visiting the High Scope school and seeing what it looks like in action. This blog will allow me to reflect on what I'm seeing and comparing it to the models I'm reading about - thus learning.

I did discover some cool little books by Nicky Holt about several curriculum models. The one I read is entitled "Bringing the HighScope Approach to your early years practice". I got it as an ebook and saw she has one on Montessori and a couple others. I bought "Models of Early Childhood Education" by Ann Epstein which is a book about comparing High Scope to several other curriculum models. Interesting reading also. I'm going to pick one up at the Harper Library that is more specific to the High Scope Model.

I'm going to begin reading "Explorations with Young Children" about Bank Street Education. Nice thing to do with the snow falling outside!