Connecting Emergent Curriculum and Standards in the Early Childhood Classroom

The most pressing challenge in early childhood education today is to find a way to meet the standards within a developmentally appropriate approach. In this book, two active early childhood educators provide teachers with resources to bring content alive in the daily, action-based preK and Kindergarten classrooms, and explore ways to document it. The book includes lists of key content ideascoordinated with learning standards in science, mathematics, social studies, and the communication artsto guide teacher observations of, and interactions with, young children. Chapters focus on ways to extend childrens emerging use of content in the block, manipulatives, water and sand, drama, expressive arts, and literacy centers, and link to the development of themes. Book features include : Lists of key ideas in the content areas. Examples of conversations that nurture childrens emerging content understandings. Vignettes from the field illustrating teachers experiences of embedding content into center activities, along with photographs. Sample forms for documenting childrens learning as they meet the standards in a variety of contexts.