Ordering curriculum's

[kidlove]

I guess I would be "coined" as the "idiot of the group" I use a preschool program that I discovered over the years and wouldnt change a thing. I ask the parents to help a little with the cost and the kids LOVE it. When the children hit the age of about 3yrs (for most kids) they have heard of "school" and want to go...I take them. The program that I use is made really well, and contains EVERYTHING you need to have a "day at school" the only thing I have to do is a little prep work, I have tried setting up my own stuff in the past and...well, its just too much work (for me). This program is adorable! It comes in a box that looks like a school bus and when the delivery man brings it..the kids JUMP FOR JOY! It's so worth the money. lessons, crafts, activities to spark! Every month has a theme. I manage to save a little by dragging the month out for two instead, we have a "slow paced education"

[Inspired by Reggio]

I guess I would be "coined" as the "idiot of the group" ....

I know your joking but I just wanted to say that I hope I did not come off as implying there was something 'wrong' with themes or a purchased program ~ I just do not like to pay for something that I can do myself for free or less.

I used themes up until 2005 myself and I own the Jolly Phonics program in its entirety cause I bought it back in 2000 and still enjoy 'portions' of it even in my current curriculum today ~ there are lots of things I loved about themes cause they allowed me to be organized I had my program planned out months at a time in file folders with the crafts cut out and prepared and all the related activities to my little theme and list of things needed for science and so forth and as someone else mentioned it made you feel 'equal to a teacher' in the school system cause you were doing all the same things the schools did and yes there were children who enjoyed the crafts and theme related games and activities for sure and I admit I was actually terrified initially to have to work in a centre with this 'child led emergent' curriculum cause I thought it would be bedlam and impossible and so forth specially after having spent over 15 years with the tired and true themes I knew and with great success as I knew it.

I do not share my passion for Emergent Curriculum or the work in Reggio Italy to imply it is the only way to go but because after so many years in the field I am re-inspired by this different pedagogy and I am continually amazed by children and how they can lead their own learning with open ended materials and focusing on the environment as their teacher .... kinda like how when your girlfriend meets a new boy and ALL she talks about is how awesome he is

We are all on a different pedagogy journey with different goals and objectives for our programs ... to be honest there is stuff I love about all the various pedagogy's out there and incorporate into my program ... there are parts of Montessori that inspire me, aspects of Highscope inspire me and I still love the 'circle time' that is traditional in the theme based program and would not want to give that up either.