MSU Child Development Program: helping children develop through exploration.
Curriculum—Preschool
The preschool curriculum is based on the Creative Curriculum and the Head Start philosophy and performance standards. The two ideas basically state children learn through the exploration of their environment and social/emotional development is most important and affects all other developmental growth. The lesson plan is created based on data from:
- the Brigance developmental screening that each child receives.
- Teacher or home visitor implemented developmental assessments in class or at home visits (Brigance, CCNet).
- CDP (Child Development Plan) or IEP (Individual Education Plan) goals developed and discussed with parents; 504 plans are also discussed and developed as necessary.
- Daily activities planned to accomplish the different individual goals of the children in the class.
- Daily activities influenced by children's emerging interests.
- Daily activities influenced by the child experience form, interest & skill based plan, Creative Curriculum foundation and suggestions from parents.
- Daily activities allowing for both child-initiated and teacher-directed activities which follow developmentally appropriate practices.
- Daily activities prepared to fulfill performance standard requirements: 30 minutes of large motor activities, health and nutrition, education and family style meals and snack times.
- Collaborative programs following Creative Curriculum, Head Start Performance Standards and the curriculum may be modified with the Director's approval in order to be more literacy and educational based.
Curriculum—Infant & Toddler
The infant/toddler curriculum uses a variety of published curriculums as resources, Head Start philosophy and performance standards. The core of the curriculum is that children learn when close relationships, trust, curiosity and motivation are provided through routine interactions. Lesson plans are created on an individual basis and based on:
- Brigance screening tools used for each student.
- Strengths/challenges/goals discussed with parents.
- IFSP (Individual Family Service Plan), IEP (Individual Education Plan) or 504 plans addressed.
- Activities planned to accomplish individual goals.
- Activities influenced by emerging interests and skills.
Philosophy—Infant & Toddler
The Infant/Toddler program staff believe the key to quality care is the quality of the relationships – between child and family, child and caregiver, caregiver and family and among the adults in the child care setting. Our philosophy is to promote the growth of the child as a whole. The infant and toddler years are unique because each child is growing and developing at a different rate. Developmentally appropriate programming is provided for all infants and toddlers based on individual needs and schedules.
Children have the right and need to feel good about themselves, the people around them and their environment. They need to become independent in many aspects, but also need to feel that they belong and are accepted members of a group. It is our belief that these feelings of self-worth are only possible if children are able to establish areas of development (social, emotional, language, cognitive and physical).
