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Scholastic Early Childhood Program - Featuring Clifford
Big Ideas for Little Learners
For everything in life, the first step is often the most difficult. Early childhood education is a specialized area of teaching with its very own great challenges compared to teaching in primary schools, secondary schools or in universities. In particular, teacher require to have special empathy and interest in interacting with a wide variety of children who may be at very different stages of cognitive development. Similarly, the syllabus for the guidance of the teachers needs to suitably framed to ensure that the children obtain maximum benefit from the educational process whatever their inherent capabilities and interests.
Unlike in primary or secondary schools, educational programs for early childhood education, particularly at the pre-kindergarten stage are not fully guided by the government. The pre-kindergarten stage is for children aged 3 – 4 years old and the focus is on preparing the children for kindergartens. There are a great variety of programs that are used for children in the 3 – 4 year age group. Some of these such, as the very traditional Montessori system, have gained great popularity, which others are ad hoc integrations of common approaches without any real child development science backup. However, it remains undisputable that a high quality, systematic pre-kindergarten curriculum is very important for preparing children to reach their full potential in future schooling and in life. Studies show that the foundation for literacy and other academic learning is laid down before age 5. Other studies demonstrate that high-quality preschool education can improve the school readiness and school performance of children.
In many cases in Malaysia, there are insufficient quality standards for pre-kindergartens and kindergartens. Without strong quality requirements—for well-qualified teachers, high staff-child ratios and small classes, and a comprehensive curriculum, among other standards—pre-kindergarten programs will not produce the outcomes even for children with otherwise strong supportive family backgrounds.
The Scholastic Early Childhood Program (SECP) from the United States is a comprehensive, cohesive, and integrated curriculum that actively involves the child and addresses all domains of child development and self expression at the pre-kindergarten level. The SECP was set up in 2003 by Scholastic. Scholastic (www.scholastic.com), is of course, the largest publisher and distributor of children's books in the world, with a corporate mission of helping children worldwide to read and learn. It’s main brands and story series include, for example, “Clifford The Big Red Dog”, “Harry Potter”, “I SPY”, “The Magic School Bus”, “Berenstain Bears” and Grolier.
Recognizing that literacy is the cornerstone of a child's intellectual, personal and cultural growth, for over 85 years, Scholastic has a great commitment to Early Childhood Education. The Scholastic Early Childhood Program was launched in the United States in 2002, incorporating latest scientific research of the best approaches to early childhood education. It combines explicit instruction in the early language, reading, and math skills necessary for kindergarten and first grade (5 and 6 years) readiness with rich opportunities for child-centred explorations that deepen learning.
In many cases in Malaysia, there are insufficient quality standards for pre-kindergartens and kindergartens. Without strong quality requirements—for well-qualified teachers, high staff-child ratios and small classes, and a comprehensive curriculum, among other standards—pre-kindergarten programs will not produce the outcomes even for children with otherwise strong supportive family backgrounds.
The Scholastic Early Childhood Program (SECP) from the United States is a comprehensive, cohesive, and integrated curriculum that actively involves the child and addresses all domains of child development and self expression at the pre-kindergarten level. The SECP was set up in 2003 by Scholastic. Scholastic (www.scholastic.com), is of course, the largest publisher and distributor of children's books in the world, with a corporate mission of helping children worldwide to read and learn. It’s main brands and story series include, for example, “Clifford The Big Red Dog”, “Harry Potter”, “I SPY”, “The Magic School Bus”, “Berenstain Bears” and Grolier.
Recognizing that literacy is the cornerstone of a child's intellectual, personal and cultural growth, for over 85 years, Scholastic has a great commitment to Early Childhood Education. The Scholastic Early Childhood Program was launched in the United States in 2002, incorporating latest scientific research of the best approaches to early childhood education. It combines explicit instruction in the early language, reading, and math skills necessary for kindergarten and first grade (5 and 6 years) readiness with rich opportunities for child-centred explorations that deepen learning.
A sampling of the practical and research foundation of the SECP may be found in http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/research/early_childhood_primary.htm.
To make the syllabus even more attractive for the children, SECP features “Clifford the Big Red Dog”, see www.scholastic.com/clifford/
To make the syllabus even more attractive for the children, SECP features “Clifford the Big Red Dog”, see www.scholastic.com/clifford/
The
SECP is specifically tailored for the pre-kindergarten age group and is
focused on getting the children reading for kindergarten level work. It
is based on 10 big ideas:
* Big Idea 1 – Children’s early experiences are critical to their learning, growth, and development.
* Big Idea 2 – Children take an individual path within the course of learning and development
* Big Idea 3 – During a child’s first years, language development is crucial.
* Big Idea 4 – Early literacy provides a strong foundation for children’s reading success.
* Big Idea 5 – Essential curriculum deepens children’s knowledge of themselves and the world around them.
* Big Idea 6 – Children’s active engagement stimulates their learning.
* Big Idea 7 – Effective instruction is systematic, intentional, and supportive of the child.
* Big Idea 8 – Teaching and assessment should inform each other to best serve each child
* Big Idea 9 – Developing teacher expertise raises the quality of children’s education.
* Big Idea 10 – Partnering with families furthers children’s learning.
* Big Idea 1 – Children’s early experiences are critical to their learning, growth, and development.
* Big Idea 2 – Children take an individual path within the course of learning and development
* Big Idea 3 – During a child’s first years, language development is crucial.
* Big Idea 4 – Early literacy provides a strong foundation for children’s reading success.
* Big Idea 5 – Essential curriculum deepens children’s knowledge of themselves and the world around them.
* Big Idea 6 – Children’s active engagement stimulates their learning.
* Big Idea 7 – Effective instruction is systematic, intentional, and supportive of the child.
* Big Idea 8 – Teaching and assessment should inform each other to best serve each child
* Big Idea 9 – Developing teacher expertise raises the quality of children’s education.
* Big Idea 10 – Partnering with families furthers children’s learning.
The SECP Teacher materials are provided for working with and modifying the curriculum for all children and include:
v The Blue Box which contains Curriculum theme packs, a complete teacher’s resource for planning and teaching.
v
The Yellow Box Early Learning Kit, which includes CD-ROMS and guides to
phonics, alphabet mini-books, a science poster set and a even fine
motor skills kit.
v The Red Box, a lot of good stuff with Clifford !
v The Big Book Boxes with theme and content area Big Books.
The
curriculum goals of the Scholastic Early Childhood Program are
implemented through organization around real-world themes. The themes
include Friends and School, Home and Family, Inside and Outside Me,
Staying Well/Staying Safe, Our Community, Working and Playing Together,
Make It/Build It, Let’s Explore, Animals and Where They Live, and
Everything Changes. These relevant themes build on children’s current
understanding of the world in which they live, enabling them to develop
new knowledge, thus increasing their possibilities of success. In
addition to engaging children within the reach of their conceptual
knowledge, the program is constructed to address developmental
differences in children. SECP also helps teachers organize their
classroom and make modifications for children with special needs and
also
* Combines teacher-directed instruction with child-centred explorations
* Has a flexible, easy-to-use curriculum that fosters children’s cognitive development
* Brings together the Prekindergarten Curriculum Guidelines
* Provides formal and informal in-depth assessment
* Fully covers nine areas of the Prekindergarten Curriculum Guidelines – language and Early Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts, Health and Safety, Personal and Social Development, Physical Development, and Technology.
* Includes teaching materials and books that complete a Pre-Kindergarten learning environment.
In summary, the Scholastic Early Childhood Educational Programme (SECP) is a comprehensive programme that sets out the syllable and provides complete teaching guidance for the Pre-Kindergarten level. It is backed and continuously renewed by Scholastic, the world’s largest early childhood education materials provider, and comes
with Malaysian local support.
* Combines teacher-directed instruction with child-centred explorations
* Has a flexible, easy-to-use curriculum that fosters children’s cognitive development
* Brings together the Prekindergarten Curriculum Guidelines
* Provides formal and informal in-depth assessment
* Fully covers nine areas of the Prekindergarten Curriculum Guidelines – language and Early Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts, Health and Safety, Personal and Social Development, Physical Development, and Technology.
* Includes teaching materials and books that complete a Pre-Kindergarten learning environment.
In summary, the Scholastic Early Childhood Educational Programme (SECP) is a comprehensive programme that sets out the syllable and provides complete teaching guidance for the Pre-Kindergarten level. It is backed and continuously renewed by Scholastic, the world’s largest early childhood education materials provider, and comes
with Malaysian local support.
For further information on Scholastic Early Childhood Program – Featuring Clifford
Purchase of the package, training and setup e-mail:
Purchase of the package, training and setup e-mail:
Mrs June Goh
june_tehch@yahoo.com
or
info@eduawal.com
or
SMS : 016-276 3635
june_tehch@yahoo.com
or
info@eduawal.com
or
SMS : 016-276 3635
