Cutting-edge curriculum at Decatur
Posted on Wednesday, October 8, 2008
DECATUR ó The Decatur Northside Elementary school will be the second school in the country to get a cutting-edge pre-kindergarten curriculum.
The new curriculum, Growing Literacy, focuses on developing pre-reading and oral language skills to build the foundation for a life-long love of reading.
Curriculum developer, Dr. Barbara Wasik, a distinguished professor at the University of North Carolina, visited with principal Leslie Sharp and prekindergarten teachers to show them how to use the new program.
Wasik has been researching early childhood development since the 1970 s as part of the Abecederian Project and Project Care and put her morethan-40 years of experience studying children and families into the curriculum.
The principles behind the curriculum are simple. Wasik found that children as young as six weeks old can benefit from spoken language. The more an adult caregiver engages the child in conversation, even if itís one-sided at that point, the more they improve the childís language skills and vocabulary throughout the childís life.
For pre-kindergarten students, Wasik is looking to build the foundations of early literacy. While students wonít learn to read until later, they can prepare for that step by practicing their oral language skills, expanding their vocabulary, gaining an understanding of the concept of books and the printed word, and learning about the alphabet ó all important things for children to learn before they start kindergarten.
The Growing Literacy program is comprehensive in that it includes early math and social skills as well and is based around a new theme each week, such as farm animals or community helpers.
Much of the program is playful and game-like to help children really enjoy learning.
ì You can teach so much through play, î Wasik said.
Parents can help their children continue their learning at home by reading to them, engaging them in conversation and letting them help with simple tasks like finding things in the grocery store, Wasik said.
ì Parents donít have to create unusual circumstances (to teach their children ), they can use things that happen every day, î Wasik said, ì It becomes like a game for the parent, something thatís a fun interaction for the parent lays a foundation for their childrenís success in school. î
Another important aspect of the program is that it lets the teacher learn and focus on each childís skills and takes advantage of teachable moments.
It can be individualized for the skill level of each child, allowing more advanced students to move ahead and helping those who are behind catch up.
And what does Wasiks research show ? Children that use the early literacy program perform better in school, and the gains continue throughout school into young adulthood, she said.
ì Itís just perfect for my community, î elementary school principal Leslie Sharp said.
She found the curriculum while she was writing an Early Reading First grant and said she feels the program can be easily transitioned into a program the higher grades are using.
The curriculum meets the Decatur schools needs by providing students with all aspects of learning ó oral, social, math and parent involvement ó Sharp explained.
Since many of the students come from economically disadvantaged homes or speak another language at home, Sharp said itís the schoolís job to make up the difference and provide them with a strong foundation.
The Care Foundation of Springdale provided much of the funding to buy the new curriculum. After the research was complete, the curriculum was piloted at a school in Arizona, and Decatur will be the second school in the country to use the curriculum ó starting this week.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online