According to the head teacher at my observation classroom, Alphabet City, she follows the Creative Curriculum and uses Teaching Strategies GOLD for individualized documentation and assessment. She believes that the curriculum is emergent in nature, although the term "emergent" is not used to describe the school's philosophy or curriculum in published materials. The schedule includes several periods of extended play with stations set up teacher-directed small group activities. Curriculum is planned on a weekly basis and is individualized for each child’s needs. Teachers observe and document learning and incorporate this during curriculum planning meetings. Teachers have access to suggested, “prescribed” topics of study and related activities, which they adapt to their specific students’ needs and interests.
My ideal curriculum would also be open-ended, play-based, and focused on social-emotional development, so observing at Bank Street has been a wonderful opportunity to participate with a school that shares my values. I observe in a classroom with a mix of 3s and 4s and I noticed that whole group activities are kept to a minimum in favor of long periods of center time. There are about 4 adults with about 15 students. There are several students with high needs who benefit from more one-on-one support, but the presence of adults does not seem to dominate the classroom. Students are encouraged to explore or linger at any center. The teachers carefully arrange each center and its materials, but allow children to examine and experiment with the materials on their own. Throughout the day, the class is filled with children who are focused, productive, and happy.
I wondered how reading and writing skills were developed in the curriculum, as I hadn't seen any evidence of reading and writing instruction during my observations. My head teacher told me that they focus on reading and writing on certain days of the week, when I'm not there. The students are encouraged to read and write in journals and receive whole-group instruction on the letter of the week.
I am glad you are enjoying this placement. Bank Street Headstart does a truly excellent job keeping their classrooms child centered while working with a population of children who often haven't had experiences at home that would allow them the ability to work with choices based on their interests. They keep the academic demands appropriate too which is possibly why you don't see it as it's not the priority. The high student-teacher ratio is also important, so children have an adult close by when needed. I look forward to seeing you there.
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