Exploring Curriculum & Planning Based on Assessment

Using assessment and planning to support children’s development and learning will ensure effective operation of an early childhood program. In this session, the cycle of curriculum planning will be introduced. The four parts of this cycle include: 1) Observing and documenting; 2) Evaluating; 3) Planning; and 4) Implementing. Because this cycle is ongoing, early childhood professionals are involved in ongoing observation of children to assess developmental stages and progress and then using the observation findings to inform planning for individuals and the group. As participants practice observing and documenting children at play, interpreting their evaluations to discover a child’s development and then planning and implementing appropriate experiences for children, they will see how planning based on assessments will meet the needs of the children for which they are caring. Participants will leave the session with strategies for ongoing and frequent informal assessment.