ABC's and 123's:

Have you ever felt that sense of dread, anxiety, and hesitation when you hear the words “curriculum” and “assessment”? Don’t worry—your friends at AFC are here to help!

Choosing and implementing a curriculum can indeed be daunting and overwhelming. And once you’ve made your choice, the implementation process can seem equally challenging. AFC may not be ghostbusters, but we can be myth busters! So let’s walk through common myths around curriculum and assessment and how to dispel those and create positive learning environments. 

Myth # 1: Curriculum is Too Restrictive 

Fear around curriculum often comes from not understanding it well or thinking that curriculums are too strict and unchangeable. You may have heard that curriculum restricts creativity or that curriculum creates a cookie cutter classroom. However, when done correctly, curriculum is a flexible tool meant to improve the learning experience! 
 
By implementing curriculum, you can help maintain developmentally best practice, keep classroom learning consistent across a program, maintain high quality and expectations for educators, and create a growth environment that prepares children for ongoing learning.  

As there are many different curricula options available, it is important to take time to choose a system that makes sense for your staff, your teaching styles and the community you serve. However, there are many resources available to make your search easier, and Action for Children has resources to make your search easy and beneficial.  

💡 DID YOU KNOW?
Curriculums are used as a springboard and provide a structural outline to instruction helping you as an educator keep in mind developmental domains and standards.

Check out this link to review brief summaries and ratings of comprehensive infant and toddler, preschool, and home-based curricula!

Myth # 2: Assessments are Hard & Time-Consuming 

Our professional viewpoints and perceptions can significantly influence how we use a tool in our classroom, whether positively or negatively. With the right mindset and resources, you can transform these once-daunting tasks into valuable aids in your teaching journey, helping every child in your care to thrive. Viewing assessments as opportunities to celebrate growth and identify areas for improvement is the first step toward consistently using evidence-based, developmentally appropriate assessments in your learning environment.

💡 DID YOU KNOW?
There are two types of assessments!
“Assessment includes both formal and informal measures as tools for monitoring children’s progress toward a program’s desired goals.
Formative assessment (measuring progress toward goals) and summative assessment (measuring achievement at the end of a defined period or experience) are important. Both need to be conducted in ways that are developmentally, culturally, and linguistically responsive to authentically assess children’s learning.” (National Association for the Education of Young Children)

Use this link to search, compare and access measures for early childhood assessments.

What are the benefits of focusing on quality forms of curriculum and assessments for the children and families in my care?

Choosing high-quality and valid assessments allows you to follow the development of the children in your care and can give you information to guide the individual and group needs of your classroom. Formal and informal assessments help to show parents what their child is learning and can give you data you need to help support difficult conversations with families. This assessment data also allows you to make sure you can highlight when a child grows and shines!

A quality curriculum will allow you to focus on creating a growth environment and preparing children for being life-long learners, while also creating consistency for admins, teachers, children, and families. A curriculum aligned with the Early Learning Developmental Standards (ELDS) will also help you towards Step Up to Quality goals for your center and allow you to focus on individualizing care and routines to fit the needs of your learning community.

💡 DID YOU KNOW?
Taking the time to find and implement a high-quality curriculum can help alleviate anxiety! It gives practiced teachers a framework to be creative and a roadmap for new teachers to daily activities.

Where can I get more information on assessments and curriculum?

By embracing these tools and seeking support when needed, you can alleviate your fears and focus on what you do best—nurturing and educating young minds. Action for Children is a great resource to learn more about what curricula or assessments best fit your needs as a professional! Whether you are interested in selecting a curriculum, becoming trained to use and understand the ASQ/ASQ-SE, or deep diving with training and coaching to implement new curriculum in alignment to the Early Learning Development Standards, AFC can help! Let’s develop your teachers’ practice and knowledge of tools you already use together.

To find and register for these trainings, follow these steps:

1.  Log on to OCCRRA using your OPIN number (Use Chrome or Firefox as your browser)
2. Click on “Find Training”
3.  Enter ID number from list below into the search space at the top of the page, under “Professional Development Events”
4.  Training will appear. Complete your registration – add to cart, view cart, be sure to “checkout “regardless of whether or not there is a fee.
5.  Training will appear on your profile page as an “upcoming training”

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Remember… when you have curriculum or assessment questions…

🎶 Who you gonna call? (AFC)
If you’re all alone
Pick up the phone
And call (AFC) 🎶

Reach out to pd@actionforchildren.org with questions about kickstarting or enhancing your curriculum and assessment journey!

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Authors: Rebecca Beard, Professional Development Program Manager and Emily Manahan, Professional Development Coordinator 

Action for Children is the local child care resource and referral agency for central Ohio, and is committed to assuring quality early learning experiences for all children. Our services focus on transforming the lives of children by supporting the everyday heroes who most influence our children’s early growth; care givers, educators, parents, and guardians. Learn More.