I’ve been working on streamlining a weekly plan that would be:
- Appropriate for COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE use of DAP (best for the children)
- Less time-consuming and angst-producing for teachers to complete
- Adaptable to any early education curriculum
- Acceptable to any program administrator or licensing inspector
I’m offering a prototype for your judgment and comment. The basic guidelines for my plan are these:
It is NOT a “LESSON” plan, but a LEARNING plan. “Lesson” connotes more of a traditional teacher-based document showing what the teacher will create, use, do, be judged by, and “TEACH”. It’s not the teaching, but the learning that is most crucial, and this cannot be planned. The learning will differ with each child and each child must be given ownership of and respect for that learning.
A LEARNING PLAN should describe for parents and admins WHAT the children will learn and HOW they will learn it. It does not matter WHERE the learning happens and it is not essential to show how the teacher is going to make the learning happen or what specific materials and equipment she will use.
The “what” on the plan should show the Strength Expectations (educational objectives, learning goals, milestones, whatever you call them – as long as they are absolutely developmentally appropriate) that lead to optimum development in Body, Mind, and Spirit – the Whole Child.
The “how” on the plan gives a BRIEF description of the experiences to be offered in the six Learning Methods of young children. Those Learning Methods are:
- Movement – Gross Motor and Large Muscle Development
- Sensory Operations – Using the 5 Senses and Processing those Sensations Intellectually
- Manipulation – Fine Motor and Small Muscle Development
- Construction – Planning, Building, Deconstructing, and Rebuilding
- Role Pay – Using Imitation and Imagination
- Expression – Using Art, Drama, Music, Spoken and Written Word to Express Concepts
It is important to include a reinforcement of the learning through the parent-teacher partnership with an active and developmentally appropriate “homework assignment” for the family.
So saying all of this, please take a look at the prototypes – a plan with descriptors and a sample plan for Toddlers at the links below, and send me some feedback.
Teach 'Em the Way They Learn 