1. Child-Centered Curriculum
Rachel Howard

2. My Initial Understanding of Child
Centered Curriculum
 Activities/lessons derived from student interests
and ideas rather than standardized “teach-to-thetest” curriculum
 Support the “whole child” in the classroomphysical, social, emotional, cognitive
development
 Teacher’s role is to guide and support, act as a
facilitator, and encourage independence of
students by providing opportunities based on
interests
 Student’s responsible for own learning- active and
hands-on discovering of world around them

3. Child Centered Curriculum is…
 An approach to education that encompasses
children’s innate passion to learn and be curious
of the world around them- allows the child to
become the teacher and assume responsibility of
constructing knowledge through interests and
passions
 Curriculum built on interests, abilities, purposes
and needs- learn by doing and actively
experiencing rather than rote memorization or
teacher-led (supplying the knowledge expected to
learn)
 Teacher acts as facilitator and provider for
children’s interest-based learningguides, supports, and acknowledges learning

4. I was almost SPOT ON!
 Pretty self explanatory when you are emerged
into a program with a child-centered structure!

5. How does my program support this
type of curriculum?
 Straight from the mission statement!
 “We believe that young children learn best
through play and interaction with their
environment. At HCNS the projects and activities
that our children do in the classroom are
developed directly from the needs, interests, and
concerns of the children themselves. Through this
curriculum we hope to provide our children with
experiences that will help them to learn to direct
their own actions, discipline themselves, and
accept responsibility for their deeds.”

6. Examples:
 Ample amounts of materials- available for use at most any






time… stored at child’s level
Minimal “lesson planning”… rather documentation of
interests, projects, passions taken on by individual children
and/or the class
Children participate in what they want… never forced
activity, always a choice (treating them like an adult!)
Again…choices, choices, choices! Hands-on explorations
both inside and outside environments- always new
additions to the classroom
Creativity and process valued over product
Consistent and unconditional support staff-staff, staffstudent, staff-families
Behavior guidance appropriately supplied by teachers
through conversations and discussions rather than set-inplace disciplinary actions

7. Merits for Child-Centered Curr.
 Children assuming more independence and
responsibility for their own learning will become
emotionally invested… they will want to learn!
(motivation/confidence)
 Promotes positive peer communication and
interactions… as well as stronger teacher
relationships
 Promotes and develops creativity and discovery
through active interactions with materials and
environments
 Developing problem-solving skills as well as
many important life skills

8. Demerits for Child-Centered Curr.
 High-stakes testing: How will these children do
later in schooling and higher education?
 Non-traditional type of education… a rather “up
and coming” emergent curriculum being seen in
schools
 Sometimes difficult for programs and/or teachers
to be able to adapt quickly to ever-changing
interests and ideas of children and be able to fully
support and guide- lack of consistency in type of
learning like teacher-directed classrooms may
promote causing diminishing role of teacher as
facilitator

9. What do you think?
 Feel free to comment your thoughts on my post!
 Have you experienced this type of curriculum?
What are some examples you can provide?
 Do you support this type of curriculum? Why or
why not?
 Agree or disagree with any part of the slideshow?
 Eager to hear feedback!