Current Popular Preschool Curriculums in Dallas (Center: daycare, home, centers)

[xuxu2010]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking to learn more about popular preschool curriculums in the DFW area. I am a preschool teacher relocating from Chicago to Dallas next year. Right now Creative Curriculum is widely used in many of the private schools here. Because I will be applying for Pre-K jobs when I move, I would like to familiarize myself with the most widely used curriculums there. If anyone that could offer any information on this I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks in advance!

[tyanger]

my 2 data points (aka my kids) both went to a Montessori preschool that stuck to the actual principles of the Montessori Method and we (the kids, my wife, and myself) were pretty happy with the experience. It seems that there are many preschools that include "Montessori" in the name but may not necessarily adhere to the philosophy.

[pepper131]

I haven't looked at preschools in a few years - but when I did, they were mostly "centers based". I don't recall anyone tooting any particular curriculum. Call some of the best preschools and see what they have to tell you about their curriculums - Northaven Coop, Lamplighter, DaVinci, Children's Center. That should give you good broad base to do your research.

BTW - in a quick search on Creative Curriculum, I see it's used in Head Start programs. It would be interesting to see how the results of this curriculum hold through the years of schooling. Whether the true challenges of early education are from the students' home environment or the students' preschool curriculum.

[FalconheadWest]

The Primrose curriculum is very popular. The school is definitely more a preschool than a daycare.

[xuxu2010]

Thank you everyone for the replies- I will be looking into the Primrose curriculum and contacting some of the preschools. Might also help get a name in so that when I look for jobs there next year it may help- long shot, but possible.

Pepper- Interesting question! I personally think it's a combination of the experiences a child has before entering his/her school years as well as the structures in place when they reach their first school experience. It seems that many times schools expect all children to learn the same way and find fault in the child when they do not. I think instead we should be looking at the structures of both teaching and curriculum to see where WE might be failing the child. Not all children are read to, encouraged to engage in fantasy play, given materials to express themselves artistically, physically, etc. Taking all of that (and much much more) into account might help us get children to love learning earlier instead of feeling like failures and in turn disliking school. Sorry! I got up on my soapbox there!


Again, if anyone else comes across some more curriculums, any information would be great. Thanks so much!!!