Use the DONE FOR YOU curriculum map and report card templates to create a standards-based curriculum in your early ed classroom. Transitional Kindergarten is a fairly new concept in my state. In a nutshell, it is for the students who are not quite ready for Kindergarten but need more than typical preschool programs provide.
There are a few concrete expectations for Transitional Kindergarten:
- Considered elementary school grade level, not found in stand-alone programs
- K-6 teaching credentials required to teach the students
Curriculum Map Template
We have some big ideas about what it is and isn’t, but no real plan of action for teachers. Especially those new to the age group. We have a set of guidelines, but no set curriculum. Most curriculum companies either include preschool concepts or Kinder concepts but rarely something for the in-between crowd.
We tell teachers:
Its easy, just combine a healthy dose of Preschool Learning Foundations and Kinder Common Core concepts.
The issue with this statement continues to be a lack of continuity across schools and inappropriate expectations for many of our young students.
So I spent the last few years designing a map that you can apply to any curriculum program. This map is based on concepts, not themes, and lends itself to growth depending on the students. Since I do teach in a faith-based school so I have also included a template for religious teachers as well. I am happy to say this map includes a way to offer a healthy dose of play-based learning across each of the concepts. I am fortunate enough to teach in a traditional school program that has allowed me to create a play-based TK curriculum plan.
What’s Included in the Curriculum Map?
The curriculum map includes the focus standards for PreK and TK for every month. From Concepts of Print to Classroom Rules, Pencil Grip, and more. The detailed map allows teachers to utilize their required curriculum plans and themes while adding a layer of standards-based education to the learning. The curriculum map includes focus standards for each of the following domains and broken down by month: Langauge Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Physical Development, and Social-Emotional Learning. Plus there is an entirely separate section of focus standards for religion for my Private school teachers.
Every standard is broken down by the academic domain. The curriculum map includes a checklist for a quarter system and another checklist for trimester-based schools. Each of the focus standards is then further broken down into what constitutes learning throughout that domain. And I have included report cards that will correspond with each of the checklists and domains. I even thought to include a blank template in case you have specific focus standards that are not included.
This curriculum map has been a lifesaver for many teachers. Those who are seasoned TK educators and those who are brand new to the age group and have no idea where to even start.
PreK Assessment
After creating the map many educators reached out and asked about the assessment part. How do the guides support planning and assessment? Which is another huge component that is missing in this newly created grade level. How do you plan a child-led program? How am I reporting to parents what I am seeing in the play-based classroom? And where to look for professional development opportunities that support the grade and structure of the program?
As a result, the newly updated map, assessment, and PD bundle were born. The bundle supports teachers and students across each domain. Science, physical development, language arts, math, social studies, and the ever-important social-emotional development of our students. I shared the physical development assessment with our PE teacher since the age was not necessarily something he was familiar with. He now creates activities that support appropriate student growth.
This map has helped me streamline my lesson planning. I always felt all over the place.
- Constantly asking others what are you teaching now.
- Where are your students at this time of the year?
- What themes are you working on?
Getting it all organized by standards has helped me realize I can apply ANY theme to the learning. A pre-canned curriculum may tell you what theme to teach, but not the concepts that are necessary for standards-based learning. Now I have the big books and the stories but can apply what I know to be best practices and concepts to daily learning.
As this curriculum mapping bundle develops there will be updates on how to provide play-based activities all year. How to incorporate play and the standards. And most importantly how to combine it all so the students surpass yearly goals and objectives while expanding their natural curiosity.
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