Gusto Na Bang Mag-Aral Ni Bulilit? Here's Your Comprehensive Guide To Preschool Curriculum

So the little one plays dress-up, carries a bag, and pretends to go to school. Gusto nang mag-aral ni Bulilit.

But where to send the little one to? 

What kind of Early Education Approach suits your child best?

In the Philippines, under the K-12 Basic Education Curriculum, Kindergarten is made mandatory to basic education. It is also known as "The Kindergarten Education Act." Section 2 of this Act provides that "all five (5)-year old children shall be given equal opportunities for Kindergarten Education to effectively promote their physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development, including values formation, so they will be ready for school." Section 5 of the said Kindergarten Act states the adoption of the Mother Tounge-based Multilingual Education. Meaning to say, the primary medium of instruction for Kindergarten should be the learner's Mother Tongue. 

Such Kindergarten Curriculum Guide is designed to employ integrative and interactive teaching-learning strategies, as well as child-centered learning expriences. 

READ ALSO: These 18 Parents, Including A 56-Year-Old Dad, Graduate From Kinder, Proving Learning Knows No Age

Are there other types of curriculum? 

Montessori

The Early Childhood Curriculum offers five areas of study: Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language, and Cultural Studies. Practical Life refers to daily life skills while Sensorial is learning through the use of the senses. Math and Language are taught through hands-on activities with the help of related Montessori materials. Cultural Studies can be about History, Art, Music, Geography and Science.

Waldorf Steiner

Developed by philosopher Rudolf Steiner where the curriculum focuses on teaching kids that they are comprised of body, soul, and spirit, irrespective of class, ethnicity and religion. Children learn best through imitation and play. 

Reggio Emilia

The Reggio Emilia approach is both child-centered and directed. It is a philosophy, according to Very Well Family, which uses four key principles:

1. Children must have some say over what they learn; additionally, the senses play a big role in the learning process.

2. Children engage with their senses to help them learn and fully process something. 

3. Children are encouraged to interact with other children and explore the world through material items and relationships.

4. Children should be encouraged to always express themselves and be given infinite means and opportunities to do so.

Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Howard Gardner in his book, "Frames of Mind," challenged the traditional notion of having only one type of intelligence referring to cognitive abilities. Gardner introduced eight different types of intelligences consisting of: Linguistic, Logical/Mathematical, Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalist.

Knowing that every child has his/her own unique multiple intelligence profile, teachers can present information in many different ways armed with the knowledge of children's strength and weaknesses.

The High Scope Method

According to High Scope, "Children construct their own knowledge of the world with the support of intentional teachers who shape and encourage their individual learning experiences." This active learning kind of approach is therefore all about shared control. Teachers plan activities based on what they observe and children make their discoveries on their own. 

The five ingredients of active learning, still according to High Scope, are: Materials, Manipulation, Choice, Child Language and Thought, and Adult Scaffolding--the latter referring to adults supporting the child's current level of thinking and challenging them to advance to the next level. 

What preschool programs do we follow?

In an interview with Thumby Server-Veloso, a seasoned Early Childhood Educator, and also one of Smart Parenting Board of Experts, about the common types of preschool programs in the Philippines.

She said that the popular curriculum in the Philippines is either Religious-based (Private Catholic or Christian Schools) or Montessori. There are also schools that follow other approaches like Theories of Multiple Intelligence, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia.

According to Teacher Thumby, preschool can be anything from infancy to 5 years old. However, in the Philippines, even the toddler program (1-3 years old) are not as popular as the Nursery and Kinder levels (3-5 years old).    

Education approaches in the Philippines

Traditional 

This is a teacher-centered method that includes a lot of writing and worksheets. The teacher has control over the pace and learning environment. 

Inquiry-based Learning

This is a student-centered learning where the students are allowed to ask questions, investigate, and explore. It is an open-ended approach filled with teacher guided activities and projects. 

Montessori

This is a child-centered, self-motivated approach where the child learns through the use of specific Montessori Materials for hands-on learning and collaborative play.

READ ALSO : What Is The Montessori Method for Preschoolers And What Does 'Follow the Child' Mean 

Tips on what to look for in a preschool, according to Teacher Thumby

1. Clear vision, mission, and school policies

2. Low student-teacher ratio

3. Safe and clean environment

4. Educators who know how to communicate well with students and parents alike

5. Responsive administration that makes an effort to communicate with parents

6. Safe and child-friendly space for play

7. Happy children, staff, and faculty

Is it worth sending our child to preschool?

Teacher Thumby says, "There are many benefits to sending children to preschools of high-quality, where the teachers, materials, and environment are top-notch and developmentally appropriate." She also believes that there are other areas that need to be developed aside from academic skills and that includes, language, speech, spatial awareness, motor skills, and socio-emotional skills, just to name a few.

Other Sources: American Montessori Society