Opinions on lesson planning

[MsJenniffer]

Hi I am getting ready to start working at a childcare center that will be opening in early 2008. We are all very excited about the center and are starting to go over the planning for schedules, cirriculum, etc.

The question I have for you is, do you think it is better for all the classes to choose their own themes and plan accordingly or for the center to have centralized themes for the year and each classroom plan lessons as fit for their age groups?

[mopar]

I believe that it is important to have some general themes for the center with activities that would work at different age levels. This will help teachers to plan their activities.

However, teachers need the freedom to plan a curriculum that fits the students interests and needs. I remember working in a daycare and having boys and girls, then having mostly girls and then mostly boys. It is hard to generalize the curriculum to fit all interests.

[Stacy B]

There are so many different ways to approach themes. If the entire school is on the same theme, just make sure it is a theme that can span all of the age groups. Circus doesn't always work for the 4 and 5 year olds and space doesn't always work for the toddlers. I will say, most of the preschools where I have worked have let each age group pick their own themes.

I would suggest that if you have multiple classes for the same age group that they study the same theme at the same time. Parents don't like if an equivalent class is doing something different than their child's class.

[jsfowler]

I like centralized themes...just make sure you choose something that will cover all age groups and both genders. It keeps a feeling of unity. It also allows for fun field trips and/or guest speakers for the entire center. I don't know the age groups of your center but I am sure there are lots of themes that can work with your age groups.

[DeniseB]

The center I work at now has themes that we all follow but the center I worked for before we had our own themes which I think is better because you're not all doing the same thing each week. I know it will be different because of the ages but it's still the same ideas. Like Stacy said there's alot of different themes that might not work with the younger ages. Like right now we are planning for outer space for our theme next week but how do you plan activies for a group of 2 year olds and 3's and we have 3 that aren't even 2 yet.? Everything I've seen is for older children there's not much out there for 2 and under.

[chrissy72]

I have been at my center for 12 years and we have tried both. While the idea of having all the classes do the same theme is nice it was hard for the younger ones. we know pick our own themes,but most of the time the toddler teachers (young and older ones) will do the same things and older and younger preschoolers will follow the same theme!!! good luck!!!