Dear School Board: Textbook-Based Curriculum For Kindergarten

Dear school board. I am currently concerned about the new state-mandated, textbook- based curriculum for kindergarten. In this letter I will explain why I believe the use of the textbook-based curriculum may be inappropriate. I will give reasons for the potential negative effects of the textbook-based curriculum and how it can be developmentally inappropriate to literacy development. I will then suggest an alternative approach to developing literacy skills.

Then I will explain what Dap is by definition ,and the benefits it of it.

The mandated curriculum has less academic success with their students over curriculums that are adjusted to a child’s needs. Textbooks are not designed to teach children a particular subject but are instead

It should not be assumed that a teacher is going to pick only sections the are acceptable to the states standards. (Geist & Baum,2005)My biggest concern is how is a child expected to learn all that is in a textbook in a years’ time especially when a child is only 5 -6 years of age,

In the state of Arizona mandated curriculums mean longer hours for its kindnagars with no rest time and more homework. Instructional time during math times should focus on 1) representing, relating, and operating on whole numbers, initially with sets of objects; (2) describing shapes and space. Teachers need to focus more time then on numbers then any other topic.( Arizona’s College,2010) This means less time to play. An essential time of the child to learn and grow

An big concern with mandated state curriculums is in regards to literacy and development appropriateness.. Literacy instruction limits the reading view of the child In order for children to learn to read and write it requires high quality of skill on the child part, This cannot be done through isolation ,but instead through repeated interaction with adults and other

By creating a age appropriate environment with intimate areas children can grow their literacy through interaction and playing. . Another way to use the environment to promote literacy is to use adaptation. By recreating real life literacy situations a child is able to adapt to the language that is typical of that situation. For example, a restaurant setup will promote conversations about eating. To incorporate reading and writing children can read menus and write down orders. Thirdly, a teacher can specialize her students on one or unusual ‘literacies in the classroom. By doing this children learn that there is a different ways to communicate ideas and record them. The unusual literacies should be placed as part of the curriculums and developmentally appropriate ways.(Wilson,2008)

Developmentally appropriate practice or DAP, is an approach to teaching based on to think about a curriculum and not the curriculum itself . (JAruszewicz,2012,ch.1,4) In order to implement this approach well a teacher must remember the core of the approach . Teachers must intentionally make decisions long term and short term decisions that will give the best