This measure assesses if the program uses a developmentally appropriate curriculum that aligns with early learning guidelines or standards, which requires the review of lesson plans and an integrated approach to the curriculum, child assessments, and teacher-child interactions. Curriculums help children meet specific developmental benchmarks through the scope and sequence of planned activities and set learning objectives. Texas Rising Star does not require a particular curriculum or a direct link to a curriculum in the lesson plans posted in each classroom. However, the use of a standard curriculum is considered a best practice.
Category: Category 3: Program Administration
Subcategory: Program Management
Examples
In this section you will find videos, images, and/or documents that can be used to better understand this measure. These examples can also be used in conversations between mentors, directors, and/or teachers to discuss how the program's current practices compare to these examples.
Template
Here is an instructional plan template for practitioners to document the learning goals and instruction details for a structured classroom activity. Using a template like the one provided shows the planned activity has a learning objective aligned with the early learning standards or guidelines that help children meet specific developmental benchmarks.
Age(s): Infant, Toddler, Preschool, School-age
Example Document
Here is an exemplar of a weekly lesson plan for a school-age classroom. The exemplar shows there are planned activities aligned with early learning standards that help children meet specific developmental benchmarks.
Age(s): School-age
Practice Opportunities
These resources include tips, strategies, activities, or specific tools related to this measure that programs can put into practice.
Curriculum
The CIRCLE Pre-K Curriculum supports the cognitive, social, and emotional development of pre-K children. Professional development resources such as video tutorials, lesson plan templates, and the teacher’s manual act as curriculum planning supports for weekly planning and instruction. This research-based curriculum and its resources are freely available to early learning programs through CLI Engage.
Age(s): Preschool
Curriculum
The Start-up Guide is a type of curriculum planning support for weekly planning and delivery of instruction. It provides an overview and guidance for lesson planning to classroom teachers using the CIRCLE Pre-K Curriculum. This research-based curriculum and its resources are freely available to early learning programs through CLI Engage access.
Age(s): Preschool
Curriculum
The CIRCLE Pre-K Teacher’s Manual provides an overview of the CIRCLE Pre-K curriculum features, the structures and processes of classroom management, classroom instruction guidance for each of the skill domain areas, and more. This research-based curriculum and its resources are freely available to early learning programs through CLI Engage access.
Age(s): Preschool
Checklist
Use this checklist to determine whether the purchased or program-created curriculum being used is developmentally appropriate for the infants and toddlers served. For a curriculum to be considered “approved” for Texas Rising Star scoring, the curriculum must meet all criteria on the checklist.
Age(s): Infant, Toddler
Template
This weekly lesson plan template is for infant/toddler practitioners to document structured learning activities and additional instruction notes. Using a template similar to this shows there are planned activities with learning objectives aligned with early learning guidelines, and there is evidence teaching staff receive feedback on lesson planning as a type of curriculum support on a regular basis.
Age(s): Infant, Toddler
Activity
PBS LearningMedia has a variety of free learning activities aligned to state and national standards for the school-age specified age group. Activities include videos, photographs, and lesson details to support school-age classroom teachers in the planning and delivery of classroom instruction.
Age(s): Preschool, School-age
Checklist
Use this checklist to determine whether the purchased or program-created curriculum being used is developmentally appropriate for the preschoolers served. For a curriculum to be considered “approved” for Texas Rising Star scoring, the curriculum must meet all criteria on the checklist.
Age(s): Preschool
Template
This weekly lesson plan template is for preschool practitioners to document structured learning activities and additional instruction notes. Using a template similar to this shows there are planned activities with learning objectives aligned with early learning guidelines, and there is evidence teaching staff receive feedback on lesson planning as a type of curriculum support on a regular basis.
Age(s): Preschool
Template
Here is a weekly lesson plan template for practitioners to document their structured learning activities, as well as additional instruction notes, for the school-age specified age group. Using a template similar to the one provided shows there are planned activities with learning objectives aligned with early learning standards that help children meet specific developmental benchmarks.
Age(s): School-age
Checklist
Use this checklist to determine whether the purchased or program-created curriculum being used is developmentally appropriate for the students served. Activities should include objectives, materials needed, and guidance for teacher instruction. For a curriculum to be considered “approved” for Texas Rising Star scoring, the curriculum must meet all criteria in the checklist.
Age(s): School-age
