Curriculum
A curriculum provides classroom staff with a clear plan for delivering quality learning experiences to children of any age group, allowing the staff to identify activities and lessons that cover a wide range of learning areas that are developmentally appropriate for the age of the children.
Professional Learning Resources
This section includes professional learning resources that can help practitioners deepen their understanding of quality for this topic.
Online Course
This course by Texas A&M AgriLife explores how curriculum and assessment are implemented through a model of planning, assessment, and modification. This course is $12 to access.
Age(s): Preschool
Online Course
The Children’s Learning Institute partnered with the Texas Workforce Commission to provide free, online training that guides caregivers in understanding early childhood development and in making the most of each day during the early years of growth. Educators can use the information in these courses to implement and adapt strategies to support learning and development across a variety of settings and formats.
Age(s): Infant, Toddler, Preschool
Example Document
This sample lesson plan shows how “focus skills,” or the skills children are developing, are targeted in the classroom activity selections for the week. It also includes planning for different instructional formats (e.g., circle time, centers) and connects to home-based activities. Programs can work up to this level of detail by first being more intentional about selecting activities that cover multiple learning areas.
Age(s): Preschool
Publication
This guide is discusses the features of a quality curriculum and provides recommendations for implementing and evaluating a curriculum. Programs and mentors can refer to different sections of this guide as a professional learning resource when making decisions about a curriculum and/or improving curriculum implementation.
Age(s): Infant, Toddler, Preschool, School-age
Implementation Tools
In this section you will find tips, strategies, examples, and specific tools and products that can improve your implementation of practices related to this topic area.
Activity
The CIRCLE Activity Collection: Infant and Toddler translates research into practice through a variety of hands-on, play-based learning activities that teachers can implement in their classrooms in whole groups, small groups, and with individual children. Access the collection for free with your CLI Engage account.
Age(s): Infant, Toddler
Activity
The CIRCLE Activity Collection: Pre-K to Grade 2 translates research into practice through a variety of hands-on activities that school-age teachers can implement in their classrooms. Filter these play-based activities by learning area or setting (e.g., small group). Access the collection for free with your CLI Engage account.
Age(s): Preschool, School-age
Curriculum
The CIRCLE Pre-K Curriculum includes Scope and Sequences and Theme Guides for use throughout the school year. You can use the Scope and Sequences and Theme Guides together to provide weekly instruction that comprehensively supports the cognitive, social, and emotional development of prekindergarten children. Download all the components from CLI Engage at no cost or purchase printed versions of these same files.
Age(s): Preschool
Curriculum
The Early Learning Matters (ELM) Curriculum is an extensive, research-informed program created to support the optimal learning and development of children from birth to five years of age. ELM offers a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate approach to meaningful learning for all children.
Age(s): Infant, Toddler, 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
Guide
The Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework serves as a guide to what children should know and be able to do in five developmental domains. Practitioners can use this framework to see the relevant subdomains, goals, progressions, and indicators, as well as a type of curriculum planning support for weekly planning and delivery of classroom instruction.
Age(s): Infant, Toddler, Preschool
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
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
Guide
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) are the state standards for what students should know and be able to do. A high-quality curriculum ensures full coverage of TEKS, is aligned with research-based instructional strategies in each subject area, and supports all learners.
Age(s): School-age
Guide
The Texas Infant, Toddler, and Three-Year-Old Early Learning Guidelines (ITELG) describe expectations about what children should know and be able to do across domains of learning during specific age ranges, as well as what steps caregivers should take to support healthy development. ELPs should consider these guidelines when choosing a curriculum. Visit CLI Engage for free ITELG training.
Age(s): Infant, Toddler
Guide
The Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines (TPG) have been developed to provide guidance for planning quality learning experiences for all children three to five years of age. Aligning intentional instructional practices and opportunities for play, exploration, discovery, and problem-solving with the learning outcomes will promote successful learning for all children. Visit CLI Engage for free TPG training.
Age(s): Preschool
