What should my 3 year old be learning/doing at the child center she attends?

Question

My daughter attends a child development center on campus of the junior college I attend. The quality of care and the teachers is excellent, but I'm not sure what she should be doing education-wise at this age. The center utilizes the High/Scope curriculum, which from what I have learned, is child-directed. Does this mean the teachers do not lead lessons on basic things like numbers and letters? Obvioulsy, I will talk to the teachers at her center...I'm mainly curious what she is capapble of learning at this age?

Answer 1

I use the High Scope Curriculum in my room of 3 and 4 year olds.  High Scope is a great Curriculum.  It is made up of 6  domains.  Under each domain is a topic that supports the domain.  These topics have 5 criteria to meet, teach or observe.  These topics help us show growth and progress in each domain area.  Here is an example: II. Social Relations (domain)

                                            H.  Understanding and Expressing

                                                  Feelings (topic)

                                             1. Child expresses emotion

                                             2.  Child comforts another child

                                             3.  Child talks about an emotion

                                             4.  Child represents an emotion through pretend play or art.

                                              5.  Child identifies an emotion and gives a reason for it.

So if a child cries when Mom leaves in the morining that scores a 1.  When another child tells the child "Its o.k. Mom will be back."  This child scores a 2.  The children at the table talking about the child crying score a 3.  If a child draws a sad face thats a 4 and the child who is crying yells, "I know she comes back.  I'm crying because she took my candy," scores a 5.

  If most of the class is scoring 1 and 2's then its time to focus on teaching emotions and expressing feelings.  

  Child-directed means moving within the domain topics as children progress or seem ready to progress.  We do teach but its not out of a book.  Its based on children's needs, delevopement, progress, interest areas and on and on.  Your teachers will be having center conferences and they should base the conference off of the Child Assessment Report.  (CAR notes as teachers call them).  These are the little things we write up when we observe a behavior that fits a domain topic.  We then score them.  They should show them to you.  I share them with my parents and give them a copy.  Some of the write ups are cute.  Children say and think some funny things.

  The 6 domains are:  I. Initiative  II.  Social Relations  III.  Creative Representation  IV.  Movement and Music  V.  Language and Literacy  VI.  Mathematics and Science

  Please ask the teachers for more information.  It should be available.

Answer 2

I am a preschool teacher of three year olds. What I try to teach my children are basic skills to start them off in kindergarten. All my students know all of their colors(even colors such as indigo), the ABC's, counting to at least 20. Most can do more. Also simple science and history lessons are taught. The seasons and months are taught at that age as well. I also work on manners and basic life skills (being able to serve themselves or signs that are on roads, fire safety etc.). There are so many things that are being learned at this age, I would just say look at a website such as preschooleducation.com to see what type of things that are resources for teacher. Also teachers love it when you do some of these things at home, maybe ask the teacher for some ideas or a bring home lesson you can do to test your child's level.

Child directed classes go where the child's interest are...such as if the children start to ask questions about Butterflies then the teacher will direct the lesson toward butterflies..maybe go over the letter B and learn about cocoons etc. They may also bring in some butterflies to observe. Three year old are very curious and willing to learn if learning is made fun. Good luck!

Answer 3

At this age they can learn how to spell their first names with blocks or magnetic letters or at least be able to recognize the letters. They should be learning hand-eye and foot motor skills. It's never too early to teach a child the basic of education. My niece is only three and she can read some children's books.

Answer 4

At this point in your daughters development she should be learning basic social skills. I would expect for the center to do small lessons on counting and the alphabet, mainly taught through songs. It may be helpful to you to ask them what songs they sing so your daughter and you can sing them together during bath time and car rides etc.

I remember when my son was almost two I heard him in his room counting his blocks as he stacked them and I was amazed, and a little upset at the daycare center for not informing me that they were teaching him those things so that I could participate in his education as well. I basically had no clue that children could start learning at such a young age. Now, even with a little more experience under my belt, I am still astounded by my child's intellegence.

Good Luck with your little angel.

Answer 5

She should be playing and making friends.  She can learn social skills, communication skills, good manners, etc.  

They can sing songs, do art projects, learn the alphabet, count to 10, learn about colors and shapes, etc.

Answer 6

they love to color at this age and trace pictures and do stencils,

and learn ABC's and make crafts, play ball and activities outdoors and take a nap also.