Comparing Early Childhood Programs

Child Care

Main Features

• Provides comprehensive health, social, and education services.
• Program quality determined by each program.
• Each program has its own curriculum

Teacher's Role

• Provides care and education for the whole child.
• Provides a safe and secure environment.
• Collaborates with and involve families.

High/Scope

Main Features

• Theory is based on Piaget, constructivism, Dewey, and Vygotsky.
• Plan-do-review is the teaching-learning cycle.
• Emergent curriculum is not planned in advance.
• Children help determine curriculum.
• Key experiences guide the curriculum in promoting children's active learning.

Teacher's Role

• Plans activities based on children's interests.
• Facilitates learning through encouragement.*
• Engages in positive adult-child interaction strategies.*

Montessori

Main Features

• Theoretical basis is the philosophy and beliefs of Maria Montessori.
• Prepared environment supports, invites, and enables learning.
• Children educate themselves- self-directed learning.
• Has a set of curriculum regarding what children should learn. Montessorians try to stay as close to Montessori's ideas as possible.
• Children are grouped in multiage environments.
• Children learn by manipulating materials and working with others.
• Learning takes place through the senses.

Teacher's Role

• Follows the child's interests and needs.
• Prepares an environment that is educationally interesting and safe.*
• Directs unobtrusively as children individually or in small groups engage in self-directed activity.*
• Observes, analyzes, and provides materials and activities appropriate for the child's sensitive periods of learning.*
• Maintains regular communications with the parent.

Reggio Emilia

Main Features

• Theory is based on Piaget, constructivism, Vygotsky, and Dewey.
• Emergent curriculum is not planned in advance.
• Curriculum is based on children's interests and experiences.
• Curriculum is project oriented.
• Hundred Languages of Children represents the symbolic representation of children's work and learning.
• Learning is active.
• Atelierista- a special teacher is trained in the arts.
• Atelier- an art/design studio is used by children and teachers.