High Expectations for High/Scope
Pre-school curriculum prepares children to be
successful adults
By Bonnie Shulman
 On
a warm September day, red and gold leaves are
the educational tools stirring the mind and the
senses of the kindergarten class in the Greenbriar
Child Care Centre.
Some five-year-olds sit around
a table, each with their own scissors, markers,
glue, paper, and leaves. What they do with the
leaves is up to them. If a child gets discouraged,
a highly-trained Region of Peel teacher is there
to encourage and provide developmentally-appropriate
activities that will steer a child back into the
spirit of learning, creativity and participation.
"Children are learning to make
their own choices," says Joanne Pattison, Supervisor
of the Greenbriar Child Care Centre. "They are
developing an intrinsic motivation that will serve
them throughout their lives."
Daily Routine
 Each
day follows a similar schedule, based on a simple
three-step process: plan, do, and review. Children
make plans, follow through on them, and reflect
on their experiences with their teacher and the
other children. Teachers record notes on children’s
behaviours, experiences and interests to assess
each child’s development and plan activities
to encourage their growth.
The High/Scope Foundation
High/Scope emanates from the High/Scope
Foundation, an independent non-profit research,
development, training and public advocacy organization
located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The Foundation’s
principal goals are to promote the learning and
development of children worldwide and to support
and train educators and parents as they help children
learn.
The Region’s Child Care Centre
supervisors are studying High/Scope
at Sheridan College, site of Canada’s
only High/Scope Teacher Education Centre. All
supervisors will be certified High/Scope lead
teachers in September 2001, and all Region of
Peel Child Care Centres will become certified
High/Scope facilities.
"The Region of Peel will be the
leading High/Scope institution in Ontario," says
Lorna Reid, Director of Children’s Services.
"No other child care provider in the province
has gone to the extent that we have to provide
our supervisors with High/Scope training. We are
proud to be a leader, certainly, but we’re
especially proud to be providing children in our
centres with a head start."
Active Learning
 At
the heart of High/Scope is a concept called active
learning. "Active learning works because it encourages
children to learn out of interest, and to pursue
goals that come from within," says Pattison.
To help children remain self-motivated,
High/Scope teachers avoid praise and rewards,
as these are external motivators that set up a
competitive environment. High/Scope environments
eliminate competition from a child’s day,
thus enabling all children to feel valued. This
environment helps build all the children’s’
self-esteem.
New approach to early childhood education
Now, if this doesn’t remind
you of your own kindergarten experience, you are
not alone. Teaching methods for early childhood
have changed dramatically in the last 20 years.
"The problems of tomorrow can no longer be solved
by going back to basics," Pattison explains. "In
today’s world, we need creative thinkers
and problem-solvers. High/Scope encourages children
to make their own decisions and follow their hearts.
At this early stage, children are learning to
be their own person. What better preparation can
we provide for them to be strong, motivated, successful
adults?"
"High/Scope fits in well with the
Region’s own values towards early childhood
education," summarizes Reid. "We have always encouraged
parents to visit the centres and become involved.
High/Scope takes that one step further, because
many of the activities that High/Scope teachers
do in the classroom can be done at home. Through
High/Scope, parents can learn from teachers, and
through the interaction that we encourage, our
teachers learn from parents. More than ever, we
are partners in each child’s success."
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