Incorporating An Emergent Curriculum

A child's early years are vital for the beginning of future learning and development. An Emergent curriculum is a child-centered teaching philosophy influenced by the theories and philosophies of psychologists Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, and John Dewey. The curriculum gained recognition in the early learning field for its efficiency and focus on children’s needs and highlights the individual interests, experiences, and opinions of each student, in contrast to a traditional curriculum. The purpose of an emergent curriculum is to foster meaningful learning experiences and nurture each child's holistic development by offering the opportunity for children to explore their interests and needs.

Planned Curriculum VS. Emergent Curriculum 

Child-led learning is embraced by emergent curriculum, which rejects the idea of following a preset curriculum. It acknowledges that children are active participants in their own education and makes an effort to take advantage of their inbuilt curiosity and drive to learn about the world to encourage them to explore and ask questions to extend their learning. Emergent curricula are developed spontaneously and constantly adapting with the children's interests. 

An emergent curriculum differs from a more traditional curriculum primarily in how it approaches learning, what it covers, and teacher involvement. A traditional curriculum is frequently planned and standardized with clear goals, deadlines, and standardized tests. Regardless of the interests or experiences of the kids, it covers preset themes in a linear fashion.

Conversely, an emergent curriculum offers the opportunity for children to ask questions and search for answers by allowing their interests to guide their exploration through flexible and child-centered learning. It highlights children's uniqueness and agency while acknowledging that they actively generate knowledge. An emergent curriculum promotes inquiry, discovery, and problem-solving while a standard curriculum concentrates on teaching fixed knowledge.

In summary, in a traditional curriculum, teachers are usually the main information providers for the students. However, with an emergent curriculum, teachers become facilitators, watching and recording the interests of the kids, offering help and resources, and having conversations with the kids to help them learn. Overall, the degree of flexibility and emphasis on unique interests and experiences are the main distinctions between an emergent and traditional curricula.

Our staff have had the opportunity to explore different curriculums throughout their careers and we have found that practicing an emergent curriculum at Rhyme & Reason aligns with our philosophies and pedagogies.

Preschool Funding

Beginning in January 2022 until March 2022, parents and caregivers of Métis Nation of Alberta Citizens can now apply for preschool funding!

Preschool has been shown to improve school readiness, develop early literacy and numeracy skills, and more.

APPLY today and learn more about this initiative here: Preschool Funding for Métis Learners -- https://rli.connectedcommunity.org/login?ReturnUrl=https%3a%2f%2frli.connectedcommunity.org%2fearly-learning%2fpreschool-funding-for-mtis-learners

Please email the Rupertsland Centre for Teaching & Learning team anytime with questions at education@rupertsland.org.