How long do your themes last at your centre?
We have been doing weekly programming, however after seeing an incredible set up at a conference today, I want to switch our focus to a more project approach. 2-3 weeks per theme based on how the children are taking to teh subject matter.
We have a large number of part time kids and I think longer themes might be a benefit. Often our kids are only getting one day a week of each theme. I find this isn't really building on their experiences or interests as much as I'd like.
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I haven't been in a centre in ages that did 1 week themes..minimum I ever did was 2 weeks (unless it flopped for whatever reason) If things were going well I would go longer if I could get into together for it.
I think with your centre it would work great..especially with your part timers....plus it will help cement the information.
We've always done 1 week themes, but the Emergent Curriculum in our province is all Project/Interest Based. So now the theme is supposed to be basically decided by the kids (what they're interested in, whatever) and can last anywhere from 2 days, to 2 months, or more.
How is that changing the way you plan for your classroom? I worry my staff may not like the changes I am planning.
It's tough, in a way. We're so used to doing things like teachers, especially since we offer a preschool program as well, it's really hard to NOT have that structure and stuff. At first anyway. We kinda do a half and half....we still more or less run a schedule, but the kids have more options. Pick whatever story you want, not necessarily related to the theme......if you don't want to do the theme craft, color or make something yourself....that kind of thing. The hardest part is the planning for crafts and stuff, because we're so used to finding one week's worth of crafts for each theme, and now it's like we could have a whole bunch prepared, but then the theme only lasts 2 days and we switch so now we have to figure out other crafts right away. BUT the kids are using their imaginations way more, and making up their own crafts and stuff sometimes.
I just hope the school board is on board like this association claims. Because otherwise, it's going to be REALLY tough for these kids to be school ready by the fall, because school is generally SO structured and everything. That's my biggest worry. I know kids have more fun doing it this way most of the time, but I worry that my kids will be so overwhelemed when they start school. Especially since most of our 4s are challenged/delayed/etc. to begin with.