Mandated Curriculum vs. Developmentally Appropriate Practices - Essay Example

Man d Curriculum vs. Developmentally Appropriate Practices In an educational level such as the kindergarten, it is essential to use the most important education practice to ensure that the young minds adapt and develop accordingly. Usage of the Developmentally Appropriate Practices, DAP, is of great importance when applied in this level. DAP is a teaching perspective that is founded on child developmental theories, cultural background of a specific child, and identified strengths to improve physical, cognitive, and emotional developments (Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)).

Some of the benefits associated with DAP include that learning becomes more effective and the possibility of success increases. While DAP allows children to solve their own problems as they are encouraged to engage themselves, it also helps in reducing learning gaps (Gestwicki 32). The processing capabilities of the children’s minds are also improved because they are encouraged to engage in the areas that they are most comfortable with thus improving creativity (Shipley). For the level of kindergarten, I feel that using textbook-based curriculum is not necessary.

This is because textbook-based curriculum is restricted on the topics and areas that should be learnt. This therefore limits the scope of learning denying the children an opportunity to experiment, which is very important especially during the developmental stage. In addition, this mode does not favor the literacy skills of the gifted children because they are steered to a different direction away from their areas of expertise. As a recommendation, the mode of learning that encourages literacy development is the eclectic homeschooling (Bess).

A schooling environment that provides an opportunity to teach is very important since the parent gets to pick the approaches to use when teaching the child. Works CitedBess, Beth W. "What Kind of Curriculum Should You Use? | Home Educators Association of Virginia." Home Educators Association of Virginia. n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2014. http://heav.org/basic-info/gifted/what-kind-of-curriculum-should-you-use/"Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)” National Association for the Education of Young Children NAEYC. n.d. Web. 08 Aug. 2014. http://www.naeyc.org/DAPGestwicki, Carol.

Developmentally Appropriate Practice: Curriculum and Development in Early Education. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth, 2013. Print.Shipley, Tisha. "Early Childhood Education: Implementing Developmentally Appropriate Practices into Literacy Instruction - Whole Child Education." Whole Child Education. 22 Jan 2014. Web. 10 Aug. 2014. http://www.wholechildeducation.org/blog/early-childhood-education-implementing-developmentally-appropriate-practice