The document compares and describes several popular preschool curriculums: Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, High/Scope, and Bank Street. Montessori uses child-centered, guided learning where play is the vehicle for academics. Waldorf is play-based with mixed-age classrooms and no media/academics. Reggio Emilia is project-based and encourages child-led discovery. High/Scope follows a plan-do-review routine with interest areas. Bank Street balances child and adult activities using mixed-age classrooms.

1. Comparing
Preschool
Curriculums
BY JESSICA JACOBSEN
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2. Montessori
 Child Centered Curriculum
 Teachers are guides, helping the children find their way in the
materials
 Play is the child’s work
 Play is focused on academics and allows children to work at their
own pace
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3. Taking A Look At What Preschool
Montessori Is And How It Works!
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4. Taking A Look At Infant Montessori
And How It Works
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5. Waldorf
 Play based with a predictable structure
 Dependable routine
 Mixed age classrooms
 Does not include media in the classroom
 Does not involve academics, no homework, tests, handout or even
desks
 Children spend a lot of time outdoors
 Teaches kids how to think, not what to think
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6. Taking A Look At Waldorf
Schools
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7. Reggio Emilia
 Project-based approach
 Lessons are based on interest of the child
 Teacher encourages children to discover answers on their own
through experience
 Create projects to help children learn concepts and ideas, projects
can take weeks to complete
 Class room is set up to be a home like environment
 Teachers do a lot of documentation, documentation shows the
process and the product
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8. Taking A Look At Reggio Emilia
Schools
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9. High/ Scope Approach
 Active Participatory Learning
 Focuses on adult- child interactions, classroom layout and materials,
and the daily routine
 Classes are divided into interest areas
 Children engage in both individual and social play
 Children participate in both small group and large group activities
 Plan-Do- Review format: Plan- Children make choices about what
they will do, Do- they carry out their ideas, Review- they reflect on
their activities with peers and adults
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10. Taking A Look At High/Scope
Approach
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11. Bank Street Preschool
 Development-Interaction Approach
 Emphasis is on educating the whole child in an experience- based,
interdisciplinary and collaborative setting
 Mixed age classrooms
 Provides a balance between child and adult initiated activities
 Necessitates the staff to set goals, plan strategies for achieving them
and follow up to evaluate and revise them as necessary
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12. Taking A Look At Bank Street
Preschools
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