The document summarizes the observation of two early childhood centers - Children's World and The Rise School. Children's World has 12 children between ages infant to 5 years with no teacher assistant, while The Rise School has 10 children ages 1-6 years, including those with special needs, and two teacher assistants. Both schools are NAEYC accredited and focus on child-led learning through various domains like motor, language and math skills. The Rise School additionally provides therapies and targets goals in a child's Individual Intervention Plan. Parent communication differs between daily notes at Children's World and encouraged volunteering at The Rise School. [END SUMMARY]

1. Observation of Two EarlyObservation of Two Early
Childhood CentersChildhood Centers
Presented byPresented by
Brenda E. MondyBrenda E. Mondy
Texas Woman’s UniversityTexas Woman’s University
Curriculum Development In EarlyCurriculum Development In Early
ChildhoodChildhood
FS 5213FS 5213

2. Children’s World

4. Rise School 5 Year Old
Classroom

5. Class DescriptionClass Description
Children’s WorldChildren’s World
 12 children12 children
 6 boys, 6 girls6 boys, 6 girls
 No teacherNo teacher
assistantassistant
The Rise SchoolThe Rise School
 10 children10 children
 5 boys, 5 girls5 boys, 5 girls
 Two teacherTwo teacher
assistantsassistants

6. Children’sChildren’s
WorldWorld
 Started in 1983Started in 1983
 Operated byOperated by
Knowledge LearningKnowledge Learning
CorporationCorporation
 Located in 32 statesLocated in 32 states
with a total of 750with a total of 750
centerscenters
 November, 2004November, 2004
acquired KinderCareacquired KinderCare
centerscenters
The RiseThe Rise
SchoolSchool
 Started operations inStarted operations in
the Dallas area inthe Dallas area in
1998.1998.
 Five schools located inFive schools located in
Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Austin, TexasAustin, Texas
Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
Tuscaloosa, AlabamaTuscaloosa, Alabama

7. AccreditationAccreditation
Children’s WorldChildren’s World
 NationalNational
Association for theAssociation for the
Education of YoungEducation of Young
Children (NAEYC)Children (NAEYC)
The Rise SchoolThe Rise School
 National AssociationNational Association
for the Education offor the Education of
Young ChildrenYoung Children
(NAEYC)(NAEYC)
 The only NAEYC schoolThe only NAEYC school
in Dallas specializingin Dallas specializing
in children with specialin children with special
needs.needs.

8. AdmissionAdmission
Children’s WorldChildren’s World
 Parents make anParents make an
introductory visitintroductory visit
 Enrollment dependsEnrollment depends
on spaceon space
 Fees (vary from cityFees (vary from city
to city)to city)
 Infants - 5 yearsInfants - 5 years
The Rise SchoolThe Rise School
 Children withChildren with
developmental delaysdevelopmental delays
eligible for admission ateligible for admission at
18 months18 months
 12 months with no delays12 months with no delays
 Enrollment depends onEnrollment depends on
spacespace
 Children must be able toChildren must be able to
participate in a groupparticipate in a group
settingsetting
 No delay children mayNo delay children may
attend 2-3 days per weekattend 2-3 days per week
depending on availabilitydepending on availability
 Financial aid availableFinancial aid available
 Ages 1-6 yearsAges 1-6 years

9. Teacher QualificationsTeacher Qualifications
Children’s WorldChildren’s World
 Must be 18 years ofMust be 18 years of
age or olderage or older
 High School diplomaHigh School diploma
or equivalentor equivalent
 Must have eightMust have eight
hours of pre-servicehours of pre-service
trainingtraining
The Rise SchoolThe Rise School
 Master’s degree inMaster’s degree in
Special EducationSpecial Education
with earlywith early
childhoodchildhood
experience orexperience or
enrolled in aenrolled in a
Master’s programMaster’s program
and /or priorand /or prior
experience atexperience at
another rise schoolanother rise school

10. Teacher ResponsibilitiesTeacher Responsibilities
Children’s WorldChildren’s World
 Teachers plans,Teachers plans,
manages andmanages and
supervises thesupervises the
classroom andclassroom and
children with thechildren with the
aid of an assistantaid of an assistant
teacher.teacher.
The Rise SchoolThe Rise School
 Teachers chooseTeachers choose
activities that fallactivities that fall
under theunder the
children’s IIP’schildren’s IIP’s
(Individual Intervention Plan)(Individual Intervention Plan)
using weeklyusing weekly
themes with thethemes with the
aid of teacheraid of teacher
assistant(s)assistant(s)

11. Mission StatementMission Statement
Children’s WorldChildren’s World
Each child has unique andEach child has unique and
individual talents andindividual talents and
interests. Our teachersinterests. Our teachers
honor these differences byhonor these differences by
providing each child withproviding each child with
customized attention andcustomized attention and
activities so they mayactivities so they may
learn and grow at theirlearn and grow at their
own pace, in their ownown pace, in their own
style.style.
The Rise SchoolThe Rise School
The purpose of the RiseThe purpose of the Rise
School of Dallas is toSchool of Dallas is to
provide the highestprovide the highest
quality of early childhoodquality of early childhood
education services toeducation services to
children with Downchildren with Down
Syndrome or otherSyndrome or other
developmental disabilitiesdevelopmental disabilities
and to children withoutand to children without
disabilities.disabilities.

12. Philosophy of EducationPhilosophy of Education
Children’s WorldChildren’s World
 Children learn throughChildren learn through
active explorationactive exploration
 Children initiate their ownChildren initiate their own
learninglearning
 Learning comes from openLearning comes from open
ended experiencesended experiences
 Adults are facilitators ofAdults are facilitators of
childhood learningchildhood learning
 Children should grow in aChildren should grow in a
rich and developmentallyrich and developmentally
appropriate environment.appropriate environment.
The Rise SchoolThe Rise School
 Services are familyServices are family
centeredcentered
 Services are designedServices are designed
around an IIP consisting ofaround an IIP consisting of
goals based on familygoals based on family
concernsconcerns
 Curriculum reflects aCurriculum reflects a
balance between teacherbalance between teacher
and child initiated activitiesand child initiated activities
 Prepare children forPrepare children for
transitions from onetransitions from one
classroom to other moreclassroom to other more
inclusive educationalinclusive educational
environments.environments.

13. Theoretical FrameworkTheoretical Framework
Children’sChildren’s
WorldWorld
 DevelopmentalDevelopmental
The RiseThe Rise
SchoolSchool
 DevelopmentalDevelopmental
 EcologicalEcological
 TransactionalTransactional
Model of communicationModel of communication
development with the child anddevelopment with the child and
communicative partnerscommunicative partners
 FunctionalFunctional
A way a person is defined asA way a person is defined as
having a special need. Child ishaving a special need. Child is
assessed in functional areas ofassessed in functional areas of
development.development.

14. TheoristTheorist
Children’s WorldChildren’s World
DevelopmentalDevelopmental
Jean PiagetJean Piaget
The Rise SchoolThe Rise School
DevelopmentalDevelopmental
Jean PiagetJean Piaget
EcologicalEcological
Ure BronfenbrennerUre Bronfenbrenner

15. CurriculumCurriculum
Children’s WorldChildren’s World
Early FoundationsEarly Foundations
CurriculumCurriculum
The Rise SchoolThe Rise School
AssessmentAssessment
EvaluationEvaluation
Program SystemProgram System
CurriculumCurriculum
(AEPS)(AEPS)

16. DomainsDomains
Children’s WorldChildren’s World
 Motor DevelopmentMotor Development
 Social and EmotionalSocial and Emotional
DevelopmentDevelopment
 Creativity andCreativity and
ImaginationImagination
 Reading andReading and
LanguageLanguage
 MathematicsMathematics
 SocialSocial
Studies/ScienceStudies/Science
 TechnologyTechnology
The Rise SchoolThe Rise School
 Fine MotorFine Motor
 Gross motorGross motor
 AdaptiveAdaptive
 CognitiveCognitive
 SocialSocial
 Social-Social-
CommunicationCommunication

17. ParentParent
Communication/ParticipationCommunication/Participation
Children’s WorldChildren’s World
 Daily communication viaDaily communication via
“What your child“What your child
discovered today” notes.discovered today” notes.
 Home School connectionsHome School connections
 Formal parent-teacherFormal parent-teacher
conferences held annuallyconferences held annually
 Classroom bulletin boardsClassroom bulletin boards
post schedule, weeklypost schedule, weekly
lessons, lunch menu,lessons, lunch menu,
developmental milestonesdevelopmental milestones
 Monthly newsletterMonthly newsletter
 Parent Connection –Parent Connection –
quarterlyquarterly
 KLC online delivered viaKLC online delivered via
computer email updates.computer email updates.
The Rise SchoolThe Rise School
 Parents and communityParents and community
members are encouragedmembers are encouraged
to volunteerto volunteer
 Parents cannot volunteerParents cannot volunteer
to work in their own child’sto work in their own child’s
class. They can workclass. They can work
outside of the class byoutside of the class by
helping with fund raisinghelping with fund raising
 Parents may be used toParents may be used to
help in preparation ofhelp in preparation of
activities, library or officeactivities, library or office
 Notes concerning studentsNotes concerning students
are placed in their cubbies.are placed in their cubbies.

18. Special NeedsSpecial Needs
Children’s WorldChildren’s World
 Offers inclusiveOffers inclusive
enrichmentenrichment
programsprograms
 AdditionalAdditional
programs providedprograms provided
for a fee.for a fee.
The Rise SchoolThe Rise School
 Half time SpeechHalf time Speech
TherapistTherapist
 OccupationalOccupational
Physical and MusicPhysical and Music
therapytherapy

19. DisciplineDiscipline
Children’s WorldChildren’s World
PositivePositive
communication andcommunication and
role modeling torole modeling to
help childrenhelp children
develop internaldevelop internal
controls.controls.
PreventativePreventative
approach byapproach by
demonstratingdemonstrating
social skillssocial skills
The Rise SchoolThe Rise School
Discipline andDiscipline and
guidance policyguidance policy
provided by theprovided by the
Texas DepartmentTexas Department
of Family andof Family and
Protective ServicesProtective Services