As a school counselor in 1950s Michigan, Dr. David Weikart was troubled by the lack of options for failing students. Many of these students were also economically disadvantaged. The HighScope curriculum was initiated at the preschool level by Dr. Weikart more than 40 years ago and thanks to a research study that began with the program’s inception, many benefits have been revealed. Students who were taught in this environment were found as adults to have adapted better to societal norms. They also attained a higher level of education and working income than students who were placed in the control group.
Active learning forms the basis for the HighScope approach to learning. It’s believed children learn best through direct experiences with people, materials, events and ideas, as opposed to direct teaching or sequenced exercises. Children can then create their own knowledge within the frame of their own culture and life experience. The HighScope program has five key experiences for students – creative representation, language and literacy, initiative and social relations, movement and music, and logical reasoning.
Acting out Stories: Watch how adults support children as they act out a popular nursery rhyme. Props and materials are turned over to the children, and the story is told with a tapping beat.
Small Group Time: This video outlines what small group time is, why it’s important and how teachers can successfully plan, support and conclude this part of the day.
Large Group Time: Similar to the Small Group Time video, examples of how large group time works in an early childhood classroom are shown. Large group time gives children a repertoire of common experiences, builds a sense of community in the classroom, and encourages children to be part of a group.
Curricula and Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education and Care: Five Curriculum Outlines
Directorate for Education, OECD. (2004). Curricula and Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education and Care: Five Curriculum Outlines. Paris, OECD.
This paper was developed as part of a project launched by OECD, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The aim is to improve the quality of early childhood education and care, while disseminating information on early childhood policy. The HighScope Approach is included in this report as part of that initiative.
