Problem
Implementing a quality curriculum in your classroom is a key component of child engagement. The amount of free play (where children have free choice to choose their own materials and space to play) is crucial to engagement at this age. In addition, a curriculum that is built upon the interests of the children in your group is also critical. several curriculum models that show how a child-centered curriculum generally results in fewer undesirable behaviors; teachers observe where children are at, what they are interested in, and then embed those interests into the curriculum. Other considerations like having enough materials to go around and choosing materials that both challenge children and give them opportunities for success are important.
The Reggio Emilia Approach is a great example of this type of curriculum. Above are two different videos for your review.
a) What are some key elements to child engagement? How does it look when a child is engaged? When they are not engaged? And how might not being engaged lead to challenging behaviors?
b) Discuss three teaching strategies discussed in this week's chapter and how you could use them to prevent challenging behaviors.