High Scope Web Tour

• One of my favorite sites is High Scope http://www.highscope.org/. Let me take you on a tour of the site.  High Scope is an active participatory learning curriculum.The purpose of the site is to offer comprehensive  tools and materials  that aid educators in a more effective teaching method--one that strengthens initiative and self-reliance in children, while fortifying the basis of academics along with social-emotional, physical, and creative areas..
• The  structure of the site is divided into six main program focuses--Infant & Toddlers, Preschool, Elementary, Early Literacy, Youth Development, and Movement & Music.  The basis of High Scope's content comes from the validated decades of proven research that children and adults learn best through "hands-on experiences". 
• Suggested areas to note in the website are the teaching practices, defined curriculum content areas for each topic and age group, assessment tools, and the training model for each of the six program focus areas I've mentioned in the previous paragraph.
• Although High Scope doesn't offer specific curriculum for basic reading, math and science, it DOES focus on HOW to teach using the existing curriculum. Let's highlight three areas that I feel are most beneficial--Classroom Practices, Early Literacy, and Movement & Music.  The first is Classroom Practices:  Go to the http://www.highscope.org/ website and click "Elementary" on the left menu bar. Choose "Classroom Practices" from the drop menu. From this page you will be able to note the Key Elements of High Scope's Elementary Classroom Practices.  This will give you deeper insight as to how High Scope really works in a practical way.  The second is Early Literacy:  From the homepage click on "Early Literacy" on the left menu bar.  Choose "Early Reading First" from the drop menu.  From this page you will see the program curriculum materials.  If you click "Letter Links" on the left side menu , you will be taken to the page that demonstrates how the visual tools are utilized to introduce and enhance early reading skills using word/letter associations.  The third highlight is Movement & Music:  Click on this tab from the left menu bar and you will be taken to the page that carries the Movement & Music plan, which engages the students basic movement abilities along with multiple learning skills.  Choose from the left menu bar either of the choices-- "Moving Toward Health" or "Education Thru Movement" to learn other creative and effective aspects of the Movement & Music program.