Pre-K Course of Standards: State of Alabama

Course Description: The First Class Pre-K program is designed to provide a full day of developmentally appropriate instruction and support for four-year-old children. The pre-k program shall provide at least 6.5 hours of high-quality, developmentally appropriate activities and instruction, five days per week.

Standards: Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program will be taught using Alabama Standards for Early Learning and Development (ASELDs). The domain sections are:

• Section One: Relationships and Connections
• Section Two: STEM Skills: Exploration and Critical Thinking
• Section Three: Communication, and Section Four: Physical Health and Development. 
• ASELDs pdf link

Standards and key concepts are presented multiple times but with increasing complexity or in different applications. Reviewing content periodically can help students remember information, even if they don't fully understand it.

Curriculum: Alabama Standards for Early Learning and Development (ASELDs) shall be supported by utilizing The Teaching Strategies Creative Curriculum for Pre-Kindergarten, Hand2Mind Hands-On Standards Math Mini-Lessons, and Ignite by HATCH digital learning platform.

• The Hand2Mind Supplemental Curriculum: Math Hands-On Standards is a year-long supplemental curriculum that reinforces key, grade-level math concepts and helps students deepen their understanding with hands-on manipulatives and activities, supporting The Creative Curriculum by Teaching Strategies. The book list for the Hand2Mind Supplemental Curriculum Math Hands-On Standards is available here.
• Ignite by Hatch is utilized in Pre-K to begin exposure of safety and use of 21st Century Digital Citizenship. Ignite by Hatch is a digital learning platform anchored in a child-facing app that delivers engaging, research-based experiences through a dynamic digital play environment. In as little as 30 minutes of independent, purposeful practice per week, children make meaningful progress toward their school readiness goals. Through a rich data dashboard, teachers and administrators are provided real-time data to inform daily individualized instruction and evidence for developmentally appropriate assessment systems.
• The Creative Curriculum supports teachers by implementing project-based learning by studying topics that are meaningful to children (Copyright © 2024 by Teaching Strategies, LLC).

The Teaching Strategies: The Teaching Strategies Creative Curriculum is the base curriculum used by Pre-K teachers. Some of the components of the Creative Curriculum Kit include Mighty Minutes Cards, Book Discussion Cards, Intentional Teaching Experience Cards, Alphabet/Numeral Cards, Picture Cards, Phonogram Cards, and Independent Group 3-Step Instruction Cards that are used to enhance the instructional value of the Creative Curriculum.  Additional resources can be used to support this foundation.

The Teaching Strategies Creative Curriculum units of study for each quarter are listed below, with links to each unit’s books.

1st Quarter (Booklist)
Building a Classroom Community: The First Six Weeks: Building Your Classroom Community Teaching Guide focuses on coming together at the beginning of the school year to build relationships and create a strong classroom community that teachers can continue to nurture and support for the remainder of the school year.

Percussion Instruments: The Percussion Instruments Investigation provides opportunities for children to discover rhythm patterns, problem-solve how to make different kinds of sounds, explore tone and pitch, and keep the beat as they create music together.

2nd Quarter (Booklist)
Architecture: The Architecture Investigation is a study of architecture offering children the opportunity to examine different types of structures, experiment with building materials and principles, and explore their communities and beyond.

Light: The Light Investigation is a study of natural and artificial light. Students explore and learn about light, connecting it to their everyday lives and building on their natural curiosity.

3rd Quarter (Booklist)

Cameras: The Cameras Investigation is aimed at exploring and learning about cameras. Cameras have evolved from devices that people use occasionally to document special events into tools that people use frequently to capture photos and videos of their everyday lives, communicate with others in real-time, create art, and do so much more.

Grocery Store: The Grocery Store Investigation satisfies children’s curiosity as they explore how grocery stores are organized, the technology behind the scenes at the store, and the jobs and equipment needed to operate the store. Throughout this study, children will learn how grocery store products reflect their community.

4th Quarter (Booklist)
Seeds: During the Seeds Investigation study, children will explore various kinds of seeds, their characteristics, and their uses.

Getting Ready for Kindergarten: In the investigation Getting Ready for Kindergarten, children will reflect on what they have learned and prepare for their next adventure in Kindergarten. Students will be given the tools and strategies to transition to their next exciting journey