{"id":5275,"date":"2026-06-02T10:12:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T15:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/?page_id=5275"},"modified":"2026-06-03T14:05:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T19:05:07","slug":"curriculum","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/curriculum\/","title":{"rendered":"Curriculum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"uwm-u-py-80\"><div class=\"uwm-l-container--base uwm-l-container--overflow-hidden\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-row\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\">\n<p>Although our styles and approach to curriculum may look different, program goals in every age group include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fostering social\/emotional growth by providing children with a secure and loving base.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helping children develop a positive self-concept and respect for individual and cultural differences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aiding the development of language; self-expression; cognitive, gross, and fine motor skills.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encouraging the development of self-help skills which satisfy the children\u2019s increasing need for independence and control over their environment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col uwm-l-col--4 uwm-l-offset--1\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-curriculum-guides\">Curriculum Guides<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list uwm-c-list--link-arrow\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/curriculum\/infant-curriculum-guide\/\" type=\"page\" id=\"4992\"><strong>Infant<\/strong> &#8211; 6 weeks &#8211; 18 months<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/curriculum\/toddler-curriculum-guide\/\" type=\"page\" id=\"5256\"><strong>Toddler<\/strong> &#8211; 18 months &#8211; 3 years<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/curriculum\/preschool-curriculum-guide\/\" type=\"page\" id=\"5260\"><strong>Preschool<\/strong> &#8211; 3 &amp; 4 year olds<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/curriculum\/kindergarten-curriculum-guide\/\" type=\"page\" id=\"5244\"><strong>Kindergarten<\/strong> &#8211; 4 &amp; 5 year olds<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/curriculum\/school-age\/\" type=\"page\" id=\"5276\"><strong>School Age<\/strong> &#8211; 1st grade &#8211; 12 years<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"uwm-bg-gray uwm-u-py-80\"><div class=\"uwm-l-container--base uwm-l-container--overflow-hidden\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-curriculum-philosophy\">Curriculum Philosophy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At the UWM Children\u2019s Learning Center, we believe that, from birth, all people are capable and competent. Each person is an individual who will learn and develop in a unique way. With support from caring teachers and a rich learning environment, children will learn, play, explore, create, and develop relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-children-s-learning-center-curriculum-is-built-upon-the-following-philosophical-beliefs\"><strong>The Children\u2019s Learning Center curriculum is built upon the following philosophical beliefs:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A play-based, hands-on, active learning environment is most appropriate for young learners. We believe that this approach, which includes the whole child, prepares children well for future success, both in school and in their lives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trusting, respectful, nurturing relationships between children and adults are essential. These caring bonds build the foundation for a classroom environment where children can take risks, learn from their mistakes, and be joyful in their learning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The teacher\u2019s role is as a facilitator and guide. As teachers support children in their problem-solving, we use a variety of teaching strategies, including modeling, providing appropriate learning materials, encouraging children\u2019s independence, and planning teacher-led activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In their exploratory play, children manipulate materials, hypothesize, test theories, repeat activities and draw conclusions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In their social play, children learn how to be a member of a larger community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Children will make significant choices about use of materials and activities throughout the day. They are offered opportunities to participate in individual, small group and large group experiences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teachers intentionally plan the classroom environment and experiences and provide materials to inspire learning, discovery, creativity and problem-solving.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research, theory and experience in the field of education informs our practice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connections to the natural world are intrinsic to healthy growth and development. In addition to spending time outdoors, nature-based materials and experiences are provided both indoors and outside.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Our curriculum emerges from children\u2019s interests, teachers\u2019 observations and events in the lives of the children and their families.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The typical development of an age group, as well as the individual development of the children in a particular classroom, is used as a guide for curriculum planning. Observation, documentation and ongoing assessment of individual children and the classroom as a whole are used as the basis for curriculum planning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Our curriculum reflects, values and extends the richness of the diversity of the children, staff and families in a classroom. A respect for individual differences underlies all that we do.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"uwm-bg-white uwm-u-py-80\"><div class=\"uwm-l-container--base uwm-l-container--overflow-hidden\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-curriculum-and-assessment\">Curriculum and Assessment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This teaching cycle is from the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards and is a continuous cycle of ongoing assessment, planning and curriculum goals, and implementation. Teachers observe children daily in order to plan for their engagement and learning. Teachers use anecdotal notes, interactions with children, and reviews of children\u2019s work to gain an accurate assessment of a child\u2019s knowledge and skill level. This ongoing assessment and gathering of information helps teachers determine what the child can do and what the child is ready to learn next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once individual learning goals are identified, teachers decide what should be implemented to promote development and what they want the children to learn. Individual goals are identified, prioritized, and planned for in our curricular plans. Teachers then provide meaningful activities that support the individual and group goals guided by supportive interactions and relationships. During this time, teachers collect information for the next planning phase in order to write new individual and group goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-planning-cycle\">Planning Cycle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-row\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\">\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1430\" height=\"1100\" src=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/678\/2026\/05\/Planning-Cycle.jpg\" alt=\"A diagram illustrating a continuous, six-step early childhood Curriculum Planning Cycle. Green arrows connect each stage in a clockwise loop, detailing steps from assessment and goal setting to planning, executing, and reflecting on activities.\" class=\"wp-image-5265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/678\/2026\/05\/Planning-Cycle.jpg 1430w, https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/678\/2026\/05\/Planning-Cycle-300x231.jpg 300w, https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/678\/2026\/05\/Planning-Cycle-1024x788.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/678\/2026\/05\/Planning-Cycle-768x591.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1430px) 100vw, 1430px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col uwm-l-col--4 uwm-l-offset--1\">\n<p>A six-step, clockwise <strong>Curriculum Planning Cycle<\/strong> diagram connected by green arrows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Assessments:<\/strong>&nbsp;Observations, anecdotal notes, photos, screening tools, and parent\/intake forms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Create Individual Goals:<\/strong>&nbsp;Based directly on assessment tool skills.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plan Environment &amp; Activities:<\/strong>&nbsp;Covering all developmental domains, balanced between child-led interests and teacher-guided initiatives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Immediate Reflection with Children:<\/strong>&nbsp;Scaffolding, asking open-ended questions, and adjusting materials in real-time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reflections of Individuals &amp; Groups:<\/strong>&nbsp;Evaluating strategies and discussing outcomes with children, colleagues, and families.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use Planned Activities &amp; Environmental Changes:<\/strong>&nbsp;Implementing lesson plans, interest area goals, and environmental setups\u2014looping back to Assessments.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":219,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":6,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/full-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[25765]},"class_list":["post-5275","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Children&#039;s Learning Center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"UWM Children\u2019s Learning Center curriculum focuses on play-based learning, creativity, and development for early childhood success.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/curriculum\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Curriculum\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"UWM Children\u2019s Learning Center curriculum focuses on play-based learning, creativity, and development for early childhood success.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/curriculum\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Children&#039;s Learning Center\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-03T19:05:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/children\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/678\/2026\/05\/Planning-Cycle.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1430\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1100\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/children\\\/curriculum\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/children\\\/curriculum\\\/\",\"name\":\"Curriculum - Children&#039;s Learning Center\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/children\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/children\\\/curriculum\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/children\\\/curriculum\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/children\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/678\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Planning-Cycle.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-02T15:12:08+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-03T19:05:07+00:00\",\"description\":\"UWM Children\u2019s Learning Center curriculum focuses on play-based learning, creativity, and development for early childhood success.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/children\\\/curriculum\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/children\\\/curriculum\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/children\\\/curriculum\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/children\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/678\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Planning-Cycle.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uwm.edu\\\/children\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/678\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Planning-Cycle.jpg\",\"width\":1430,\"height\":1100,\"caption\":\"A diagram illustrating a continuous, six-step early childhood Curriculum Planning Cycle. 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