Capable, Confident, and Curious: NOVA SCOTIA’S EARLY LEARNING CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK IMPLEMENTATION DRAFT 2018–2019
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Capable, Confident, and Curious: Nova Scotia’s Early Learning Curriculum Framework
ISBN: 978-1-55457-717-0
© Crown copyright, Province of Nova Scotia, 2018
Prepared by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development CAPABLE, CONFIDENT, AND CURIOUS: NOVA SCOTIA’S EARLY LEARNING CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
Acknowledgements The Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development acknowledges the work of other provincial early learning frameworks across Canada, all of which were reviewed in the preparation of this document. See Appendix A for a complete listing of provincial early learning curriculum frameworks.
In particular, the Nova Scotia early learning curriculum framework acknowledges Australia’s Belonging, Being, and Becoming—The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. With permission, content in the sections Early Learning Practices and Learning Strategies draw heavily on the Australian framework.
The Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development acknowledges the members of the Early Learning Curriculum Steering Committee, the Early Learning Curriculum Framework Working Group, and the members of the Nova Scotia Provincial Early Years Partnership Committee for their thoughtful review and constructive feedback to this document.
Special thanks are also extended to the Licensees, Directors, Educators, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development staff, Early Childhood Development Support Site Coordinators, faculty from the ECE Training Institutions, School Board representatives, representatives from The Youth Project, and all other early childhood professionals who participated in various consultations between 2016 and 2018, and provided valuable feedback to the development of the framework.
And finally, special thank-yous are extended to Kathleen Flanagan and Associates for their contributions in the review and development of the Capable, Confident, and Curious: Nova Scotia’s Early Learning Curriculum Framework, and to the staff at La P’tite Académie Société, who named the framework.
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CAPABLE, CONFIDENT, AND CURIOUS: NOVA SCOTIA’S EARLY LEARNING CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
Contents
Acknowledgements ...... i
Contents ...... iii
Introduction ...... 1
A Vision for Children’s Learning ...... 7 Image of the Child ...... 9 Early Childhood Pedagogy ...... 10
Nova Scotia’s Families, Communities, and Cultures ...... 13 Family, Community, and Culture ...... 15 Nova Scotia’s People and Cultures ...... 15
Principles of Early Learning ...... 23 Play-based Learning ...... 25 Relationships ...... 28 Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity ...... 30 Learning Environments ...... 31 Reflective Practice ...... 32
Practice in Early Learning ...... 35 Holistic Approaches ...... 37 Responsiveness to Children ...... 38 Intentional Teaching ...... 39 Valuing the Cultural and Social Contexts of Children ...... 40 Continuity of Learning Experiences ...... 40 Authentic Assessment ...... 41
iii CAPABLE, CONFIDENT, AND CURIOUS: NOVA SCOTIA’S EARLY LEARNING CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
Learning Goals and Objectives ...... 45 Well-being ...... 48 Discovery and Invention ...... 49 Language and Communication ...... 51 Personal and Social Responsibility ...... 53
Learning Strategies ...... 55 Well-being ...... 58 Discovery and Invention ...... 62 Language and Communication ...... 64 Personal and Social Responsibility ...... 70
Definitions ...... 75
Appendix A ...... 83
References ...... 84
iv Introduction
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CAPABLE, CONFIDENT, AND CURIOUS: NOVA SCOTIA’S EARLY LEARNING CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
Introduction Many families across Nova Scotia regularly participate in early childhood education programs, such as regulated child care centres, and pre-primary programs. These programs are designed for, and welcome, children from infancy to early school years. The programs, and the educators who provide them, encourage children’s learning and collectively contribute to their emotional, social, cognitive, linguistic, and physical development.
Research shows that high-quality early childhood education programs facilitate children’s learning and development, and excellent educators’ practices are essential to quality outcomes for children. In particular, it is the quality of the daily interactions between educators and children that have the greatest influence on children’s development (Kelly and Camilli 2007; Myers 2004; Shonkoff 2000). The implementation of an early learning curriculum framework that guides educators’ practices also contributes to creating and maintaining quality programming and excellent learning and developmental outcomes for children. Capable, Confident, and Curious: Nova Scotia’s Early Learning Curriculum Framework is based on the concept of the Image of the Child which says that everyone’s personal Image of the Child P is influenced by their own experiences, P biases, and knowledge. This framework’s P Image of the Child sees children as curious, creative, full of potential,
capable, and confident. It values and