advantage of using a curriculum
Curriculum refers to an engaging system of learning with specific development goals to ensure successful transfer of knowledge, skills, and attitudes to children. The advantage of using a curriculum is that it has guidelines that make it easier to know what needs to be taught at different stages of learning. An example from the text is the curriculum for infants which is highly individualized and focuses on building relationships and learning languages. Another advantage is that the curriculum is flexible and responsive to children’s interests and needs. An example is an integrated curriculum that covers various learning goals in a limited time and makes connections between skills and knowledge. On the other hand, there are disadvantages associated with the use of curriculum in schools. The curriculum may not be appropriate for all children due to cultural differences and those with learning difficulties as seen from the text. This is because the curriculum focuses on societal needs instead of individual needs. Another disadvantage is that it limits the freedom of teachers and students and there is pressure to cover all the learning areas within a specified time. Teachers expertise is underestimated when supervisors do not allow them to make changes to the existing curriculum to suit student’s needs.
The role of a teacher is to plan and implement a curriculum that will meet the interests and needs of children. Teachers should use a certain type of curriculum to enable them to focus on attaining teachings for individual children’s needs, interests, and abilities. An example of such a curriculum is the emergent curriculum which is based on children’s interests and a published curriculum with teachers guide to identify scope and sequence and act as a reference on how to use learning paths. Teachers must, therefore, adapt their teaching to suit individual needs. Students who move around will be able to benefit from the curriculum since it puts into consideration all the needs of individual students, is inclusive, developmentally appropriate and culturally and linguistically responsive.