So for the first time in years, I'm working for an organization that allows me time to take trainings beyond the basic requirements for TSG, essentially Interrater Reliability.
Yesterday, I took a 5 hour long training on Studies. And guess what? I am pretty sure that most people are doing them wrong and I am actually on-board with the plan now. I have a 30 year career and have seen several approaches to Early Learning, trends come and go, and teachers with varying philosophies have success and challenge.
What is universal is that kids will learn when they're interested and connected.
So Studies...are actually a Project Approach, but not the way the past three places I've been at have used them. That is, they usually tell us what study we're "doing for the month" and have us pre-populate the calendar. Nope.
Key take-aways:
Studies are NOT themes.
If a Study topic doesn't naturally fit into a certain area, you don't have to force it. Just do something else instead in that area/time of day.
Studies should NOT be the entire day.
Studies are NECESSARILY built upon children's interests. There is a template for creating your own study and are encouraged to use it.
Questions should come FROM the children. You can help, but it should be their inquisitive nature guiding the learning.
Studies may need to be cut short or extended depending on children's interests.
So....maybe you already knew this. I hated Creative Curriculum because I thought it was the opposite of what it was. It is actually child-led project approach curriculum. It was not presented to me like that.
If you are intrigued, maybe encourage your admin to take the session ("Getting Started With Studies") and get on-board. Otherwise, it's just glorified themes.