Standard 5: Topics

Each of the standards has two or more components that further describe what is meant by the standard for a total of 27 components across the seven standards. This section identifies, what learners should know and be able to do based on that component to facilitate positive outcomes for children and families.

Component 5.1

Learners collaborate with families and other professionals in identifying an evidence-based curriculum addressing developmental and content domains to design and facilitate meaningful and culturally responsive learning experiences that support the unique abilities and needs of all children and families.

Learners who have mastered this component know and understand:

  • Developmental domain curriculum frameworks
  • Content domain curriculum frameworks
  • Role of culture in collaboration with families
  • Cultural influences on developmental and educational expectations

Learners who have mastered this component are able to:

  • Collaborate with families and other professionals to:
    • Identify evidence-based developmental and content domain curricula
    • Assess curricula to determine the extent to which they reflect a developmentally appropriate scope and sequence across academic and content domains
    • Assess curricula for cultural responsiveness and alignment with the learning expectations of the local context, including early learning standards
    • Design developmentally and culturally responsive learning experiences
    • Facilitate developmentally and culturally responsive learning experiences by embedding children’s cultural references in all aspects of the learning environment
  • Communicate developmental and educational expectations with families and children

Component 5.2

Learners use their knowledge of early childhood curriculum frameworks, developmental and academic content knowledge, and related pedagogy to plan and ensure equitable access to universally designed, developmentally appropriate, and challenging learning experiences in natural and inclusive environments.

Learners who have mastered this component know and understand:

  • Principles of universal design for learning
  • Developmental content for intervention and instruction, and related pedagogy
  • Academic content for intervention and instruction, and related pedagogy

Learners who have mastered this component are able to:

  • Identify, create, evaluate, and apply curriculum frameworks, such as developmental curricula, academic content curricula, and state or national learning standards
  • Plan universally designed learning experiences and environments to allow for access, engagement, and learning across developmental and academic content domains
  • Adhere to universal design for learning principles by:
    • Incorporating multiple ways for children to access the curriculum content
    • Use multiple methods to facilitate children’s active engagement
    • Include a range of formats for children to demonstrate what they are learning