In Week 4, you wrote a letter to the editor designed to educate members of your community about the critical role of child-centered curriculum and play in children's development and learning. For this

Running Head: Letter to the Editor 0

Letter to the Editor

Amanda Vasil

Walden University

Summer 2020

To the Editor,

I am writing a letter in response to an article that appeared in the Young Children magazine titled, Yeah, But’s that Keep Teachers from Embracing an Active Curriculum by Eugene Geist and Angela C. Baum. This article talks about the role of child-centered curriculum and play in children’s development and learning. “Many teachers strive to implement developmentally appropriate practices in their classrooms because these strategies support children’s learning. Sometimes teachers find it difficult, however, to incorporate teaching methods that allow children to actively engage in investigations, and participate in experiences that are interactive, mentally challenging, child centered, and constructive for children. (Geist & Baum, 2005)” When we enter into the classroom many parents do not want to see active play with the children. The thought of when being at school is sitting at desks working on assignments, listening to teachings or lectures from teachers; not actively engaged in explorations and discoveries that can be made through hands on activities. Classroom learning is not all about hands on active learning. “Many teachers are required to use a prepared curriculum consisting primarily of direct instructions, with few other appropriate components. A school directs teachers to use the curriculum usually because it either needs or wants to improve standardized test scores. (Geist & Baum, 2005)” A lot can be said positively and negatively about test scores and whether or not they are true to showing a child’s ability.

Testing children should be one of a variety of ways of being able to assess a child’s ability of retaining knowledge. There are individuals who have great test taking abilities while others will bomb the tests and both could know the exact same information. There are those who can demonstrate with capabilities the knowledge they have and there are those who cannot. “Textbooks are not the sole basis for learning any subject at any age but are tools designed to support learning. In the United States, textbooks are developed to be broad scope, which ensure their potential adoption in as many states or school districts as possible. Textbook companies assume that teachers and administrators will choose to use only the applicable sections of the book. (Geist & Baum, 2005)” Teachers know their students best and how best each individual children learn.

We hear stories about teachers who have been able to teach the ‘un-teachable’; such as the teacher and students in the book, Freedom Writers. When teachers are able to reach their students on the students level, miraculous things will happen. Children will learn. Achievements will go up.

Geist, E., & Baum, A. C. (2005). Yeah, But's that keep Teachers from Embracing an Active Curriculum Overcoming the Resistance. Young Children, 28-36.