What is HighScope?
HighScope is a high quality approach to learning based on more than 50 years of longitudinal research and practice. It is a coherent curriculum which draws on the constructivist theories of Piaget, Dewey, Erikson, Vygotsky and others.
HighScope was developed by Dr. David Weikart in 1962 in Ipsilanti, Michigan USA and is now used in over 90 countries around the world.
It is a flexible framework and can be used across all settings, ages and abilities.
The Principles of the Approach
The central principles of HighScope are provision of a developmentally appropriate curriculum, consistency and genuine relationships that offer children the opportunities for active learning and personal initiative.
These principles guide all HighScope practitioners in their daily work.
Their work is informed by working closely with parents and carers based
on the principle of family inclusion and the unique culture of the child. Adults in HighScope settings encourage children to become decision makers and problem solvers who can plan, initiate and reflect on work chosen by themselves; who work effectively individually, with other children, and with adults, and who develop skills and who develop skills and traits which enable them to become successful students as they grow older.
The following diagram graphically describes the key principles of the HighScope approach.
Active Learning
Through active learning - having direct and immediate experiences and developing an understanding of them through reflection, children construct knowledge that helps them make sense of their world.
The power of active learning comes from personal initiative when the children act on their innate desire to explore, solve problems and generate strategies to try in play and work which is meaningful to them.
The Key Experiences
The HighScope Developmental indicators provide a composite
picture of children’s social, cognitive and physical development.
They are fundamental to young children’s construction of knowledge and take place repeatedly over an extended period of time.
When active learning is in place, key experiences occur naturally; the role
of the adult is to create an environment in which these developmentally important activities can occur and to recognize, support and build on them when they do. Practitioners regularly make anecdotal observations on children’s learning experiences and this forms the basis for planning and evaluating.
Adult Child Interaction
Active learning depends on positive adult child interaction guided by an understanding of how children think and reason, adults practice positive interaction strategies - sharing control with children, focusing on children’s strengths, forming authentic relationships with children, supporting play, adopting a problem solving approach to social conflict and using encouragement rather than a child management system based on praise, punishment and reward.
The relationship with children has long term as well as immediate benefits as it demonstrates children how to form positive relationships for themselves.
Learning Environment and the Daily Routine
The HighScope Approach places a strong emphasis on planning the layout of the setting and selecting appropriate materials to enable children to make and follow through on their choices and decisions. These will be a
mix of real, open ended, ‘free and found and commercial materials. Adults also plan a consistent routine that supports active learning. The routine enables children to anticipate what will happen next and gives them a great deal of control over what they do during each part of their day. The framework gives children the freedom to become confident, self-directed learners.
The Plan-Do-Review Process
Planning is a process in which children learn to create and express intentions in a group or individually, and supported by an adult, children plan what they wish to do. Children's planning becomes increasingly sophisticated as they become conversant with the process.
At work time children generate experiences based upon their plans. Children need time for trial and error, to generate new ideas, practise and succeed. Personal independence is the Key to active learning by self-motivating children. During review time children reflect on their experiences at play and work.
A high quality curriculum will provide occasion for children to reflect on their experiences with increasing verbal ability and logic as they mature.
Child Observation Record (COR Advantage)
ABC uses HighScope’s Child Observation Record, or COR, as an authentic, validated, and research-based observational assessment tool.
The COR comprises 63 dimensions of learning in nine categories:
● Approaches to Learning
● Social and Emotional Development
● Physical Development & Health
● Language, Literacy, & Communication
● Mathematics
● Creative Arts
● Science and Technology
● Social Studies
● English Language Learners (Optional)
To use the COR, teaching staff take anecdotal notes during the everyday program activities. COR assessment is then seamlessly integrated with early childhood teaching and planning.
The results provide detailed information on each individual child's development in relation to themselves, as well as a variety of group reports analysing progress for various audiences.
Intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation & Praise versus acknowledgement
We strive to foster a sense of intrinsic motivation in our children. The effort the child put into a task is key. We encourage children to value their effort and creations themselves rather than seeking adult validation. We follow the HighScope approach and use strategies and terminology to support children. We minimise empty praise and use terminology to authentically acknowledge the child’s effort and creativity.
The preschool and home connections; Parents as Partners
We work with the philosophy: “Parents as Partners.” A solid relationship with the child’s family sets the foundation of trust. We believe the parents know their situation and child best and we strive for a nonjudgemental, positive, and trusting shared partnership for the child’s well-being and education at the forefront.
We write blog posts with pictures and videos each day highlighting what children have done during the day, linking to our daily planning (child’s interests, development, curriculum), HighScope and Swedish Curriculums. We also provide COR reports which is an authentic assessment of each child’s individual development in relation to themselves.
Our Curriculum Encompasses
Swedish National Curriculum/Lpfö and the HighScope approach
HighScope
Growing Readers
Letter Links
Numbers Plus
Music & Movement
Numbers Plus Maths Curriculum
ABC All About Children incorporates HighScope’s Numbers Plus into the preschool program. This curriculum is based on the understanding that children are active, hands-on learners that acquire knowledge best when they are intrinsically motivated, while supported and challenged by adults.
The Numbers Plus curriculum highlights that children naturally engage in mathematical ideas throughout the day, however it is important these activities take place in an engaging, supportive and encouraging environment in order to develop competence and confidence in their ability to understand and use mathematics early in life.
The Numbers Plus curriculum is divided into five content areas:
Number Sense and Operations
Geometry
Measurement
Algebra
Data Analysis
Children learn number operations when they count the blocks in their towers, geometry while completing puzzles, measurement when figuring out who is tallest, and algebra when creating patterns with the help of a peg board.
The adults in the classroom support the child’s current level of mathematical thinking and then scaffold by challenging them to advance to the next stage of understanding and reasoning. With the help of the environment, clear curriculum components and shared control, children become interested, competent and confident participants in their mathematics education.
Growing Readers
ABC integrates HighScope’s research-based Growing Readers curriculum into the daily program. Research indicates that a solid foundation in four aspects of early literacy is important for reading achievement in later years:
Comprehension
Phonological awareness
Alphabetic principle
Concepts about print
The teachers support these areas and the growth of language and literacy by scaffolding with the help of new and classic children’s books, the materials within the child’s classroom and small group activities to create an intrinsically motivated, engaging and educational environment for early literacy development.